Beware! The “Other” Side of the LSRP Program - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Beware! The “Other” Side of the LSRP Program

Edward Hogan

David Harmon

Charles Miller

John Lushis, Jr.

John Vanarthos

Pat Collins

The material provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or counsel.

Balancing the Risks, Responsibilities and Obligations of the LSRP

Edward Hogan

• LSRP Role in Site Remediation
• New Business Dynamic: 3 Parties
• Client
• Environmental Consulting Firm
• LSRP

• LSRP Role
• Training
• Contract
• Insurance
• Use of Corporate Form

New Business Dynamic

• Contract
• 3 Parties
• What happens when the LSRP leaves Environmental Consulting Firm?
• For current clients: Someone loses a client!
• For former clients: Who keeps the files?

• Corporate Succession
• Employee Handbooks and Employment Policies

Keeping Key Employees

Agreements with Employees/LSRP and Non-compete Issues – Protection of Company Assets and Retention of Talent

David Harmon

Ask the following questions regarding the LSRP, your employees and your business:

Who? What?

When?

Why? How?

• Protecting company assets and customer relationships, retaining key employees, and safely engaging the LSRP.

• WHO does my company need? From whom does the company need protection and ongoing loyalty?

Executive, LSRP and rank and file employees privy to trade secrets and confidential/proprietary information, including customer relationships. Protection from competitors is critical.

• WHAT can we do to keep key people and protect the company from theft of data, confidential and proprietary information and interference with employee, consulting and customer relationships? What happens when the LSRP leaves or completes the engagement?

Create binding contracts that impose reasonable restrictions on activity both during and after the employment and consulting relationships.

• WHEN does this come into effect?

Put agreements into effect at the commencement of employment and/or consulting arrangements. Or, for employees make them concurrent with reviews and increases in compensation/benefits.

• Costs/losses incurred by companies.
• Increase of theft by employees during recession.
• Security of company assets and retention of files.
• Provide protection from competitors poaching employees and theft of information and relationships.
• Put your employees and the competition on notice and create right to bring claims against departing employees/LSRP for breach of contract and against your competition for tortious interference with your contracts.

• Create agreements.
• Provide adequate consideration to make sure the agreements are enforceable.
• Create employment practices and policies that dovetail with your agreements.
• Enforce those agreements.

• Employment Agreements/Consulting Agreements (key executives, LSRP)
• Confidentiality/Non-disclosure Agreements
• Non-solicitation Agreements (Non-poach/raiding)
• Non-interference Agreements
• Non-competition Agreements (reasonable in scope, duration and geography)
• Non-disparagement Agreements (including “no kiss and tell” covenants)
• Return of Materials Agreements
• Invention Assignment Agreements (Work for Hire)

Professional Liability Insurance- and Beyond

Charles Miller

• Cover bodily injury and property damage claims
• Exclude coverage for professional liability claims
• Exclude coverage for pollution claims

• Generally claims-made policies
• Retroactive date- KEY!
• Unique LSRP issues

• For the site owner
• Protects insured against unanticipated losses associated with pollution conditions arising from:
• Unknown contamination (existing from past incidents but not yet discovered)
• New issues from known contamination (i.e. new regulatory requirements)
• New pollution releases

Why worry with LRSP issuing RAO?

• DEP has up to 3 years to audit RAO
• Can audit beyond 3 years if:
• Undiscovered contamination is found on RAO site
• Board conducts investigation of LSRP
• LSRP has had license suspended or revoked

N.J.S.A. 58:10C-25

• DEP can rescind RAO if remedial action may no longer protect public health and safety

N.J.A.C. 7:26C-

• Limitation of liability clause in contract
• Re-evaluate insurance
• Carefully prepare PL application
• Review policy and endorsements
• Maintain PL coverage – with retro date!
• If closing business, purchase ERP/tail
• Pollution coverage for property owner

How much?

Formula or salary multiple?

Push for a realistic value

Limited Liability by Corporate Formalities

John Lushis, Jr.

• Forming an entity affords the LSRP liability protection in the event a problem arises (e.g., litigation) and specifically protects the LSRP’s personal assets (e.g., house, bank accounts, etc.).
• While liability insurance affords the LSRP protection, without an entity, the LSRP could still have personal liability if damages exceed the amount of the insurance proceeds, the matter is excluded from policy coverage or a dispute arises with the insurer.
• Forming an entity is relatively inexpensive; i.e., the benefits substantially outweigh the costs.

• Several different entities can provide liability protection.
• The entity typically formed is a corporation (stockholders), a limited liability company (members) or a limited partnership (limited partners and general partner). A general partnership is not preferred because the general partner is liable for the obligations of the partnership.
• Selection of entity will depend on various factors, most notably tax considerations for the particular LSRP, the nature of the assets owned by the LSRP (e.g., land and buildings vs. personal property) and the degree of sophistication of management (e.g., sole member vs. Board of Directors).

Articles of Incorporation

• Sometimes referred to as the “corporate charter” these documents specify the corporate name, address, the term of existence, and the type and number of shares of stock issued. This is filed in the Secretary of State’s Office in Trenton.

By-laws

• These documents outline the manner in which the Corporation is to be governed and contain provisions relating to directors and officers and their responsibilities, meetings, and voting. Directors are selected by the stockholders and officers are selected by the Board of Directors. Naming directors and officers is critical.

