ABA Insider TIPS

How many settlement arrangements are there? As we learn in this discussion with plaintiff tax lawyer Jeremy Babener, many! Different arrangements solve different problems. Among others, we discuss structured settlements, plaintiff recovery trusts, special needs trusts, and qualified settlement funds.

In this Series, TIPS explores what trial lawyers need to know about tax. Trial lawyer Shannon Davis sits down for a multi-part conversation with Jeremy Babener, tax lawyer to plaintiff firms. He advises on cases across the country and vets and designs many of the arrangements we use at settlement.

Trial lawyers are focused on recoveries, not tax. And big surprise - that’s led to a lot of misunderstandings and myths about plaintiff and plaintiff firm taxation. We discuss confidentiality clauses, allocations between claims and claimants, and the practice of paying the firm and plaintiff separately to reduce taxation. In this quick episode we “bust” several myths you may have heard.

In this Series, TIPS explores what trial lawyers need to know about tax. Trial lawyer Shannon Davis sits down for a multi-part conversation with Jeremy Babener, tax lawyer to plaintiff firms. He advises on cases across the country and vets and designs many of the arrangements we use at settlement.

Distress damages are typically taxable unless they result from a physical injury. That means a tax on the recovery, including on the portion paying the trial lawyer’s contingency fee. You can reduce the taxable portion, reduce the tax rate, and avoid the “plaintiff double tax.” In this episode, we discuss how.

In this Series, TIPS explores what trial lawyers need to know about tax. Trial lawyer Shannon Davis sits down for a multi-part conversation with Jeremy Babener, tax lawyer to plaintiff firms. He advises on cases across the country and vets and designs many of the arrangements we use at settlement.

Physical injury recoveries are generally tax-free, but plaintiffs can still save a lot of tax if their lawyer is looking. Many plaintiffs have future medical expenses, but they’re typically not deductible without special language in the settlement agreement. Many plaintiffs can benefit from tax subsidies, asset protection strategies, and protection of government benefits.

In this Series, TIPS explores what trial lawyers need to know about tax. Trial lawyer Shannon Davis sits down for a multi-part conversation with Jeremy Babener, tax lawyer to plaintiff firms. He advises on cases across the country and vets and designs many of the arrangements we use at settlement.

Most trial lawyers have implemented structured settlements for clients. But what’s really happening? Is there a “tax subsidy” involved? Should the defense care? And what should trial lawyers know to protect and inform their clients.

In this Series, TIPS explores what trial lawyers need to know about tax. Trial lawyer Shannon Davis sits down for a multi-part conversation with Jeremy Babener, tax lawyer to plaintiff firms. He advises on cases across the country and vets and designs many of the arrangements we use at settlement.

In this Series, TIPS explores what trial lawyers need to know about tax. Trial lawyer Shannon Davis sits down for a multi-part conversation with Jeremy Babener, tax lawyer to plaintiff firms. He advises on cases across the country and vets and designs many of the arrangements we use at settlement.

In this episode we discuss personal injury tax at the highest level. Do trial lawyers even need to think about it, and when? How much of a difference does it make? How much do trial lawyers need to know in order to issue-spot?

While there is a lot of discussion on the requirements and obligations for AI Governance, there is very little guidance that organizations currently have on how to translate those requirements into actionable controls that they can understand and implement.

This presentation will address that gap, as experts in law and technology review the legal requirements for AI governance and describe an approach to map them into technical controls, which the organizations can use as a checklist to implement responsible innovation practices. It also illustrates how to apply this approach to enterprise AI use cases.

Recent trends have emerged on the horizon in cybersecurity with potentially wide-ranging ripple effects for governance and risk management. This includes the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) calling for mandatory disclosure by companies of material cybersecurity risks, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Office of National Cyber Director (ONCD) advocating for ⁠secure by design⁠ principles and exploring potential liability for insecure software, among other efforts.

In this episode, experts in policy, law and technology explore these developments, and key considerations for organizations for cyber risk management.

Join us as we celebrate Rick DiLiberto, recipient of the prestigious ABA TIPS Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Service Award. This litigation partner at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor has dedicated his career to representing injured families, particularly children, while serving a decade in the Delaware State House of Representatives and supporting community service through UNICO Foundation. Discover how DiLiberto's professional journey exemplifies Senator Muskie's legacy of public service and dedication to equal justice for all citizens.

In this episode of Insider TIPS, Yasmin Sebah, Senior Lecturer in Law at Middlesex University Dubai and international consultant, shares her inspiring journey and offers valuable advice for young graduates worldwide—particularly US-qualified lawyers—on building an international career in the Gulf. She explores the growing opportunities in international arbitration, from becoming a lecturer or professor to pursuing roles as mediators, arbitrators, counsels, and policymakers. For those interested in teaching ADR-related courses on international campuses while maintaining a practice, she provides actionable strategies to navigate this unique career path.

Interview Conducted by Ibrahim Ati