Firm Newsletter | August 2025
Dear Clients and Friends:
We hope you are enjoying the end of your summer! We write to update you on recent activities at FRB.
First, we are excited to welcome Elizabeth Schlissel as a Partner in our Labor & Employment Practice Group. Elizabeth brings extensive experience advising employers on compliance, conducting internal investigations, and defending companies in complex workplace litigation. Her addition strengthens our ability to guide clients through evolving labor and employment challenges. Read the full press release and learn more about Elizabeth below.
Also, we are proud to share that Bart Eagle, Partner in our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group, has been sworn in as a panel mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. As a panel mediator for both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, Bart helps parties in federal cases work toward resolving disputes through mediation. Bart also brings that circumspect advice for the benefit of the firm’s litigated matters. Learn more about Bart here.
FRB is thrilled to once again support the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Golf Classic, taking place on Monday, September 29, 2025, at Nissequogue Golf Club in St. James, NY. Proceeds from the event directly benefit scholarships and financial aid for girls in need, while also expanding school-based community programming. Join us in supporting this tremendous cause and helping create opportunities for more girls to thrive. Learn more here.
Lastly, we are proud to announce that Andrew Cooper, Chair of FRB’s Cannabis & Psychedelics Practice Group, has once again been named to the Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers 2025–2026 list, published by Cannabis Law Report and Cannabis Law Journal. The annual guide recognizes leading cannabis practitioners worldwide, selected through client feedback, peer input, and editorial review. Andrew’s continued recognition reflects his deep experience and leadership in navigating the complex legal landscape of cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics, as well as the contributions of our expanded practice group. Congratulations, Andrew! Learn more about him and our cannabis services here.
Register for The Advanced Tax Strategy Webinar Series Presented by Matthew Foreman
- Join Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M., Co-Chair of FRB’s Taxation Practice Group, for the Advanced Tax Strategy Series, a four-part webinar program designed for professionals seeking deeper insights into sophisticated tax planning.
New York CLE and CPE, CFP CE, and IRS CE credits are available for all sessions. - Register here.
Register for Our Upcoming Webinars & Events
- Join FRB's Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M., Chair of the Cannabis & Psychedelics Practice Group, on Wednesday, September 3 - Thursday, September 4, in person in Washington D.C., as he presents "Cannabis Banker Centers of Influence," exploring financial innovation, regulatory reform, and compliance strategy. Connect with thought leaders shaping the future of cannabis.
- Learn more and register here.
- Join FRB’s Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M., Kimberly S. Bliss, Esq., Keith D. Black, Esq., and Karen C. Davakis, Esq. on Wednesday, September 3, 8:30 AM–4:10 PM ET and explore the probate process, from initial filings and intestate succession to asset inventory, claims, tax reporting, property sales, distributions, final estate closing, and more.
- Learn more and register here.
Webinar: Tax Issues with Distressed Real Estate
- Join FRB's Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. on Thursday, September 4, at 8:30 AM ET and explore the tax implications of debt restructuring, foreclosures, sales, deed-in-lieu transactions, bankruptcy, 1031 exchanges, and more.
- Learn more and register here.
- Join FRB's Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. for a free, three-day virtual event, taking place Friday, September 12 - Sunday, September 14. On Day 2, September 13 at 10:00 AM ET, Matthew will cover Section 1033, Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs), bonus depreciation and expensing, special allocations in fund structures, and much more.
- Learn more and register here.
- Join FRB’s Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. on Friday, September 19, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM ET. This program will cover choice of entity, fundamentals of pass-through taxation, filing requirements and audit triggers, deductions and credits, exit strategies, international considerations for closely held businesses, current tax updates, ethics, and more.
- Learn more and register here.
Check Out Our Latest Podcasts
How Tax Works - Ep. 32
How I Think the ESPN and NFL Deal is Structured
- In episode 32 of How Tax Works, Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M. discusses the tax structure of the recently announced deal where the NFL is exchanging NFL Network and Redzone for a 10% equity stake in ESPN.
- Listen here.
Block & Order #42
Project Crypto, SEC vs Ripple Aftermath, Nathaniel Chastain Freed and AI Age Detection
- In this episode of Block and Order, hosts Kyle M. Lawrence, Esq. and Moish E. Peltz, Esq. dive deep into "Project Crypto," the SEC’s new initiative to position America at the forefront of blockchain and digital asset innovation. They discuss the agency’s plans for clearer regulation, making it easier for crypto companies to operate in the U.S., and the importance of regulatory frameworks that evolve with technology. The hosts also touch on the conclusion of the SEC vs. Ripple case, the legal status of NFTs in trademark law, and recent developments around crypto access in retirement accounts, highlighting the rapidly changing landscape for digital assets.
- Watch here.
FRB Welcomes Elizabeth E. Schlissel
- Elizabeth E. Schlissel joins as Partner in FRB’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. She represents employers in workplace litigation, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, and ADA accessibility claims. Elizabeth also advises management and HR teams on compliance, conducts internal investigations, drafts workplace policies, and leads management and employee trainings to promote positive workplace cultures, providing our clients with practical strategies to minimize risk and protect their businesses.
Check Out Our Past Webinars
- Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. discusses how to apply UPIA and UFIPA provisions to determine trust accounting income and navigate complex allocation issues.
- Watch here.
- Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. explains Medicaid trust tax consequences and QTIP trusts in marital deduction planning + discusses common tax mistakes that can undermine even well-drafted trusts.
- Watch here.
- Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. explores how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reshapes deductions, credits, and tax planning for pass-through entities and small businesses—and what practitioners need to know now.
- Watch here.
Check Out Our Latest Insights & News
- The Second Circuit has ruled that New York’s adult-use cannabis licensing “extra priority” criteria, requiring a NY cannabis conviction, violates the Dormant Commerce Clause, a decision that could reshape the December queue and impact applicants statewide. Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M. and Terran Cooper discuss the case, its implications for New York’s cannabis market, and what may come next. Read here.
- Federal cannabis rescheduling is back in the headlines as the Trump administration weighs a possible move from Schedule I to Schedule III. Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M. and Terran Cooper explore what this change could mean for the industry in their latest article. Read here.
- A New York State Supreme Court decision has reshaped local cannabis zoning rules. Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M. and Terran Cooper explain how the ruling against Riverhead’s restrictions strengthens state authority and opens new opportunities for adult-use dispensaries. Read here.
- Over 100 New York cannabis dispensaries face relocation after OCM’s school-distance miscalculation. Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M., Christopher M. Slowik, Esq., Felicia Fortel, and Terran Cooper explain the impact on adult-use retail license holders and the steps to stay compliant. Read here.