Business Writing & Grammar Courses

Virtual Live: January 11, 2023, and January 25, 2023

Business Writing Workshop

January 11, 2023

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

$199 per person for members

($249 for non-members)

Register Online

Workshop Objectives: After attending this course, participants will benefit from an increased ability to: 

• Identify varied audiences and purposes for writing;
• Polish rough edges of their writing style in paragraphs, sentences, words, and format;
• Write more effective documents; and,
• Apply course concepts to their actual writing samples.

Taking the “Grr” Out of Grammar

January 25, 2023

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

$99 per person for members

($149 for non-members)

Register Online

Workshop Objectives: This course helps participants:

• Analyze why correct documents are so important;
• Identify the errors that tarnish a writer’s image;
• Learn practical, current grammar and punctuation rules;
• Practice correcting grammar glitches and punctuation pitfalls; and,
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rules through a pre- and post-quiz.

Ask FHFA to Align Capital Regulations with Those of Banking Agencies

Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs), which are overseen by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), are an important source of liquidity for the banking industry, community banks in particular. The FHFA’s outdated regulations may prohibit banks’ use of this funding source, and by extension, their full ability to serve their communities.

Unlike bank regulators, FHFA continues to rely on outdated GAAP-based capital measures to determine a bank’s condition for purposes of utilizing FHLB advances. The current economic conditions mean community banks may not easily and efficiently qualify for advances from FHLBs. As a result, community banks may be significantly hampered in their ability to serve their communities and customers.

Follow the link below to register your concerns with Director Thompson and urge the FHFA to align capital regulations with those of the banking agencies.

Bank of America Market Minute

Recession concerns intensified last week, capped by a hotter-than-expected inflation print last Friday. U.S. producer prices rose in November by more than forecast, climbing 0.3% for a third consecutive month and up 7.4% from a year earlier, the Labor Department reported. Although showing a moderation in producer price inflation, its rate slowed less-than-expected. Excluding the food and energy components, core producer price index (PPI) rose 0.4% in November and increased 6.2% on an annual basis. U.S. stocks snapped two weeks of gains by declining 3.4% last week. Defensively-oriented sectors such as Utilities, Healthcare and Consumer Staples fared the best, although all S&P 500 sectors were lower on the week. Energy shares fell sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Small-cap Russell 2000 Index notched their worst weekly drops since late September. The yield on the 10-year neared 3.6%, relatively unchanged by the end of last week. Following Friday’s PPI release, all eyes are on this Tuesday’s release of consumer inflation data. Federal Reserve officials have signaled plans to raise the benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage point on Wednesday at this week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) December meeting, bringing the federal funds rate to a target range of 4.25% to 4.5% following four consecutive 0.75 point hikes. On Thursday, the Census Bureau will report retail sales data for November with consensus calling for a flat month-over-month reading

Ask the Fed®: A Discussion of Unrealized Losses at Community Banks in a Rising Interest Rate Environment

NEW DATE - Friday, December 16, 2022, 1:00 pm ET: A Discussion of Unrealized Losses at Community Banks in a Rising Interest Rate Environment 

Market interest rates have risen in 2022 at a pace not experienced in a generation. In this current environment, a bank may have unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings, but report accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for unrealized losses on its available-for-sale (AFS) securities portfolio. As a result, a bank may experience a dynamic change in its balance sheet, arising from the devaluation in its bond portfolio and lower or negative tangible common equity. 

Please join Governor Michelle Bowman, Senior Vice President Tara Humston, and Manager Brett Leavell as they discuss the Federal Reserve’s supervisory posture for a bank with falling bond portfolio values and low or negative tangible common equity. This session will also attempt to answer the question—what can a bank do now to address the risks associated with low or negative tangible common equity? 

Jenifer Jurden is a Cartoonist from Wilmington who has graciously provided her Planet Jurdy cartoons for the DBA Digest. Jurdy® is her other-worldly "Hero of Happyness" whose cartoons bring levity to humans worldwide.

17 Richards, Layton & Finger Lawyers Admitted to the Delaware Bar

Richards, Layton & Finger is pleased to announce that 17 associates of the firm have been admitted to the Delaware bar. The lawyers were admitted to practice in the State of Delaware by the Delaware Supreme Court in a ceremony.

“I’m proud to welcome these talented young lawyers to the Delaware bar,” said Lisa Schmidt, president of Richards Layton. “Today we congratulate them on their remarkable achievements so far, and look forward to the outstanding contributions I know they’ll make to our firm, our clients, and our community.”



Our newly admitted attorneys, their law schools, and their areas of practice are:

• Andrea M. Bomalaski, Tulane University Law School

Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring

• Ryan P. Brady, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Alternative Entities - Partnership and LLC Advisory

• Noah H. Brown, University of Notre Dame Law School

Alternative Entities - Partnership and LLC Advisory

• Spencer V. Crawford, Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School

Corporate & Chancery Litigation

• Nathalie A. Freeman, Wake Forest University School of Law

Commercial Litigation

• Morgan R. Harrison, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Corporate & Chancery Litigation

• Zachary J. Javorsky, The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law

Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring

• Adriane M. Kappauf, Widener University Delaware Law School

Corporate & Chancery Litigation

• Timothy F. Mangan, The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law

Alternative Entities - Partnership and LLC Advisory

• Nicholas F. Mastria, The George Washington University Law School

Corporate & Chancery Litigation

• Alison S. Mitchell, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Real Estate Services

• Grace A. Myers, William & Mary Law School

Corporate Trust & Agency Services

• Emanuel E. Perris, University of Virginia School of Law

Alternative Entities - Partnership and LLC Advisory

• Naseeba Saeed, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

Corporate & Chancery Litigation

• Jennifer P. Siew, Tulane University Law School

Commercial Litigation

• David L. Teklits, Temple University Beasley School of Law

Commercial Transactions

• Puja A. Upadhyay, Temple University Beasley School of Law

Commercial Litigation

Troutman Pepper Advisory: SEC Advises Companies to Disclose Crypto Market Exposure

On December 8, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new guidance for publicly traded companies, advising them to disclose their exposure and risk in the cryptocurrency market to investors.

The guidance urges companies to evaluate, and potentially disclose, their exposure to crypto assets — specifically, “with a view towards providing investors with specific, tailored disclosure about market events and conditions, the company’s situation in relation to those events and conditions, and the potential impact on investors.” The guidance is accompanied by a sample letter that companies may receive, as the SEC seeks additional disclosures about companies’ exposure to crypto bankruptcies, asset volatility, and other crypto market developments.