Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights

The Cors & Bassett attorneys represent secured and unsecured lenders in various bankruptcy-related matters. We also have extensive experience with workouts and complex restructurings of businesses. Our work with creditors includes assistance with collections and liquidations.

The C&B attorneys also represent clients in various bankruptcy proceedings in U.S. bankruptcy courts. We have successfully represented clients in defending against preference and other avoidance claims, as well as pursuing client claims through adversary proceedings to determine non-dischargeability. We have also represented financial institutions in defending against various lender liability claims. C&B attorneys regularly provide our business clients with credit management advice, and our experience and expertise helps our clients avoid pitfalls and enhance their relationships with current and prospective customers.

• Collection and Liquidation
• Credit Management
• Lender Liability
• Workouts, Reorganizations

Business

The business attorneys at C&B have the experience and expertise to respond proactively and efficiently regardless of what issues our business clients face. We are equipped to handle legal issues at all stages of a company’s life, including start-up, day-to-day operations, mergers, acquisitions, and sales and transitions to the next generation of executives and owners. Our attorneys work diligently to learn each client’s business in order to offer legal and business advice that uniquely contributes to the growth and productivity of our business clients.

Our services include:

• Providing recommendations on raising initial capital and selecting the appropriate organizational form.
• Drafting incorporation, organizational, and other business formation documents.
• Engaging in industry and competitor research to aid our clients in setting themselves apart in the marketplace.
• Managing executive compensation issues.
• Negotiating contracts with our clients’ vendors and customers to minimize liability and maximize profitability for our clients.
• Providing tax advice and assuring compliance with governmental regulations.
• Securing working capital for growing clients through creative financing techniques.
• Performing due diligence and providing recommendations on companies that our clients have identified as acquisition targets.
• Providing succession planning for smooth transitions of ownership.
• Negotiating contracts for the sale and purchase of business assets that achieve our clients’ goals and objectives.
• Providing counsel on the most tax-effective ways to operate and grow our clients’ businesses by staying abreast of all current and pending tax laws affecting our clients’ businesses.

• Anti-trust
• Business Planning and Entity Formation
• Business Succession Planning
• Business Taxation
• Buying and Selling Your Business
• Capital Raising
• Corporate Governance
• Dealerships/Distributorships
• E-Commerce
• Investment Counseling
• Franchising
• Manufacturing
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Outsourcing
• Venture Capital/Private Equity

Computer & E-Commerce

Electronic communication and the world-wide web offer unlimited expansion potential for businesses. The Cors & Bassett e-commerce attorneys are adept at counseling clients on the strategic and legal implications of client e-commerce initiatives. Some of the specific services provided by the C&B e-commerce attorneys include:

• Counseling regarding legally compliant and effective online selling practices.
• Development of intellectual property portfolios, including copyrights, trademarks, and licenses.
• Drafting online privacy policies for client websites.
• Educating clients about governmental privacy laws and regulations, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and HIPAA.
• Drafting electronic communications policies.
• Guidance regarding the protection of confidential business information, licenses, and trade secrets.
• Guidance regarding the development and legality of various electronic gaming applications.

C&B e-commerce attorneys have represented a variety of software developers, manufacturers, distributors, telecommunications providers, transportation companies, financial institutions, and other businesses engaged in e-commerce transactions.

• Data Security and Privacy
• E-Commerce Transactions
• Outsourcing

Construction

Services provided by C&B construction attorneys include:

• Conceptualization and negotiation of construction contracts on behalf of architects, engineers, owners, and contractors.
• Assistance with site identification and acquisition.
• Negotiation and drafting of construction and other professional agreements.
• Counseling regarding project delivery timetables, insurance issues, environmental and OSHA considerations, and risk and liability assessment.
• Negotiation and drafting of bid documents.

