Articles

Community Associations Legislative Update: 2023 - 2024 Legislative Session

Written By Adam M. Beaudoin and Madeline Lipe Williams

The North Carolina General Assembly finally concluded an extremely busy 2023-2024 legislative session on December 13, 2024. Several bills introduced during this session had the potential to significantly impact the commun…

Part 2 in Heatwaves of Drama: A Case Study in "What Not To Do" for Southeastern HR Professionals

Written By Justin T. Hill and Avery J. Locklear

Ed. Note: Read Part 1 of Heatwaves of Drama Here Ward and Smith Labor and Employment attorneys presented an interactive case study during their annual Employment Law Symposium to provide insights on how the leaders of a h…

Part 1 in Heatwaves of Drama: A Case Study in "What Not To Do" for Southeastern HR Professionals

In the first installment of our two-part series covering Ward and Smith’s 2024 Employment Law Symposium, three Ward and Smith attorneys illuminated a variety of Human Resources issues by placing a spotlight on a fict…

Some, But Not All: How the North Carolina Planned Community Act affects Pre-1999 Planned Communities

Written By Justin M. Lewis

In 1999, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the North Carolina Planned Community Act ("Act") as Chapter 47F of the North Carolina General Statutes.  The Act was intended to establish certain rights for prope…

What's in a Name Anyway? Trademark Basics for Community Associations

Written By Erica B. E. Rogers

This article explores the essentials of trademark rights, their relevance for community associations, and the balance between protecting these trademarks versus respecting the free speech of homeowners. I. What is a Trade…

Legal Pause: Preliminary Injunction on Corporate Transparency Act Enforcement

Written By Adam M. Beaudoin and Matthew A. Jones

On December 3, 2024, in the matter of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Sherman District) issued a preliminary injunction against the Corporate…