In construction, delays can cost money. Owners want the job moving, schedules are tight, and contractors do not want to lose momentum before a project even begins. So, when an owner says that the contract is almost done, it may feel harmless to start early. However, starting work before a contract is signed can put...
In early 2026, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) restored a business-friendly joint-employer rule that was in place in 2020. This formal ruling provides clear, practical guidelines for employers across the state for when a company can be held legally responsible for workers employed by another business. If your Texas company is wondering what it...
Recent years have shown a dramatic increase in recalls across industries. This is likely the result of several factors that are influencing a quickly changing regulatory landscape. At Fee, Smith & Sharp, LLP, our products liability team is dedicated to staying up to date on these regulatory changes to help you proactively prepare yourself to...
A Texas appeals court recently let Texas employers know when it comes to mandatory arbitration agreements, they had better comply with the legal requirements of their own contracts if they want to enforce them. Contracts must be validly executed to be enforceable. When contract terms are disputed, Texas courts examine the written terms to determine...
Business acquisition contracts contain indemnification clauses to allocate the risk of potential liabilities that may arise after a sale has closed. Despite buyer due diligence, pre-existing liabilities and inaccurate information are discovered with some frequency post-closing. Understandably, a business buyer is not interested in assuming the seller’s liabilities or in being misled about the sale...
Across the nation, builder confidence in new single-family home sales had been trending downward for months, though builder sentiment has begun to rise, and those in Texas fare better than much of the rest of the United States. However, consumers are still wary, largely due to economic concerns. The major metropolitan areas in Texas, including...
When significant changes in federal labor law arise, Texas employers need to understand the implications, and recent developments from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit are among them. In a pivotal ruling that significantly limits the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) ability to impose broad monetary awards on employers, the Fifth Circuit...
If you own a limited liability company (LLC) in Texas, you are counting on it to protect your personal assets if things go sideways. A recent decision from the Texas Business Court just gave that protection a significant boost, reassuring business owners that it is incredibly difficult to be held personally responsible for a company’s...
If you’re a business owner in Texas, you know that along with the rewards come some significant risks. Practical management of business risks often involves the use of insurance to transfer financial loss exposures that a business couldn’t or doesn’t want to absorb. Business contracts contain promises of performance, and parties are entitled to rely...
The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Council has been reviewing and updating its guidance on government procurement in recent months in an effort to streamline rules and procedures following an executive order by the Trump Administration. Contractors must follow these rules to successfully bid for jobs, acquire goods and services, and secure contracts. Fee, Smith &...