Employee Benefits

The complex and sometimes murky laws and regulations governing employee benefit and executive compensation plans require precise drafting, technical know-how, and a future-oriented approach. The Cors & Bassett employee benefit attorneys possess all of these traits. Knowing the law is not enough – it must be coupled with an understanding of our clients’ businesses and how the application of the law serves those businesses and employee benefit plans. Services provided by C&B employee benefit attorneys include:

• Assessment of business needs, compensation philosophy, and financial constraints.
• Drafting and assistance with maintenance of tax-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) and pension plans.
• Negotiation and drafting of executive compensation and incentive plans.
• Drafting employee stock option plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and other equity-based incentive compensation arrangements.
• Counseling regarding benefit plan terminations and the reversion of pension plan assets.
• Identification of employee benefit and executive compensation issues in business transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, and divestures.
• Negotiation and drafting of supplemental retirement and other non-qualified deferred compensation plans, including funding arrangements through insurance plans and trusts.
• Drafting Section 125 employee cafeteria plans.
• Assistance with COBRA health care continuation issues and HIPAA compliance.
• Advising plan sponsors, administrators, and trustees regarding ERISA fiduciary standards and reporting and disclosure requirements.
• Litigation of ERISA disputes.
• Compliance with all federal and state agency reporting requirements (IRS, Department of Labor, SEC, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation).
• Negotiation and drafting of early retirement and severance agreements.
• Litigation involving multi-employer benefit plans.

Employment Practices

• ERISA Litigation
• Executive Compensation
• HIPAA Compliance
• Regulatory Compliance

Environmental

The Cors & Bassett environmental attorneys develop viable business solutions and resolve disputes for clients facing a complex myriad of environmental regulations. Services provided by our environmental attorneys include:

• Investigation and assistance in the cleanup of contaminated sites under mandatory and voluntary cleanup programs, including Brownfield redevelopments.
• Assistance with air, water, solid, and hazardous waste permitting and compliance issues.
• Counseling regarding the structuring of environmental compliance programs and plans.
• Defense of civil and administrative enforcement actions.
• Superfund defense and cost recovery litigation.
• Defense of air, water, solid, and hazardous waste claims.
• Negotiation and drafting of environmental settlement agreements and corrective policies.
• Assistance with the acquisition of underground and mineral rights.

• Investigation and Cleanup of Sites
• Permitting
• Redevelopment of Brownfields Areas
• Regulatory Compliance

Franchising

The C&B attorneys in our franchising practice group represent both franchisees and franchisors as well as dealers, distributors, and manufacturers involved in dealership networks. C&B attorneys draw on their extensive experience to help clients on either side of the franchise or dealership relationship navigate all aspects of what is often a complex and difficult relationship, including the drafting, review, and negotiation of franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements, dealership and distributorship agreements, assistance with related trademark issues, and expertise regarding the complex web of state franchising, dealership, and distribution law.

C&B attorneys represent several locally-based franchisors and handle all aspects of compliance with Federal and state franchise law as well as those franchisors’ relationships with their respective franchisees and developers. We also represent franchisees of all sizes – from multi-unit franchisees with territories covering multiple states to single-unit start-ups-with respect to the review of franchise disclosure documents and the negotiation of franchise and related agreements.

C&B attorneys also represent several local automobile dealers in their relationships with both manufacturers and consumers. These services include:

• Litigation of claims by consumers regarding warranty claims & CSPA claims.
• Resolving disputes with manufacturers regarding warranty and sales audits, sales incentive disputes, protesting the establishment of new dealers, and disputes regarding warranty payments.
• Litigation of claims in front of the Ohio Motor Vehicle Dealers Board.

C&B attorneys also represent one of the country’s largest trailer manufacturers and assist that manufacturer with:

• Consumer disputes.
• Drafting of consumer warranties and other dealer policies.
• Drafting of dealer agreements.
• The enforcement of dealer agreements.
• All other agreements relating to the dealer relationship including warranty reimbursement and dealer terminations.

