Jaburg Wilk

10/16/2026

A thirty-second conversation can matter more than a year of scheduled meetings. Yet many professionals find reasons to stay behind their desks. Business attorney Neal Bookspan has seen how a single unplanned moment can change the course of a career, and why it rarely happens on the schedule you expect.

Business attorney Neal Bookspan on why professional networking pays off in unexpected ways, and how chance meetings build referrals, clients, and careers.

10/09/2026

A lawyer can always do more research. An accountant can always run more numbers. It looks like diligence, but business attorney Neal Bookspan says it can also be a polished way to put off a hard call.

Think of the client who needs to hear their case isn't going well. The partner whose strategy has a problem. The employee you like who just isn't working out. Most professionals already know what these moments require. So why do so many of us wait, and who ends up paying for the delay?

Business attorney Neal Bookspan explains why professionals and business leaders stall on decisions they already know are right, and who pays the price.

10/07/2026

A taxpayer believed health problems linked to poor living conditions would keep a housing settlement from being taxed. The case went all the way to the Ninth Circuit, and the outcome carried real financial consequences. Many people assume settlement money is theirs to keep, but the tax rules are narrower than most expect, and small details in how a settlement is documented can make a big difference. Tax attorney Annalyse Harris looks at what the court decided and what it means for anyone negotiating, signing, or reporting a settlement.

Most settlement proceeds are taxable. Tax attorney Annalyse Harris explains the Ninth Circuit ruling and key tax rules for settlement income.

10/05/2026

Using AI to prepare for a legal matter seems like an easy way to save money. For many clients, it ends up costing more. The tools can sound confident and persuasive, yet what they produce often needs far more attention than people expect once it reaches a lawyer's desk. IP attorney Maria Crimi Speth on why AI shortcuts can backfire, and what clients should keep in mind before relying on them.

Using AI for legal tasks might backfire if lawyers need to correct or verify its work, potentially increasing your legal fees.

09/30/2026

In Arizona, an LLC can be bound by an operating agreement that was never written down. Under the state's LLC Act, these agreements can be oral, implied, or a mix of both, and no one ever has to call them an "operating agreement." That means everyday conversations between business partners could end up setting their rights, duties, and roles in the company. If a dispute comes up later, it can turn into a "he said, she said" fight, and a court may have to decide whose version of events to believe. Business attorney Beth Cohn warns that an agreement created by accident can have serious effects on an LLC and the people who run it.

Business attorney Beth Cohn explains how Arizona LLC law allows oral and implied operating agreements, and the risks casual conversations can create.

09/28/2026

The nonprofit Articles of Incorporation form from the Arizona Corporation Commission meets state law, but it leaves out the language the IRS requires for 501(c)(3) status. Even the Commission's own instructions admit this. For new nonprofits, that gap can lead to a denied or delayed tax-exempt application, even when the mission clearly qualifies. It can also affect access to grants and tax-deductible donations. Tax attorney Annalyse Harris points to three clauses the IRS expects to see and why they matter from day one.

Ensure your Arizona nonprofit secures 501(c)(3) status by including IRS-required clauses in your Articles of Incorporation, avoiding costly delays.

09/25/2026

Treating a polite opponent as an easy target can be one of the most expensive mistakes in business. Business attorney Neal Bookspan has seen it happen with coworkers, partners, and opposing counsel. What happens when that "easy" opponent walks into the negotiation or the discovery fight?

Business attorney Neal Bookspan on why civility with colleagues, business partners, and opposing counsel should never be mistaken for softness.

09/23/2026

Arizona law does not require an LLC to have an operating agreement. But leaving one out can put the very protection an LLC is meant to provide at risk. Without clear written terms, a court may be more willing to look past the business structure and hold owners personally liable for business debts. Estate planning attorney Michelle Ronan outlines what a custom operating agreement can cover, from ownership percentages and profit sharing to tax treatment and what happens when a member leaves or passes away. For single-member and multi-member LLCs alike, the details written in at the start can shape how the business handles its hardest moments.

Partner estate planning attorney Michelle Ronan explains why a custom operating agreement is crucial for Arizona LLCs, highlighting five key reasons.

09/21/2026

Congratulations to Partner Aaron Haar on being named President of the Phoenix Chapter of the Federal Bar Association for 2026–2027!

Aaron has served on the chapter's board and now steps into the top leadership role of one of the most active and collegial chapters in the FBA. The chapter brings together private practitioners, government attorneys, federal judges, law professors, and law students committed to excellence in federal practice.

In the year ahead, Aaron is focused on strong educational programming with members of the federal judiciary, supporting the federal courts, mentoring the next generation of federal practitioners, and keeping beloved chapter traditions going (yes, including the Big Cookie Olympics).

At Jaburg Wilk, Aaron focuses his practice on intellectual property, internet law, unfair competition, false advertising, defamation, and business litigation. He also serves as Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of Arizona.

We're proud to see Aaron lead the Phoenix federal legal community. Congratulations, Aaron!

09/18/2026

Ask most professionals what work actually energizes them and they go quiet. Years of chasing stability and the next title buried the answer.

Business attorney Neal Bookspan, has watched attorneys drag through one assignment and come alive when the conversation turns to another. Same person, same day. The task was not the variable.

Business attorney Neal H. Bookspan on why most professionals cannot name the work that truly energizes them, and what their own attention is already telling them.