New law affects award of attorneys’ fees in commercial contract disputes

North Carolina recently enacted a new law affecting business contracts governed by North Carolina law. Senate Bill 414 (enacted as NCGS §6-21.6) expressly validates provisions in commercial agreements providing for the award of reasonable attorneys’ fees. The attorneys’ fee provision in the contract must comply with the statute, which applies to certain business contracts entered into on or after October 1, 2011.

SEC Adopts Dodd-Frank Act Amendments to Investment Advisers Act

On June 22, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules that require certain hedge fund and private equity fund managers to register with the SEC. These regulations also establish new exemptions from SEC registration and reporting requirements for certain advisers. For example, firms will have to submit a valuation of every portfolio company quarterly. Critics have suggested that the costs of compliance will adversely impact the supply of private capital in the lower-middle market. In response, the House is considering a bill that would exempt private equity funds from these new registration and reporting requirements. Stay tuned…

Mary Mandeville joins Alexander Ricks PLLC as a Member.

Alexander Ricks PLLC is pleased to announce that Mary Mandeville has joined the firm as a Member. Mary has more than 20 years of commercial litigation experience in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Throughout her career in Charlotte, Mary has been actively involved in the community and local bar, including serving on the Mecklenburg County Bar Board of Directors. She has been repeatedly recognized as a North Carolina SuperLawyer in Business Litigation.