Our attorneys also assist manufacturers with trademark issues and financing issues.

Intellectual Property

Cors & Bassett intellectual property attorneys represent individuals, start-ups, small businesses, and large corporations in all areas of intellectual property law except patents. We assist our clients in protecting their trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, and we work with them in defending their intellectual property against infringements or other unauthorized use. Our intellectual property attorneys search and clear copyrights and trademarks, ensuring our clients receive the greatest available legal protection for their brands, trade secrets, creative output and company goodwill. We also draft and review license agreements and guide our clients in interpreting or enforcing licenses.

Our attorneys are experienced in guiding clients through all steps of trademark registration, including clearance, prosecution, opposition/cancellation proceedings, maintenance, counseling, acquisitions, licensing, and litigation. While our goal is to help our clients obtain and maintain a trademark to protect their products, services and business, we are also experienced in prosecuting and defending infringement matters.

Our attorneys also guide our clients in protecting their creative works such as art, music, literature and computer programs. We search and register copyrights and advise our clients about copyright protection and infringement.

We are also experienced in drafting and negotiating software licenses, whether our clients are the software owners or the software users.

Our intellectual property attorneys advise clients in all industries about how to develop, establish, market, and protect their brands and ideas. With more than 75 years of experience, Cors & Bassett attorneys are uniquely qualified to advise clients in of all areas of intellectual property law, including:

• Branding
• Copyright
• False Advertising
• Licensing
• Marketing and Promotions
• Media and Internet Law
• Software
• Trade Secrets
• Trademark
• Trademark Prosecution

Labor & Employment

Today, employers must operate in a highly regulated and litigious business climate. C&B prides itself on helping employers minimize the legal risks involved in making employment decisions without compromising business needs. Our employment law attorneys develop strong relationships with our clients' Human Resource professionals, so that assistance with any employment law issue is only a telephone call or email away. Because of the depth of C&B's labor and employment team, we are able to provide assistance on even the most urgent of matters.

Services offered by our labor and employment attorneys include:

• Designing policies and practices that minimize the risk of successful claims of discriminatory, equal pay violations, breach of employment contract, as well as wrongful, or retaliatory discharge.
• Keeping clients abreast of changes in federal and state employment laws.
• Evaluating vulnerabilities through review of personnel policies and employee handbooks.
• Assisting employers in conducting internal investigations.
• Drafting employment agreements, non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements and policies, invention agreements, and other documents, which protect clients’ trade secrets and other confidential information.
• Assisting clients with planning and implementing individual terminations and group reductions in force in compliance with federal and state WARN statutes, and minimizing the risk of discrimination claims by drafting appropriate severance agreements and communications to affected employees.
• Assisting clients with implementing proactive strategies for remaining union free and responding to first signs of card signing activity.
• Advising clients regarding compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulations and representing clients accused of OSHA violations.

C&B also has decades of experience in litigating employment issues, including: wrongful discharge cases and discrimination cases; breaches of employment, non-competition, and non-disclosure agreements; defending unemployment benefits and workers' compensation claims; and representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other federal and state agencies.

The firm also has a long, rich history of assisting clients with traditional labor law issues, a rare find in the Greater Cincinnati legal community. Our labor and employment attorneys have assisted countless clients in the following:

• Negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements.
• Arbitrating contractual labor disputes.
• Resisting organizational attempts.
• Representing clients in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.

