About Canaan Suitt, J.D.
Canaan Suitt received his J.D. from William & Mary Law School. After serving as a senior editor for the law school’s comparative law blog, he was a staff member of the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review (ELPR). As a legal intern at the National Center for State Courts, he assisted in international rule of law projects and policy review; as a research assistant, he studied political dynamics in the U.S. federal judiciary. His articles on law and philosophy have been published in the ELPR as well as the academic journal Dewey Studies. He loves using his background in research and writing to make legal information accessible. Canaan currently writes for SuperLawyers.com. In his free time, he enjoys reading, travel, and being a cat dad.
Articles written by Canaan Suitt, J.D.
How Long Does Mediation Take?
Resolving a dispute through mediation takes far less time than litigationGoing to court is not something anyone wants to do. Sometimes, however, litigation becomes necessary to defend your legal rights or to be compensated for injuries or other wrongs. Still, the process is stressful. Litigation typically takes a long time to complete — multiple months or years depending on the case. It also tends to be expensive, and the important decisions are out of your control and in the hands of a judge. Mediation, a type of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is a …
What to Look For in a Good Mediator
Empathy, experience, and being a good listener are essential“There are several ways to resolve disputes,” says Richard C. Kraege, an alternative dispute resolution attorney in Indianapolis—”jousting, firing guns, fist fights, agreeing between yourselves, taking a case to trial. But mediation is the preferred way to resolve disputes.” What is Mediation, and Why is it Preferred? Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party called a mediator helps the opposing parties negotiate an agreement that both will accept. The mediator doesn’t …
How to Prepare for a Successful Mediation
An ADR attorney shares tips on preparing for the mediation processAlternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to several methods for resolving legal disputes without litigation in court. Mediation is one of the most common alternative dispute resolution processes. What is Mediation? In mediation, a neutral third party called a mediator helps the opposing parties reach a successful resolution of their dispute through negotiation. Mediation sessions can be done face-to-face or virtually and they can be used to resolve many types of conflict, from business and …
What Is Alternative Dispute Resolution?
ADR may resolve your legal dispute faster, cheaper, and with less stressGoing to court is often time-consuming, expensive, and stressful for the parties involved. You may be wondering if there's another way to resolve your legal dispute. Luckily, there is. "Alternative dispute resolution or ADR is an alternative to having your case presented in court to a judge and getting a decision that one or both parties will be unhappy with," says Linda Mealey-Lohmann, an ADR attorney in St. Paul, Minnesota. There are several types of ADR that follow different rules and …
Managing and Involving Employees in Your M&A Deal
Employee risk management in the mergers and acquisitions processWhether you’re a buyer or seller, a merger or acquisition deal is a defining moment in the life of your business. It’s also a significant event for your employees, who face potential changes in their workplace and terms of employment. Part of successfully navigating any M&A deal is managing your company’s human capital through the process—keeping employees informed, assuaging concerns, and leveraging their knowledge at key points. Make a Plan to Inform Employees About the M&A …
Make Your Company’s M&A Deal Succeed with Legal Due Diligence
Ensure your business knows what it’s acquiringDue diligence is an essential step in any big purchase. It's basically verifying the facts about what you're seeking to acquire. Say you’re looking to buy a used car, for example. You have a pretty good idea of the style and price range you want. After some initial research, you find a used car that seems to meet your criteria. At this point, what do you do? Since it’s a significant purchase, you probably want to take the car for a test drive or have a trusted mechanic look it over before …
When to Hire a Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney
Business owners and entrepreneurs should seek legal advice early in the M&A processIf you’re the owner of a company buying or selling a business, an M&A transaction is a defining event in the life of your business. A strategic M&A deal can reap multiple benefits for your small or midsize business, including: Economic growth and capital gains Geographic expansion and improving economies of scale Diversification of business partners and workforce talent Improving your competitive advantage and increasing efficiency But with these potential rewards come risks. There …
Can You Sell Cannabis Products Across State Lines?
Restrictions on transporting cannabis out of state severely limit direct-to-consumer e-commerceAs of March 2023, 21 states plus Washington, D.C., have enacted full marijuana legalization. Many other states have decriminalized recreational use or allowed some form of medical marijuana. Eric D. Shevin, a cannabis law attorney, remembers the sense of excitement when California legalized recreational cannabis in 2015, becoming only the fifth state to do so. Despite the state-level movement toward cannabis legalization, it remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. In …
Cannabis and Taxes: What Cannabis Business Owners Need to Know
You have to pay cannabis taxes without getting tax benefitsIf you are a cannabis business owner or an investor seeking opportunities in the cannabis industry, you’re in for a tough time when it comes to taxes. Though many states have either fully legalized or decriminalized cannabis, it remains federally illegal. As a result, cannabis businesses aren't entitled to any business tax deductions or benefits. But even in states where cannabis is legalized, taxes for the industry are onerous. Potential cannabis entrepreneurs and investors …
Open Meeting Laws and Your Local Government
Understanding the public’s right to access meetings of public bodies“A central idea in the United States is that we are a government by the people,” says Ian T. Baxter, a state & local government law attorney in Allentown, Pennsylvania. "We are governed by our peers. And the expectation is that you, as a citizen, have access to the government. Every single citizen and person has access." How is the ideal of government transparency put into practice? One important way is through open meeting laws. "Open meeting laws are geared toward …
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