Great news for families who adopt a child from a foreign country! New York State has a shortened statutory procedure that gives full faith and credi...
Permanent resident options for alien spouse
If you (or your spouse) are a non-U.S. citizen and would like to immigrate to the United States by obtaining permanent residence (Green Card), there a...
New free patent search tool
We always encourage our clients to do their homework before making any large investments, whether it is a business purchase, trademark application, or...
Important SLA announcements for the holidays
The New York State Liquor Authority has recently made two announcements that might affect your holiday business. They relate to gift wrapping and pack...
Visa vs. visa stamp
A common misconception in the visa renewal process is that once the visa is approved, you are “good to go”. Actually, the visa renewal process has...
SLA adds new online application for chain restaurants
The SLA released new online application on November 8, 2011 that affects chain restaurants. In order to qualify for ‘chain restaurant’ status, the...
How does the new Fast Track option compare to the Accelerated Examination procedure for patent applications?
In 2006, the USPTO introduced the accelerated examination process. If an application conducted a pre-filing search and submitted an examination suppor...
When should you consult an attorney in a commercial transaction?
The best time to consult an attorney when you are considering a commercial deal is before you sign a contract or purchase offer. It is important to un...
Trademark Cancellation Proceedings
There are two ways to oppose the registration of a trademark: opposition proceedings and cancellation proceedings. If the mark is still undergoing pro...
Implications of the new patent bill (America Invents Act)
On September 8, 2011, the Senate passed the Leahy-Smith America Invents acts (AIA), which was signed by President Obama on September 16, 2011. The AIA...