The firm also advises and assists clients in the planning, development, and implementation of both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Our experienced attorneys:

• Draft employee benefit program documents and submit the program for qualification by the Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory agencies.
• Advise clients regarding the termination of plans that no longer serve the client’s goals.
• Assist clients in the development of non-qualified plans for key employees.
• Develop employee benefit plans to fit our clients’ specific needs, while integrating employee benefit matters within the overall tax and business goals.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Defense of OSHA Claims
• Employment Practices
• Employment Litigation
• Human Resources Counseling
• Labor Relations
• Negotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements
• Trade Secrets
• Union Issues

Liquor & Hospitality

The Cors & Bassett liquor and hospitality attorneys represent restaurants, bars, and other hospitality businesses. Services provided by C&B liquor and hospitality attorneys include:

• Assistance with franchising due diligence.
• Structuring and establishing franchises.
• Procurement, maintenance, and transfer of vendor, food, and liquor licenses.
• Counseling regarding effective state and local government relations.
• Assistance with federal, state, and local regulatory compliance.
• Representation in liquor liability matters.
• Structuring financing arrangements for restaurants and entertainment ventures.
• Assistance with the negotiation and acquisition and/or leasing of real property sites used for restaurants and entertainment venues.

Franchising

• Permitting and Licensing
• Regulatory Compliance

Manufacturing & Distribution

Cors & Basset has extensive experience in the manufacturer – dealer/reseller model of product distribution, including assisting our clients in all of the following areas:

• Drafting and negotiating dealer agreements.
• Advertising policies.
• International sales and dealer relationships.
• Implementing, and when necessary, successfully litigating the termination of dealer relationships.
• Floor-plan (inventory) financing.
• Anti-trust and other competition laws.

Real Estate & Zoning

Cors & Bassett offers a full range of services for commercial and residential real estate transactions. Services offered to our real estate clients include:

• Negotiation and drafting of real estate purchase contracts.
• Recommendations regarding forms of property ownership, minimization of transfer taxes, and structure of real estate purchases and sales.
• Drafting real estate deeds.
• Representing both lenders and borrowers regarding procurement of real estate financing.
• Negotiation and drafting of residential and commercial lease agreements on behalf of landlords and tenants.
• Counseling municipalities and property owners regarding zoning compliance and modifications, including requests for variances and zoning reclassifications.
• Assisting principals in the planning and implementation of residential subdivisions, condominium and planned use developments, and commercial and retail centers.
• Representing clients before planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and boards of revisions.

In addition, through Cors & Bassett’s in-house title agency, Sawyer Point Title, Inc., the firm provides title examinations and title opinions, and offers mortgage and owners' title insurance.

Financing of Real Estate

• Acquisition, Disposition, & Financing of Real Estate
• Bond Financing
• Development and Construction
• Environmental Law
• Government Regulations
• Land Use and Zoning
• Leasing/Property Management
• Property and Other Project Insurance
• Tax Savings, Valuations, and Exchanges
• Title Insurance
• Zoning

Finance, Lending, & Fundraising

C&B attorneys have deep experience in advising clients in a wide variety of fundraising transactions, including both the borrowing of funds through debt transactions and the raising of funds through the private offering of securities.

We represent several local banks with respect to their business lending practices and are experienced in the securitization of all types of business assets, including real estate, equipment, intellectual property, and other intangible assets. We also bring this expertise to our representation of borrowers to assist them in negotiating and obtaining financing that comports with their individual and business goals.

Our securities attorneys represent several local venture capital firms and angel investors in the negotiation and structuring of their various investments, and also represent businesses that are the target of private investments. Our securities attorneys are experienced in the intricacies of Federal and state securities laws and their application to private transactions, and assist clients with all compliance issues which arise when offering securities, including the drafting of private placement memoranda.

• Buying and Selling Your Business
• Capital Raising
• Commercial Loans
• Corporate Financing
• Corporate Governance
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Placements
• Securities Regulations
• Venture Capital

Tax

The Cors & Bassett taxation attorneys are experienced in all areas of taxation. We counsel clients not only in corporate tax matters, but also regarding personal tax issues, business and real estate transactions, executive compensation matters, like-kind exchanges, tax planning matters including estate and gift taxation, exempt organization matters, and tax controversies and disputes. Cors & Bassett represents a full spectrum of clients, from publicly held corporations and financial institutions, to closely held corporations, partnerships, and nonprofit organizations. Specific services provided by Cors & Bassett taxation attorneys include:

• Preparation of federal and state individual, corporate, partnership, franchise, sales, commercial activity, and estate and gift tax returns.
• Designing executive compensation arrangements, such as deferred compensation plans, stock options, and other equity-based incentive plans.
• Preparation of applications for property and sales tax exemptions.
• Preparation of annual returns for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.

