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News (All)

CMM Closes Pet Industry M&A Deal

Posted: February 6th, 2025

Embarking on the journey of purchasing a company is an exciting milestone, but the process usually entails many complexities. 

CMM Partner Don Rassiger recently guided a client through the acquisition of a company in the pet industry. With multiple transactions involved, Don provided steadfast support at every stage. From structuring the purchase to negotiating a new lease, he ensured that every aspect of the deal was handled smoothly and successfully. 

“We’re thrilled to begin this new chapter,” shared the client. “Don’s support and guidance made all the difference.” 

For more information about our mergers and acquisitions services, please contact us at 631-738-9100. 

Campolo Moderates HIA-LI Economic Development Symposium

Posted: February 4th, 2025

Event Date: March 27th, 2025

Joe Campolo will moderate the HIA-LI Economic Development Symposium on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The event will be held at the Suffolk Y JCC from 8:00am to 10:00am. Hear about transformative projects on Long Island, including developments in the Long Island Innovation Park, Town of Smithtown and Town of Islip. Panelists include Ed Wehrheim, Supervisor of the Town of Smithtown, Angie Carpenter, Supervisor of the Town of Islip, Kelly Murphy, Executive Director & CEO of the Suffolk County IDA, and James Coughlan, Co-Founder of Tritec Real Estate.

Click here for more information and to register for the event.

Campolo Recognized as a Long Island Business Influencer

Posted: February 3rd, 2025

We are pleased to share that Joe Campolo has been recognized as a Long Island Business Influencer. Campolo is honored to be a part of this distinguished group that has helped strengthen Long Island’s business community.

Campolo has been getting things done in the business community for more than 25 years and is a recognized leader for tackling large projects and delivering results. From advising business owners and CEOs on M&A to running his own businesses, Campolo is immersed in finding creative solutions to complex problems. His deep, inner knowledge of the business world allows him to understand the perspective of business owners as they think about growing and selling their companies.

Campolo is also the Founder and CEO of Strata Alliance, a multi-family office with a network of carefully curated service providers, redefining the concept of assisting affluent and sudden wealth families. He takes a holistic approach to understanding all aspects of a client’s business, and his deep network of trusted advisors enables him to seamlessly provide critical services to high-net-worth clients.

As a top business strategist, Campolo is a go-to advisor for the who’s who of Long Island business, and he is a member of the prestigious Long Island Business Hall of Fame. Recognized as an authority on negotiation, Campolo enjoys an advantage in complex transactions and litigation and is routinely retained in “bet the company” legal matters by companies large and small.  

Campolo is also deeply involved in philanthropy, starting his own nonprofit, CMM Cares. Believing that bringing the business community together can make a difference, CMM Cares supports Long Islanders facing unexpected challenges. Campolo serves on the board of the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. He actively contributes to the HIA-LI as a board member and chairs the Economic Development Task Force.

Campolo served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a member of St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Stony Brook and is an executive producer of “Tribute,” an award-winning short film.

He graduated from Stony Brook University and Fordham University School of Law. 

View the full Long Island Business Influencers book here.

Annual Business Checkup: Preventing a Costly Business Divorce

Posted: January 31st, 2025

By: David Green, Esq. email, Alex Tomaro, Law Clerk email

The phrase “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” has Latin roots, tracing back to “si vis pacem, para bellum,” meaning “if you want peace, prepare for war,” emphasizing the need to be optimistic, but prepared.

In the context of business relationships, this mindset is especially relevant. Business relationships often begin with shared goals, trust, and mutual interests, but disagreements, changes in circumstances, or evolving visions can lead to disputes, and possibly business divorce. To avoid legal issues and financial strain, it is crucial to be proactive and prepared. Regular assessments of key corporate documents are essential!

For corporations, the bylaws are the rules that generally govern the operation of the business. However, specific agreements between the shareholders should be further fleshed out in a separate shareholder agreement. The shareholder agreement should address everything from management structure to shareholder rights and dispute resolution mechanisms. As legal landscapes and business and personal relationships evolve, outdated agreements can create complications, misunderstandings, and unnecessary disputes. Being proactive helps ensure that all parties are on the same page, ultimately making the navigation of working relationships, the dissolution process, and any other disputes more efficient and less contentious.

For LLCs or other business structures where ownership is shared, the operating agreement is the central document. Some crucial elements to review in this document are the terms for dissolution and buyouts. If a partner wants to exit, how is the buyout structured? Are there clear formulas in place, or will a third-party valuation be required?

For partnerships, a clear partnership agreement is the first line of defense against the fallout from a potential business divorce. A properly drafted partnership agreement should articulate roles, responsibilities, and expectations, and most importantly, provide clear mechanisms for withdrawal, dissolution, and valuation of the business.

Financial mismanagement or disagreements can lead to significant legal issues. Clear and transparent financial agreements help prevent such problems. Key items to review include debt obligations, liability distribution, profit-sharing models, and capital calls or funding expectations. These financial agreements should be revisited annually to reflect the business’s current financial standing and to ensure clarity over financial responsibilities and expectations.

A business divorce does not have to be a messy, expensive ordeal if business owners maintain clear, well-drafted agreements and regularly review their governing documents. A proactive approach to legal maintenance ensures that your business is protected from conflicts, liabilities, and potential complications. By preparing for the worst while hoping for the best, you can safeguard your business’s future and avoid the costly repercussions of neglecting to check up on important governing agreements.

For more input and guidance on business divorce, reach out to David Green at 631-738-9100.

