Legal Brief   FIRM NEWSLETTER
January 2017
Table of Contents
SUFFOLK COUNTY'S 
PREMIER LAW FIRM.
Located in both the heart of Long Island and on the East End, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP is Suffolk County's premier law firm. Over the past generation, our attorneys have played a central role in the most critical legal issues and transactions affecting Long Island. The firm's commitment to excellence has earned accolades from the business community, including the prestigious HIA-LI Business Achievement Award and LIBN Corporate Citizenship Award, a spot on the U.S. News & World Report list of Best Law Firms, and the coveted title of Best Law Firm on Long Island.
DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. The firm provides legal advice and other services only to persons or entities with which it has established an attorney-client relationship. No recipients of information from this newsletter, clients or otherwise, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in this newsletter without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in the recipient's state. The content of this newsletter contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments. The firm disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this newsletter.
 
 
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NEGOTIATION 
I'm not known for keeping my thoughts to myself.   In fact, many of you pay me to advocate and negotiate on your behalf.  

But while I may not be the quiet type, I believe that those who know me would still describe me as an excellent listener - and those skills have served me well in my negotiations in business and in life.  I firmly believe that all the preparation in the world won't do you any good in a negotiation if you don't listen to the other side.  Sure, you hear what your adversary is saying, but are you really listening?
LITIGATION
To Mediate or Not to Mediate
Mediation can either be a great tool to move beyond an impasse or a colossal waste of time and money.  Without the proper approach and preparation, the parties may be pushed further apart.   In a recent mediation, my client was amenable to settling but the plaintiff, in the lead-up to the mediation, was less than forthcoming. 
Read More .
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & TECHNOLOGY
Business owners, take note: as design patents become a more popular method for businesses to protect their products, how damages are determined in the highly-publicized Samsung v. Apple litigation will merit close attention this year.
WHITE COLLAR INVESTIGATIONS
On Wednesday, January 11, 2017, German auto-maker Volkswagen pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to violate the Clean Air Act, as well as customs violations and obstruction of justice.  The company agreed to pay an astounding $4.3 billion in criminal and civil penalties, which when combined with the settlements paid to car owners may total an eye-popping $20 billion.  
Read More.
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
EEOC Seeks Public Comment on Unlawful Harassment Guidance
In recognition of the rise in employment harassment claims, on January 10, 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requested public input on proposed enforcement guidance for addressing unlawful harassment in the workplace and hostile work environments under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  
Read More .
GREAT  REPRESENTATIONS
Illustrating the depth of its service offerings, CMM announces that it has closed a multimillion dollar construction financing transaction and working capital line of credit between its client, a major construction and architectural hardware distributor, and the client's lender, a large institution in the secondary lending market. Headed by  Joe Campolo , attorney  Don Rassiger , who has been named Chair of our robust Construction practice, worked to close the deal at a breakneck pace.  Unlike those at other Long Island firms, CMM's  Construction  attorneys possess firsthand knowledge of the construction client's perspective, having worked in the industry themselves. 
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
As proud supporters and patrons of the Staller Center for the Arts, we are pleased to offer our friends and clients a special discount of $5 off regular price tickets to the following upcoming performances. Use coupon code CMMLLP at checkout. Online purchases only. 

  Cuisine & Confessions                          Peter Cincotti 
Thursday, March 9
8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 1
8:00 p.m.
or
Sunday, April 2
4:00 p.m.
Mark your calendar for March 31, 2017 for the Pet Peeves Corporate Compassion for Homeless and Abused Animals Luncheon. CMM is a longtime supporter of  Pet Peeves, Inc., which raises funds and awareness for Long Island's struggling animal shelters and rescue groups. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Crest Hollow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury.
On Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 6 p.m.  Fighting Chance will host Ladies' Night for a Cause to benefit its cancer counseling center. Join us at the American Hotel, 45 Main Street, Sag Harbor. Tickets are available for $50. Please call 631-725-4646.
FIRM NEWS & EVENTS
CMM East End Business Breakfast:  "Never Eat Alone: Put Your Network to Work in 2017"
More than 250 business professionals joined us earlier this month for our Business Breakfast series kickoff when Joe Campolo shared an inside look at his strategies for relationship building. Due to the overwhelming response, we are now offering this program to our colleagues, friends, and clients on the East End. 