• Business Taxation
• Estate and Gift Taxation
• Non-Profits and Tax-Exempt Organizations
• Personal Taxation
• Wealth Planning

Transportation

Cors & Bassett has represented transportation industry clients for over 50 years. C&B transportation attorneys represent motor carriers (both LTL and truckload carriers), intermediaries, shippers, and third party logistics providers in a wide variety of transportation matters. Services provided by C&B transportation attorneys include:

• Resolution and liquidation of cargo loss and damage claims and matters relating to safety ratings, accidents, hours of service, and wage/hour guidance.
• Negotiation and drafting of motor carrier, broker, freight forwarder, and logistics agreements from both the shipper and provider perspective.
• Assistance with logistics issues.
• Negotiation, arbitration, and litigation of cargo loss, damage, and delay claims.
• Counsel regarding resisting union organization attempts.
• Representation of carriers in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.
• Assistance with motor carrier safety issues, including safety ratings, hazardous materials, and other regulatory compliance.
• Negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements and arbitration of contractual disputes.
• Representation of carriers before various government agencies including the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Counseling on the use of independent contractors and representation of clients in claims arising from the use of independent contractors, including, but not limited to, claims relating to workers compensation, unemployment compensation, and worker classification.
• Obtaining state and federal certificates of authority to operate as a motor carrier, passenger carrier, broker, and logistics provider.

• Dealer/Distributor Agreements
• Freight and Cargo Claims
• Hours of Service
• Independent Contractor Agreements
• Logistics
• Permitting and Licensing
• Regulatory Compliance
• Union Avoidance

Workers' Compensation

In addition to representing clients in labor and employment matters, Cors & Bassett represents state-funded and self-insured employers in workers’ compensation matters before the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Industrial Commission of Ohio, and Ohio state courts. Services provided by the experienced C&B workers’ compensation attorneys include:

• Defense of injury or occupational disease claims, including wage loss, medical treatment, permanent partial disability, temporary total disability, permanent total disability, and violations of specific safety requirements.
• Representation and counsel regarding premium calculations and experience ratings.
• Assistance with proactive workers’ compensation cost containment.
• Investigation of fraudulent claims.
• Negotiation of favorable claim settlements.
• Defense of Injury or Occupational Disease Claims
• Premium Calculations and Experience Ratings
• Proactive Cost Containment

Dispute Resolution

C&B’s litigation attorneys have extensive experience in trial, appellate, and administrative proceedings before state and federal courts and agencies. Our skilled litigators also represent clients in arbitration hearings, mediations, and other forms of alternate dispute resolution. Our litigators consult and work with other C&B attorneys in our various specialty areas and utilize that expertise to successfully resolve complex litigation and other contested matters, whether in courtrooms, arbitrations, or mediations.

C&B litigators handle a variety of commercial litigation issues, including disputes between consumers and our clients; disputes between manufacturers and dealers; disputes among shareholders; and disputes between our clients and governmental entities regarding taxation, environmental, or employment issues.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Antitrust
• Appellate
• Business Litigation
• Class Action and Mass Tort
• Construction
• Criminal
• Environmental
• ERISA
• First Amendment
• Insurance
• Labor and Employment
• Personal Injury
• Wrongful Death
• Probate and Trust
• Product Liability
• Real Estate
• Securities and Shareholder Disputes
• Workers’ Compensation

Construction Litigation

Services provided by C&B construction attorneys include:

• Conceptualization and negotiation of construction contracts on behalf of architects, engineers, owners, and contractors.
• Assistance with site identification and acquisition.
• Negotiation and drafting of construction and other professional agreements.
• Counseling regarding project delivery timetables, insurance issues, environmental and OSHA considerations, and risk and liability assessment.
• Negotiation and drafting of bid documents.
• Mediation, arbitration, and/or litigation of work disputes, delay claims, bid disputes, mechanic’s lien disputes, and other construction claims.