Shareholders’ Agreement

• This document outlines rights and obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of shares in the event a stockholder desires to sell his interest, terminates his employment, dies, becomes disabled or becomes involved in a legal proceeding such as bankruptcy or divorce. Specifically, the agreement will specify who has the right to purchase and at what price.

Certificate of Organization

• Similar to the Articles of Incorporation and filed in Trenton.

Operating Agreement

• This document outlines the governance of the company and also contains provisions relating to buy-sell rights similar to those found in a shareholders’ agreement.

Operating Agreement (continued)

• LLCs can be managed in one of two ways: by all of the members or by one person who is designated as a manager. The manager’s responsibilities are specifically outlined in the Operating Agreement (e.g., right to execute contracts, open bank accounts), but certain extraordinary transactions will require approval by a certain percentage of all members (e.g., sale of the company).
• LLC requires less documentation to form than a corporation

Certificate of Partnership or Formation

• Similar to the Articles of Incorporation and filed in Trenton.

Partnership Agreement

• This document outlines the governance of the partnership and also contains provisions relating to buy-sell rights similar to those found in a shareholders’ agreement.
• A limited partnership has at least one general partner. Because of liability concerns, the general partner is often a limited liability company that owns 1% partnership interest and the members of this limited liability company are the limited partners.

Complying with the provisions of governing documents is critical to avoiding potential arguments that the entity is not legitimate.

Corporate Maintenanceand Tune Up

John Vanarthos

• Governing Bodies
• Shareholders
• Board of Directors
• Officers
• Documenting Corporate Action
• Authorizing Resolutions
• Delegations of Authority for Officers/Key Employees
• Meetings
• Annual/Periodic Meetings
• Proper Record Keeping
• Minute Book/Stock Ledger
• File Annual Report With Department of Treasury

Note:

• These Requirements Apply to All Corporations Regardless of Size/Number
• The Formalities Really Matter
• Failure to Comply Creates Risk of Losing Corporate Shield From Individual Liability

• NMM Corporate Tune-Up
• Review and update corporate book/stock ledger
• Limited liability and indemnification provisions
• Defining the Role of the LSRP
• Conflict of Interest Issues
• Limit Company Liability for LSRP’s Legal Responsibilities
• NMM Corporate Maintenance Program
• Designed to help maintain corporate records on an ongoing basis and include:
• Preparation of annual corporate consents
• Updates to corporate minute book throughout the year
• Acting as registered agent
• Guidance with filing of NJ Annual Report
• Meet with you once per year to discuss tax or business planning concerns
• Annual Fee of $350
• Enrollment may be cancelled at any time

• Shareholder (Operating) Agreements
• Restrictions on transfer or issuance of stock/equity
• Buy/Sell Provisions
• Upon death/retirement/termination
• Planning your exit strategy
• Planning for your partner’s exit
• Key-Person Life Insurance
• Coordinating with Estate Planning
• Permitted transfers to family members/trusts
• Marital status

Business Continuity Insurance

Charles Miller

• Buy-sell agreement - set up by Owners.
• Life insurance - fund the buy-sell.

Advantages

• Maintains business intact
• Provides heirs with prompt payment of agreed-upon amount of cash
• Avoids disputes between heirs and surviving owners
• Helps settle estate quickly

An insurance policy taken out by a business to compensate that business for financial losses that would arise from the death or extended disability of the member of the business specified in the policy.

Why?

To compensate the business for its losses and to facilitate business continuity when that key person is lost to the business

Who?

Death or disability would be a financial detriment to the company

What is covered?

• Replacement costs
• Lost profits
• Shareholder protection
• Guarantee coverage

No Excuses! No Surprises! – Employee Handbook and Employment Policies

Pat Collins

• EEO – Discrimination Prohibited
• Anti-Harassment
• Employment At-Will
• Benefits/Payroll Administration
• Privacy Expectations
• General Work Rules

• Extremely liberal interpretation
• Easier administrative process. No caps on damages.
• Lower thresholds than federal laws
• Allows suits against individuals
• Broader scope of protected classes under LAD
• CEPA “Reasonable Belief Standard”

• Applies to employers, individuals, and “any person who aids, abets, or otherwise assists” in prohibited conduct.
• Makes it unlawful to refuse to buy from, sell to, license, contract with or provide goods or services to anyone on the basis of a protected class.
• Prohibits harassing conduct by third parties (Visitors, customers, vendors, LSRP’s).

CEPA

• Applies not only to employees, but independent contractors as well.

• Written Policy Mandatory in NJ
• Presumed negligent without one
• Training of Managers Mandatory in NJ
• Risk Losing “Employer Defense”
• Employee Liability
• Good Business Practice

• Policy emphasized repeatedly
• Introductory Disclaimer
• At-Will Statement
• Benefits Disclaimer
• Codes of Conduct
• Discipline & Termination
• Signed Acknowledgement

• Disclaimer – “The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate any of these programs and to require or increase premium contributions toward any benefit programs in its discretion.”
• Benefit Explanations
• Leaves
• Pay Practices
• Safe Harbor Language
• Hours of Work
• Employee Classification
• Overtime Policy

• Confidentiality Issues
• Conflicts of Interest
• Company Property/Trade Secrets
• Employee Reference Requests
• Medical Information
• Company Investigations

• Drug and Alcohol Testing
• Searches
• Internet and Electronic Media
• Social Media and Networking
• Cell phones, Blackberrys, Smartphones
• Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Question & Answer Session

Thank you for coming!