NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2018
CMM Supports Veterans
In 2018, in honor of our 10th anniversary, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick launched CMM Cares, a volunteer initiative to benefit the Long Island community with donations of time, dollars, and support. As a tribute to our colleague Jack Harrington, Esq., a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve who was deployed to Afghanistan in September, the firm chose to support veterans organizations for the inaugural year of CMM Cares.

This month, the firm volunteered with  America's VetDogs , a fantastic nonprofit organization whose mission to restore independence and dignity to veterans touched us deeply. We collected treats, toys, towels, cleaning supplies, and more to support the incredible dogs and the brave individuals who receive them. Volunteers were also treated to a tour of the impressive 11-acre Smithtown campus and received an inside look at the invaluable service these dogs provide to veterans returning home. To support America’s VetDogs, please click here.

Earlier this year, we volunteered with United Veterans Beacon House , an organization that provides temporary and permanent residences for military veterans and their families. Our volunteers, along with the exceptional team at Gary B Home Improvements, Inc., cleaned, painted, and spruced up two UVBH homes on the South Shore of Long Island and provided brand new outdoor patio sets for the residents to enjoy. To support UVBH, please click here.

If you missed Joe Campolo's keynote address at the Stony Brook Veterans Day Ceremony on November 7, click here.
CMM Training Center Opens
We invite you to host your next business 
event in our new state-of-the-art, fully customizable, 1,600 square foot classroom located on the 3rd floor of our Ronkonkoma headquarters. Our versatile conference room can accommodate groups up to 45 people and features a host of audio-visual services, dedicated on-site IT support, coordination of local caterers, and an on-site professional to ensure the successful execution of your event. Learn more.
The room features:
  • Video conferencing capabilities
  • Built-in projector
  • 119" screen
  • Lapel and handheld mics
  • Digital signage display
  • Surround sound speakers
  • Complimentary WiFi
  • Webinar streaming
  • Presentation recording
  • Podium
FEATURED EVENTS
JANUARY 8
Yermash Presents at Agriculture and Landscaping Roundtable
9:30 - 11:30 AM
269 Butter Lane
Bridgehamton, NY 11932
Hear from John Larkin of  Markowitz, Fenelon & Bank , with special guest and legal counsel   Arthur Yermash   of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, at an interactive session for owners and business leaders in Long Island’s agriculture and landscaping industries. Learn from peers and accounting industry experts. Learn more.
JANUARY 15
CMM Business Breakfast: Creating Growth with a Leadership Mindset
8:30 - 10:00 AM
Wind Watch Golf & Country Club
1715 Motor Parkway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
You want your team to be part of your business because they believe in your company, not simply because they need a paycheck. Hiring the right people is the first step, but how you train and treat them afterward is key to their performance. This presentation by Joe Campolo will teach you how to empower each of your team members to be leaders. Event includes networking, hot breakfast, and the presentation. Sponsored by Sasserath & Zoraian, LLP. Register here.
FEBRUARY 28
CMM Academy presents Winning :
What Would Jack Welch Think of Your Management Style?
8:30 - 10:00 AM
CMM Training Center
4175 Veterans Memorial Hwy
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Take a deep dive into the management style of Jack Welch, whose get-it-done approach to leadership pivoted General Electric to worldwide success. CMM Managing Partner Joe Campolo will share lessons from Welch’s popular business bible,  Winning , and how Welch’s honest and be-the-best style of management can be put to work at any organization. Business owners, executives, and those who are serious about career success in any industry can all find a helpful new perspective in Welch’s words. Event includes networking, hot breakfast, and the presentation. Sponsored by Sasserath & Zoraian, LLP. Register here.
CMM Headlines
Eat First, Negotiate Later! (And Other Overlooked Negotiation Tips)
By Joe Campolo, Esq.
Before you take your seat at the negotiation table, invest some time at the breakfast table. That’s the takeaway from research conducted at Cornell University that suggested people feel a greater sense of entitlement when they are hungry vs. when they are not. The negative impact on negotiation outcomes is staggering. Read more.
Businesses Beware: “Boilerplate” Language in Contracts Not So Boilerplate
By Don Rassiger, Esq.
Businesspeople anxious to get deals done typically focus their attention on the up-front-and-center contractual provisions detailing the terms of the deal, not the "boilerplate" language concerning jurisdiction, venue, choice-of-law, and other –  let's be honest –  less than thrilling provisions. But a recent decision from New York’s Court of Appeals reminds businesses and lawyers alike that every single term in a contract – no matter how unimportant it may seem during the drafting process – merits careful consideration. Read more.
LEGAL UPDATES
A Costly Mistake: The Dangers of Cybersecurity in M&A Transactions
By Christine Malafi, Esq.
With major data and security breaches consistently making headlines, a thorough investigation of a target company’s security practices is critical to a buyer’s decision to purchase a company. Such assessments help potential buyers manage and alleviate risk, liability, and exposure before pursuing a precarious deal. Unfortunately, cybersecurity is often overlooked in the frenetic pace of M&A transactions. Read more.
Representations and Warranties in M&A Transactions
By Vincent Costa, Esq.
In the world of M&A, each party to a purchase agreement makes certain representations and warranties that serve to allocate risk between the parties and provide a basis for post-closing indemnification obligations. If you're a business owner who doesn't know your representations from your warranties and why it matters read on.
Reflecting on Justice Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings and the History of Politics in Supreme Court Nominations
By Patrick McCormick, Esq. and Richard DeMaio, Esq.
The political drama surrounding Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation captivated the public this fall. Across the country, people were glued to their screens watching the proceedings. But fierce ideological debates and even allegations of sexual assault are not new to confirmation hearings. Read more.