Environmental Litigation

The Cors & Bassett environmental attorneys develop viable business solutions and resolve disputes for clients facing a complex myriad of environmental regulations. Services provided by our environmental attorneys include:

• Investigation and assistance in the cleanup of contaminated sites under mandatory and voluntary cleanup programs, including Brownfield redevelopments.
• Assistance with air, water, solid, and hazardous waste permitting and compliance issues.
• Counseling regarding the structuring of environmental compliance programs and plans.
• Defense of civil and administrative enforcement actions.
• Superfund defense and cost recovery litigation.
• Defense of air, water, solid, and hazardous waste claims.
• Negotiation and drafting of environmental settlement agreements and corrective policies.
• Assistance with the acquisition of underground and mineral rights.

• Investigation and Cleanup of Sites
• Permitting
• Redevelopment of Brownfields Areas
• Regulatory Compliance

Estate Litigation

The Cors & Bassett estate planning and probate attorneys have the requisite expertise and experience to handle the complexities and legal intricacies inherent in the estate planning and estate administration process. Our estate planning attorneys are skilled at minimizing the tax burden on our clients. Protection and preservation of our clients’ accumulated wealth is the hallmark of C&B’s estate planning and probate group. The Cors & Bassett estate planning and probate attorneys provide the following services:

Estate, Retirement, and Liquidity Planning

• Preparation of testamentary and inter vivos trusts.
• Crafting of trust dispositions that assure usage of the applicable exemptions from federal and state gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes.
• Utilization of the most current estate planning techniques.
• Assistance in planning for distributions from client retirement plans to minimize tax exposure.
• Drafting customized beneficiary designations to allow disclaimers, division of accounts, and other post-mortem strategies that achieve family planning goals.
• Counseling regarding the selection and ownership of life insurance, including formation of irrevocable life insurance trusts.
• Addressing estate liquidity issues to avoid forced liquidation of estate assets in order to pay taxes, debts, or costs of administration.
• Preparation of federal and state estate and gift tax returns.

Business Succession Planning

• Drafting documents such as buy-sell agreements to restrict transfers or require redemptions and cross purchases in order to assure continuity & control in management and succession.
• Advising business owners regarding the process of selecting and training family members or others to succeed to management responsibilities and to implement plans to assure the continuation of effective management control.

Trust and Estate Administration

• Preparation of probate and estate administration documents such as inventories and periodic accountings.
• Non-judicial trust administration in compliance with the Ohio and Kentucky Trust Codes and other trust laws.
• Litigation of issues involving the construction and interpretation of wills and trusts.

Charitable Planning

• Assistance with procuring non-profit and 501(c)(3) classifications for businesses.
• Formation of charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts.
• Maximization of tax benefits available under federal and state charitable contribution rules.

The Cors & Bassett estate planning and probate attorneys believe that top-notch planning often involves a client education component. Since our clients are introduced to planning concepts, asked the right questions, and involved in planning discussions from the outset of our representation, the expertise of our attorneys is effectively leveraged to provide the highest benefit (often in the form of tax savings) to our clients.

• Business Succession Planning
• Business Taxation
• Estate and Trust Administration
• Estate Planning
• Individual, Estate, & Trust Tax

Labor & Employment Litigation

Today, employers must operate in a highly regulated and litigious business climate. C&B prides itself on helping employers minimize the legal risks involved in making employment decisions without compromising business needs. Our employment law attorneys develop strong relationships with our clients' Human Resource professionals, so that assistance with any employment law issue is only a telephone call or email away. Because of the depth of C&B's labor and employment team, we are able to provide assistance on even the most urgent of matters.

