Howard Koh's Weekly Vlog Update (Video)

California's Starter Home Revitalization Act receives significant enhancements through Senate Bill 1116, expanding site eligibility criteria, limiting local zoning restrictions, and invalidating certain private deed covenants to accelerate small-lot residential subdivisions. The legislation introduces streamlined 60-day ministerial approvals while establishing new rules for lot size averaging, height restrictions, and concurrent permit processing that fundamentally reshape the pathway for starter home devel

A California Court of Appeal has invalidated San Francisco's Empty Homes Tax, ruling that the Ellis Act—which protects property owners' right to exit the rental market—also shields them from being forced to enter it through vacancy taxation. This landmark decision raises critical questions about the viability of similar residential vacancy taxes that other California municipalities have enacted or are considering as housing policy tools.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed multiple state housing bills into law that will take effect January 1, 2027, introducing significant changes to housing development regulations across the state. These new laws establish streamlined ministerial approval processes for various housing types, from high-density transit hub projects in major cities to townhomes and factory-built housing, while also reforming ADU regulations, permit processing requirements, and density bonus provisions. Will these legis

Facilitating the use of modern manufacturing methods in the production of manufactured and other factory-built housing eligible for federal housing programs.

Landlords of rent stabilized buildings in New York City have filed a lawsuit challenging the rent freeze passed by the Rent Guidelines Board, questioning the Board's independence and data integrity. With operating costs rising 31% over five years while the Board voted 7-1 for a freeze affecting 1 million apartments, the case raises critical questions about the balance between tenant protection and landlord viability.

On April 6, 2026, the same day that the Colorado Supreme Court issued its decision in Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC v. Regional Rail Partners, Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 26-074 into law. The legislation, which took effect on August 12, 2026, clarifies the amounts that may be included in mechanic’s liens and public construction payment claims, as well as the circumstances under which those claims may be considered excessive.

Mechanic's liens pose significant challenges for property owners and developers in California construction projects, even when they have fulfilled their payment obligations. Understanding the strict procedural requirements, timing deadlines, and available remedies can help owners protect their projects from improper claims and efficiently resolve legitimate liens when they arise.

North Carolina's Senate Bill 445 eliminates the longstanding exceptions that allowed homeowners associations to restrict American and North Carolina flag displays, fundamentally changing two decades...

The Texas Business Court examined whether foreclosure notices delivered via email and UPS next-day service satisfied contractual deed of trust provisions and Texas Property Code requirements that specified certified mail. The court also addressed whether notice sent to a designated agent constituted proper notice to the borrower when the borrower's name was omitted from the address line.

If you own multiple businesses, manage a real estate portfolio, or plan to expand into multiple ventures, there's a business structure that could save you thousands in formation costs while providing robust asset protection.

For a company that has historically tried to squash new uses of its content, the December OpenAI Sora deal reads as an "if you can't beat them, join them" moment.

Consumers have seen a recent and vexing trend of additional credit card charges at restaurants and stores. And, business owners are understandably confused...

The meteoric rise of AI has brought upon new legal issues especially in the copyright space. Currently, the following ongoing litigations are at the forefront of the intersection of AI...

The new year's ball will be dropping before we know it. As we finish out 2025, New York employers must be "checking their lists"...

A recent court decision in Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence highlights new legal risks for AI training.

Tennessee has enacted its first comprehensive non-compete law outside healthcare, establishing a $70,000 salary threshold below which such agreements are prohibited and creating a presumption of reasonableness for agreements lasting two years or less. How will this middle-ground approach affect employers' ability to protect their business interests while providing greater predictability in enforcement?

On November 17, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Senate Bill S3539/A4167 (the "Five Percent Retainage Bill"), which amended certain sections of New York's General Business Law...

Meister Seelig & Fein LLP maintains a strategic presence across multiple U.S. states with offices located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Tennessee. This geographic distribution enables the firm to serve clients throughout major business centers on both coasts and key markets in between.

We're happy to share another episode of Partner Howard Koh's weekly vlog. This week, he discusses interest and attorneys' fees. Tune in here to find out how New York Courts handle contracts with provisions.

On June 20, 2023, the New York State Legislature passed a bill, which would have banned the creation and enforcement of non-compete clauses in agreements with covered individuals.