Articles

Advanced Search

Filter By Author

Filter By Practice Area

Bankruptcy courts' patrol the boundaries between legitimate financial distress and strategic manipulation.

Portrait of a Bad Faith Bankruptcy

Written By Lance P. Martin

You have to work really hard to file a Chapter 11 case that gets dismissed from the jump. Bankruptcy courts tend to bend over backwards to avoid smothering a case in the crib. A recent decision from the U.S. Bankruptcy Cou…

Read More
unlicensed practice of general contracting

North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors' Recent Enforcement Priorities: Unlicensed Contracting

Written By Alexandra E. Ferri and Jeffery I. Stoddard

2025 is the 100th anniversary of the General Assembly's establishment of the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors ("NCLBGC"). Due to the shortcomings of unscrupulous or underqualified contractors, the le…

Read More
Parental alienation after divorce

Parental Alienation in North Carolina: What It Is and How to Combat It

Written By Phillip H. Cowan and John "Jack" F. Presson

While adapting to all of the changes that come when parents split, the last thing a child needs is to be put in the middle of the dispute. Parents should always strive to insulate their children from the tensions common to…

Read More

The Rules of 1031 "Like Kind" Exchanges

Written By Lee C. Hodge

A 1031 exchange is a tax-deferred exchange where a taxpayer sells one or more real estate assets held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment (referred to as the "relinquished property") and, subject to…

Read More
HOA Vendor Agreements

Contract Smarter, Not Harder: Best Practices for Entering into and Managing HOA Vendor Agreements

Written By Adam M. Beaudoin and Emily B. Sullivan

In general, Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) in North Carolina are responsible for managing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing common areas, as well as upholding community standards consistent with the HOA's gover…

Read More
Fleet of trucks and professional drivers

Litigation, Insurance, and Business Losses: The Many Costs of Hiring Bad Drivers

Written By Allen N. Trask, III and Amy H. Wooten

For many businesses—whether delivering goods, transporting equipment, or simply sending employees on the road—hiring safe, reliable drivers is essential. But what happens when a business puts someone behind the…

Read More

Subscribe to Ward and Smith