Services offered by our labor and employment attorneys include:

• Designing policies and practices that minimize the risk of successful claims of discrimination, equal pay violations, breach of employment contract, wrongful, discrimination, or retaliatory discharge.
• Keeping clients abreast of changes in federal and state employment laws.
• Evaluating vulnerabilities through review of personnel policies and employee handbooks.
• Assisting employers in conducting internal investigations.
• Drafting employment agreements, non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements and policies, invention agreements, and other documents, which protect clients’ trade secrets and other confidential information.
• Assisting clients with planning and implementing individual terminations and group reductions in force in compliance with federal and state WARN statutes, and minimizing the risk of discrimination claims by drafting appropriate severance agreements and communications to affected employees.
• Assisting clients with implementing proactive strategies for remaining union free and responding to first signs of card signing activity.
• Advising clients regarding compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulations and representing clients accused of OSHA violations.

C&B also has decades of experience in litigating employment issues, including: wrongful discharge cases and discrimination cases; breaches of employment, non-competition and non-disclosure agreements; defending unemployment benefits and workers' compensation claims; and representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other federal and state agencies.

The firm also has a long, rich history of assisting clients with traditional labor law issues, a rare find in the Greater Cincinnati legal community. Our labor and employment attorneys have assisted countless clients in the following:

• Negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements.
• Arbitrating contractual labor disputes.
• Resisting organizational attempts.
• Representing clients in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Defense of OSHA Claims
• Employment Practices
• Employment Litigation
• Human Resources Counseling
• Labor Relations
• Negotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements
• Trade Secrets
• Union Issues

Personal Injury

The Cors & Bassett personal injury attorneys have extensive experience in the representation of clients injured by automobile accidents, defective products, and the negligence of others, including medical malpractice claims. C&B personal injury attorneys work diligently and efficiently to obtain fair compensation for our clients’ injuries. Personal injury services are offered in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana

• Automobile Accidents
• Defective Products
• Medical Malpractice
• Negligence

Real Estate & Zoning Litigation

Cors & Bassett litigators represent clients before planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and boards of revisions when disputes over real estate or zoning issues arise.

Securities, Risk Management & Compliance

C&B attorneys have deep experience in advising clients in a wide variety fundraising transactions, including both the borrowing of funds through debt transactions and the raising of funds through the private offering of securities.

We represent several local banks with respect to their business lending practices and are experienced in the securitization of all types of business assets, including real estate, equipment, intellectual property and other intangible assets. We also bring this expertise to our representation of borrowers to assist them in negotiating and obtaining financing that comports with their individual and business goals.

Our securities attorneys represent several local venture capital firms and angel investors in the negotiation and structuring of their various investments and also represent businesses that are the target of private investments. Our securities attorneys are experienced in the intricacies of Federal and state securities laws and their application to private transactions and assist clients with all compliance issues which arise when offering securities, including the drafting of private placement memoranda.

• Buying and Selling Your Business
• Capital Raising
• Commercial Loans
• Corporate Financing
• Corporate Governance
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Placements
• Securities Regulations
• Venture Capital

Workers' Compensation

In addition to representing clients in labor and employment matters, Cors & Bassett represents state-funded and self-insured employers in workers’ compensation matters before the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Industrial Commission of Ohio, and Ohio state courts. Services provided by the experienced C&B workers’ compensation attorneys include:

• Defense of injury or occupational disease claims, including wage loss, medical treatment, permanent partial disability, temporary total disability, permanent total disability, and violations of specific safety requirements.
• Representation and counsel regarding premium calculations and experience ratings.
• Assistance with proactive workers’ compensation cost containment.
• Investigation of fraudulent claims.
• Negotiation of favorable claim settlements.

