Law articles and updates by the attorneys of Gawthrop Greenwood.
How (and Why) to Update Your Estate Plan Under the SECURE Act
By Kari Springer – Gawthrop Greenwood is advising workers and retirees to update their estate plans, now that the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) became effective January 1, 2020. The new federal law makes a number of changes to retirement plans and IRAs that could result in…
The SECURE Act Makes Big Changes to 401(k)s, Annuities and IRAs
By Kari Springer – Beginning on January 1, 2020, after nearly three years, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act will become effective. The bill impacts how money is saved for retirement and the use of retirement funds over time. Here are five highlights of the SECURE…
Q&A: Has This Year’s Historic Election Changed the Practice of Government Law in Chester County?
The following article first ran in VISTA.Today, read daily by almost 30,000 Chester County residents and professionals: These are certainly interesting times to be an attorney working for local governments in Chester County. Land development and the local economy are booming. But so are the issues that local government officials…
New Jersey & Pennsylvania Light a Beacon for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
By John Rafferty -- Survivors of sexual abuse face the daily challenge of affirming their identity apart from the pain they have suffered, while simultaneously discovering people and resources that contribute to their healing. If this isn’t hard enough, survivors who seek justice in our nation’s courts face…
Real Estate Scam Alert: Business E-mail Compromise
By Lauren Dentone & Gordon Prince — A recent internet scam is making home-buying even more stressful for unsuspecting purchasers. In today's technologically driven world, much of the communication regarding the transfer of real estate takes place via electronic communication. Criminal enterprises have taken notice of this convenience and exposed…
Sailing the High Seas: Q&A with the Maritime Lawyers at Gawthrop Greenwood
If there’s a local port or public body of water involved, chances are that Gawthrop Greenwood is too. The firm’s Maritime Law Department recently sat down to describe the scope of its work, how it affects transportation of goods and other services, as well as expanding services in Delaware’s busy…
Clean Slate Bill and What It Means for Criminal Charges in Chester County
By Lauren Dentone — Chester County is now implementing the “Clean Slate” Bill, which was signed by Pennsylvania Governor Wolf on June 28, 2018. The purpose behind Clean Slate is to remove the barriers to housing and employment for those who are marginalized by a record of a past minor criminal…
President’s Message: 3rd Quarter 2019
Patrick M. McKenna is a partner at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC as well as President of the Chester County Bar Association. His quarterly column, shown below, is featured in the CCBA magazine “New Matter.”
Maritime Alert: Supreme Court Denies Right to Punitive Damages for Unseaworthiness Actions
By Kari Springer — In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that punitive damages remain unavailable in unseaworthiness actions and reversed the Ninth Circuit. The Court rejected Christopher Batterton’s claim for punitive damages against Dutra Group for his injuries when a vessel hatch blew open and injured his hand. In…
President’s Message: 2nd Quarter 2019
Patrick M. McKenna is a partner at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC as well as President of the Chester County Bar Association. His quarterly column, shown below, is featured in the CCBA magazine "New Matter."