Ten years ago, Joe Campolo was months away from launching the law firm that would become Campolo, Middleton & McCormick when Never Eat Alone was first published.  Trying to broaden his focus from the very niche tech space he had just left, Campolo knew he needed to build a network - so he bought a copy of Never Eat Alone and used it as a framework to build his network, one relationship at a time.  Join us for breakfast as Campolo revisits the book a decade later, exploring what he learned, what worked, what didn't, and how his networking has evolved over the years.  Learn how to put your own network to work for you in 2017 with this personal look at powerful networking strategies. Please join us on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 8 a.m. at the Stony Brook Southampton, Chancellor's Hall, Duke Lecture Hall, 39 Tuckahoe Road, Southampton.
Campolo to Moderate Protegrity Advisors' M&A Update Panel
Please join us for Protegrity Advisors, LLC's Annual M&A Update featuring Joe Campolo moderating a panel of distinguished CEOs discussing how they believe the Trump Administration will affect the mergers and acquisitions market in 2017 . CMM is pleased to sponsor this  breakfast event on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 from 8-10 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott, 5000 Express Drive South, Ronkonkoma. 
Campolo Interviews Congressman Zeldin at CMM and LIMBA Meeting
A major corporate sponsor for  LIMBA,  the longsta nding catalyst for transportati on and economic improvement on Long Island, CMM will co-host  LIMBA's breakfast meeting on Friday, March 3, 2017, featuring an interactive Q&A between Joe Campolo  and U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin. The meeting will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, 5000 Express Drive South in Ronkonkoma, at 8:00 a.m. 
Middleton Named to Judicial Screening Committee of Suffolk County Bar Association
CMM is pleased to announce the appointment of founding partner and trial attorney  Scott Middleton  to the Judicial Screening Committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association, where he will be  tasked with investigating the background, experience, and other qualifications of candidates seeking to run for judicial office in Suffolk County. In keeping with his dedication to public service, Middleton will have a direct impact on the judicial system in our area. 
UCP of Long Island Welcomes Campolo to Board of Directors
An active supporter of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Long Island, the region's leading organization dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity,  and full citizenship of individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, Joe Campolo recently expanded his leadership in the community by joining the Board  of Directors.
Campolo Live on Air with LI News Radio
Hear CMM Managing Partner Joe Campolo share networking insight and his thoughts on the Trump inauguration and Women's Marches on air with Jay Oliver from Long Island News Radio 103.9, broadcast live on January 24.
Malafi Shared Professional Advice on HIA-LI Women's Leadership Breakfast Panel
In the decades since Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown's famous book Having It All was published in 1982, the title has transformed from words of encouragement to a hated cliché - an elusive and even judgmental standard that pressures some women to ask themselves why their nonstop balancing act between the competing demands of work and family isn't as effortless as in the movies.  The message from CMM partner  Christine Malafi ,  is therefore an important one: "You can't 'have it all' the way the media portrays, but you can do it in your own way."
CMM Educational Seminars in the Community
CMM attorneys share their professional insight on various topics at educational seminars hosted throughout the area. Please join us for these upcoming presentations:

Trusts & Estates, Tax & Elder Law attorney   Laura Blasberg will co-present on how to start and maintain a not-for- profit business on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the Three Village Inn, Stony Brook. Space is limited - please call 631-751-3886 to RSVP.

Martin Glass will lead a seminar about the legal and financial challenges of caring for aging loved ones on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, 5:00 p.m. at the Family Service League, 208 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead. For more information, please call 631-591-7576.

Don Rassiger will present on "Planning for Business Succession" at a meeting of the  Organizational Development Network of Long Island on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, 5:30-8:00 p.m., at  Clearvision Optical,  425 Rabro Drive East, Suite 2, Hauppauge.  Dinner will start at 5:30 p.m., and the panel will begin by 6:30 p.m. CMM clients and friends can use promo code ODNLIMEMBER at checkout to receive free admission. 

Eryn Truong, chair of the firm's Intellectual Property & Technology department, will lead a seminar on patents, trademarks, and copyrights and the importance of protecting your intellectual property on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center, 1512 Development Drive #17, RSS Building, Room 146, Research and Development Park, Stony Brook. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Alessi Featured on CBS News to Discuss Development of the Tesla Science Center 
Marc Alessi , chair of the firm's Startups and Economic Development practices, was featured in a special New York Channel 2 News segment to discuss the development of the museum at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe in Shoreham. Alessi is leading the development of  the Center, dedicated to science education and introducing visitors to Long Island's rich scientific opportunities. 
View the interview here.


Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP

4175 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 400
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779

2495 Montauk Highway
Bridgehampton, New York 11932

Phone: (631) 738-9100
Fax: (631) 738-0659