Defense of Injury or Occupational Disease Claims

• Premium Calculations and Experience Ratings
• Proactive Cost Containment

Family Law

Cors & Bassett family law attorneys represent clients in a wide range of domestic matters. Services provided by C&B family law attorneys include:

• Negotiation and drafting of prenuptial agreements.
• Dissolution and divorce proceedings.
• Child custody and parenting issues.
• Guardianship, paternity, and adoption proceedings.
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Custody
• Divorce
• Guardianships

Individual Tax Planning

The Cors & Bassett taxation attorneys are experienced in all areas of personal taxation. We counsel clients regarding personal tax issues, business and real estate transactions, executive compensation matters, like-kind exchanges, tax planning matters including estate and gift taxation, exempt organization matters, and tax controversies and disputes. Specific personal services provided by Cors & Bassett taxation attorneys include:

• Preparation of federal and state individual, corporate, partnership, franchise, sales, commercial activity, and estate and gift tax returns.
• Designing executive compensation arrangements, such as deferred compensation plans, stock options, and other equity-based incentive plans.
• Preparation of applications for property and sales tax exemptions.
• Preparation of annual returns for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.
• Estate and Gift Taxation
• Personal Taxation
• Wealth Planning

Personal Injury

The Cors & Bassett personal injury attorneys have extensive experience in the representation of clients injured by automobile accidents, defective products, and the negligence of others, including medical malpractice claims. C&B personal injury attorneys work diligently and efficiently to obtain fair compensation for our clients’ injuries. Personal injury services are offered in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana

• Automobile Accidents
• Defective Products
• Medical Malpractice
• Negligence

Wills, Trusts, Estate, & Probate Administration

The Cors & Bassett estate planning and probate attorneys have the requisite expertise and experience to handle the complexities and legal intricacies inherent in the estate planning and estate administration process. Our estate planning attorneys are skilled at minimizing the tax burden on our clients. Protection and preservation of our clients’ accumulated wealth is the hallmark of C&B’s estate planning and probate group. The Cors & Bassett estate planning and probate attorneys provide the following services:

Estate, Retirement and Liquidity Planning

• Preparation of testamentary and inter vivos trusts.
• Crafting of trust dispositions that assure usage of the applicable exemptions from federal and state gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes.
• Utilization of the most current estate planning techniques.
• Assistance in planning for distributions from client retirement plans to minimize tax exposure.
• Drafting customized beneficiary designations to allow disclaimers, division of accounts, and other post-mortem strategies that achieve family planning goals.
• Counseling regarding the selection and ownership of life insurance, including formation of irrevocable life insurance trusts.
• Addressing estate liquidity issues to avoid forced liquidation of estate assets in order to pay taxes, debts, or costs of administration.
• Preparation of federal and state estate and gift tax returns.

Business Succession Planning

• Drafting documents such as buy-sell agreements to restrict transfers or require redemptions and cross purchases in order to assure continuity in management and control.
• Advising business owners regarding the process of selecting and training family members or others to succeed to management responsibilities and to implement succession plans to assure effective management.

Trust and Estate Administration

• Preparation of probate and estate administration documents such as inventories and periodic accountings.
• Non-judicial trust administration in compliance with the Ohio and Kentucky Trust Codes and other trust laws.
• Litigation of issues involving the construction and interpretation of wills and trusts.

Charitable Planning

• Assistance with procuring non-profit and 501(c)(3) classifications for businesses.
• Formation of charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts.
• Maximization of tax benefits available under federal and state charitable contribution rules.

The Cors & Bassett estate planning and probate attorneys believe that top-notch planning often involves a client education component. Since our clients are introduced to planning concepts, asked the right questions, and involved in planning discussions from the outset of our representation, the expertise of our attorneys is effectively leveraged to provide the highest benefit (often in the form of tax savings) to our clients.

• Business Succession Planning
• Business Taxation
• Estate and Trust Administration
• Estate Planning
• Individual, Estate, and Trust Tax