Thank you to Alex Tomaro for his research and writing assistance.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. The firm provides legal advice and other services only to persons or entities with which it has established an attorney-client relationship.

Campolo Moderates HIA-LI Gold Event Panel: Election 2025 is Over! What Lies Ahead?

Posted: January 30th, 2025

Today, at our Ronkonkoma offices, we hosted an engaging and unscripted discussion on the post-election landscape, moderated by Joe Campolo. He was joined by esteemed panelists Jerry Kremer, Chairman of Empire Government Strategies, and Mike Dawidziak, Political Strategist and President of Strategic Planning Consulting. The panelists provided deep insights of some of the most pressing political and economic issues of the day including tariffs, immigration, SALT deduction, and energy. The panelists spoke transparently, offering their perspectives and engaging the audience with thoughtful insights into how these issues shape both the regional and national landscape.

This event was not just a discussion—it was an opportunity to reinforce Strata Alliance and the HIA-LI‘s commitment to keeping business leaders informed, engaged, and prepared for what’s ahead. By bringing together top industry leaders, Strata and HIA-LI continue to provide the insights and strategic guidance that help businesses and families navigate complex financial, economic, and political landscapes.

A huge thank you to our panelists, attendees, and everyone who made this event a success! 

Understanding the New Telemarketing Consent Rule: Key Changes for Sellers & Marketers

Posted: January 27th, 2025

By: Vincent Costa, Esq. email, Alex Tomaro, Law Clerk email

UPDATE: On Friday, January 24, 2025, the Eleventh Circuit ruled in Insurance Marketing Coalition v. FCC, vacating the FCC’s one-to-one consent rule and sending it back to the agency. The court determined that the rule exceeded the FCC’s authority under the TCPA. Given that the rule would have introduced substantial new consent requirements for marketing calls, this decision provides a significant relief for calling parties. Stay tuned for additional updates.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced new regulations under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) which are set to go into effect on January 27, 2025. This new rule will directly impact businesses engaged in telemarketing, text messaging, and other forms of communication using automated systems. These changes are designed to strengthen consumer protection and ensure that companies obtain explicit, individualized consent from each customer before contacting them using automatic dialing systems or prerecorded voices.

Under the revised rule, sellers of information can no longer rely on a single customer consent provided by a lead generator. Previously, businesses could obtain consent through third-party partners, such as lead generators, which would then apply to all the telemarketers associated with the seller. Now, each seller must separately obtain consent from a consumer before making calls or sending texts that fall under the wireless number prohibition.

The key stipulation is that the marketer must clearly list the entities on whose behalf it is seeking consent. This means that while a marketer can still obtain consent for several sellers, it must be transparent about who is involved and ensure that consumers are fully informed about which company is seeking permission.

For a business to comply with the new TCPA rules, the consent it obtains must be “clear and conspicuous.” The FCC has defined this standard as meaning that the consent disclosure must be “apparent to a reasonable consumer.” The consent should not be buried in fine print, hidden behind hyperlinks, or difficult to read. However, determining whether a disclosure is “clear and conspicuous” can be complex, as it depends on the context and the specific interaction with the consumer.

The scope of communication that is permitted once consent is granted will be closely tied to the context in which it was given. The FCC has stated that calls and texts must be “logically and topically associated” with the reason the consumer initially provided consent. In other words, the content of the communication must be relevant to the purpose or context of the consumer’s interaction with the seller.

While the FCC has not provided a strict definition of what constitutes “reasonably inferred” content, it has suggested that businesses err on the side of caution. When in doubt, sellers should limit the content to what a consumer would clearly expect based on the purpose of the website or location where consent was provided. This means that businesses must carefully consider what is appropriate to send to a consumer and avoid overstepping the bounds of what the consumer likely expected when they gave consent.

For more guidance, contact Vincent J. Costa, Esq. at 631-738-9100.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. The firm provides legal advice and other services only to persons or entities with which it has established an attorney-client relationship.

Campolo Moderates HIA-LI 47th Annual Meeting & Legislative Program

Posted: January 17th, 2025

Joe Campolo moderated a panel of elected officials at HIA-LI’s 47th Annual Meeting & Legislative Program, attended by over 400 members of the business community. The panel featured prominent local and state leaders, including Congressman Nick LaLota, Suffolk County Presiding Officer of the Legislature Kevin McCaffrey, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter, and Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth. These officials shared their priorities for 2025, with a particular emphasis on infrastructure, notably sewer expansion and waste solutions. Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth remarked, “Sewers are everything,” highlighting the critical role of wastewater infrastructure in driving economic development, protecting public health, and supporting sustainable growth.

Christine Malafi quoted in Long Island Business News on New Retail Worker Safety Law 

Posted: January 14th, 2025

By Ed Moltzen, Contributing Writer, LIBN

Retailers will be subject to a new law starting March 3 requiring them to take action to keep their workers safe, an act described as common sense but with some wrinkles that the state legislature may soon amend.

The New York Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA), passed by the state legislature last year and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul, would require retailers to train employees on workplace safety, as well as providing them with written safety policies. Larger retail businesses would also implement panic buttons.

“I think some retail stores are already doing things to protect their workers, but this law is made to help make sure all workers are safe,” said Christine Malafi, senior partner with Campolo, Middleton & McCormick of Ronkonkoma. “If their workers are safe, that means their customers are safe.”

And safe customers make for better business.

“It’s one of those laws that I have to say kind of makes sense,” Malafi added.

Read the full article here.