In a transaction consummated by parties who are unrelated and on an equal footing, one often assumes that the terms of the transaction should represent the fair market value of the property being exchanged. Even the tax law appears to follow the same assumption that “” After all, the fair market value of a property is generally established in an arm’s length transacti [...]

The Chinese market for entertainment has grown exponentially over the last several years. With U.S. entertainment companies forming “co-production joint ventures” with various Chinese film production companies, the need for accuracy and completeness of foreign distribution becomes more significant. Based on my experience with profit participation auditing in China, he [...]

By: Judy Bamberger (Guest Blogger, Encore Fellows Program Manager, Social Venture Partners) Over the next decade, the population over age 65 will increase dramatically from 10 percent to 25 percent. How can society take advantage of these extensive skills, knowledge and life experiences? In response, Social Venture Partners recently launched its Encore Fellows program [...]

Volunteers are an integral part of the nonprofit world. Most nonprofits can’t operate without their volunteers. Not only do they provide their time and skills to help support your cause at no cost, but volunteers are ten times more likely to donate to your organization. The more volunteers and the more donors you get for your organization, the better. This means it [...]

As part of the GHJ 2015 Food and Beverage Conference at the end of last year, a panel of industry experts discussed the role of women in the industry. I had the privilege of moderating a discussion with three top industry players: Ramona Cappello (founder of Sun Harvest Salt LLC), Ellen Chen (co-founder of Mendocino Farms) and Bill Shen (director of Encore Consumer Ca [...]

For the last four years, I have been involved with the voting tabulation process for the Ovation Awards. Organized by L.A. Stage Alliance, the Ovation Awards are a Southern California award for excellence in theatre, established in 1989. They differ from other theatre awards by being 100 percent peer judged by active, local theatre professionals. Each year the Ovation [...]

In the middle of this unusually seasonable California winter, a little heat might be welcome. But we would probably prefer that it come from somewhere besides the California Attorney General. As of Jan. 1, 2016, the AG’s Office finalized amendments to regulations that clarify the specific actions they can undertake in enforcing the state’s charitable regulations. The [...]

On Dec.18, 2015, Congress passed and the President signed into law the PATH Act of 2015, which provides certain provisions with either permanent or temporary extensions. The domestic provisions of the PATH Act of 2015 were described in our last Tax Alert released on Dec. 18, 2015. This Tax Alert details two extensions that specifically [...]

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the end of another great year than to toast each other to good health with a great craft beer? I have been brewing the stuff for a year or so now, transforming grains into glorious amber-colored ales. Craft brewing is not only a great personal activity it seems to be making great waves in business as well [...]