Legal/Advocacy

LEGAL CORNER: Ransomware and Cyber Threats: The Real Estate and Other Industries Are Under Attack, Again!

September 20, 2023

It is disheartening, but this column yet again has to address the very real threats that cyber-attacks and ransomware incidents pose to industries, including the real estate industry, and individuals. Recently there has been a wave of serious cyber and ransomware attacks against well-known companies, such as Rapattoni, one of the largest national companies providing…

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In Memoriam: Veteran Realtor, Association Executive Don Cummins III

September 4, 2023

The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors regrets to inform its membership of the tragic passing of real estate veteran, HGAR member, association executive and attorney Don Cummins III on Friday, Sept. 1 at the age of 54. Cummins was previously the Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty Partners of Baldwin Place and formerly served as…

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Progress Made on Telemarketing Ban

July 14, 2023

The dust has settled and we find ourselves standing on the brink of success? As you know, the 2023 legislative session was exciting, but unproductive. Passing about half the number of bills as they did the year before, the 2023 session will be remembered for having a budget that was a month late, a housing…

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: The End of the Albany Session—Out Like a Lamb

June 19, 2023

With much debate during the State Budget Fight, the State Legislature seemed ready to jog out the rest of the Legislative Session with infighting, no movement on the housing crisis and a lot still left to be done. What started as a lion of a legislative session, centered around a newly-elected governor and a plan…

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LEGAL CORNER: Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier

June 14, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is certainly the new “new frontier” filled with all the promise and all the dangers that customarily accompany any new journey into uncharted territory or newly introduced technology. AI has taken front stage in our daily lives, and it is only the beginning. There are a multitude of articles and news stories…

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LEGAL CORNER: What a Difference a Few Months Makes

May 19, 2023

The Banking Crisis, Commercial Real Estate, the Debt Ceiling, Fears of Recession In January and February, the stock market had rebounded nicely from a difficult 2022, and while interest rates remained at elevated levels, they were off of the highs reached in November. Both the stock market and real estate market seemed to stabilize somewhat…

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LEGAL CORNER: Important Recent State and Federal Court Decisions

April 12, 2023

Various state and federal court decisions have been issued recently impacting the real estate industry. At the federal level, two important decisions have been issued relating to antitrust lawsuits involving the payment of real estate commissions and the Department of Justice’s investigation initiated in 2019 into the National Association of Realtors’ Clear Cooperation Policy and…

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LEGAL CORNER: The Impact of FTC’s Proposed Rule Banning Non-Compete Clauses

March 14, 2023

On Jan. 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission issued a proposed rule (see https://bit.ly/3T5ixuM] (“Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” or NPRM), that would ban employers from imposing non-compete clauses and agreements on employees. The public comment period for the NPRM ends on April 19, 2023. The rule’s genesis stems from an Executive Order issued by President…

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LEGAL CORNER: Where Do Cryptocurrency, Blockchain Technology And the Metaverse Stand in the R.E. Industry in 2023?

February 7, 2023

In early 2023, it is clear that cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and the metaverse are on track for a significant recovery. In 2020 and 2021, increased interest in blockchain technology and significant investment in cryptocurrency and the metaverse became a major focal point for companies and investors alike. Throughout 2022, however, we witnessed what has been…

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