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Do You Need to Expand Your Customer Base?

If you have a product or service consider expanding your targeted customer to municipalities or institutions. Many organizations need products and services, possibly what you are selling, and their purchasing departments are looking for additional suppliers. Some use a bidding process and others have approved lists. You should start with a little research about the …

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Do You Sell Prepaid Gift Cards?

If your business offers gift certificates or prepaid gift cards you need to be aware of a new law affecting those cards. In March 2009, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 was enacted setting out certain restrictions on gift certificates, store gift cards and general-use prepaid-cards. That law requires the …

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The Fight Over Sprinklers Continues

As a follow up to my March 26, 2010 post on the new Uniform Construction Code provisions in Pennsylvania that mandate sprinkler systems in new homes, the Pennsylvania Builders Association has set up a “Roll Back the Code” website. The issue appears not to be with sprinklers themselves, but the requirement and associated cost …

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New Lead Paint Certification Required for Renovation Contractors

Today, April 22, 2010, the final portion of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule takes effect. All contracting firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must now be certified, use individuals with accredited training and must …

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Sprinklers Required in PA New Homes

In early 2010, the Pennsylvania Builders Association, among others, filed a lawsuit to stop the implementation of a new and updated Uniform Construction Code in Pennsylvania. Copies of the filing are available on the Builders Association website. Among the provisions objectionable to the Builders Association was a provision requiring new single family and townhomes …

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Will You See Solar Panels in Your Neighborhood?

Will you see solar panels in your neighborhood? Maybe, or maybe not depending on whether there is a homeowners association and what the restrictions for your neighborhood say – but it may not matter for long. Pennsylvania State Representative Tom Houghton has recently indicated he intends to put forth legislation which would prohibit Homeowners …

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RESPA Changes

Effective January 1, 2010 new HUD rules went into effect which require the settlement process for borrowers to be made more clear by the use of new forms. The Good Faith Estimate form and HUD-1 Settlement Statement required by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) has been revamped. Lenders, borrowers and title companies need …

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Business Name Registration

I often get asked by people starting up a new business venture whether they need to file for a fictitious name. In Pennsylvania, a fictitious name is the name you “do business as” or “trade as”. It is the business name you use with the public. If you are not intending to form a legal …

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Managing Your Legal Experience

In these economic times we are often asked by the client how they can help their legal case along, or control the costs. Here are a couple of tips to manage your legal experience: Many lawyers send engagement/fee letters. They set out the terms of the representation–basically what you pay, when fees are due, retainers, …

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  • “We recently hired Unruh Turner Burke & Frees to handle a conditional use application for our Chestnut Street Lofts apartment project in downtown West Chester..."

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  • “… This highly-talented group delivers the highest quality legal work and brings real-world experience in a very cost-effective manner…”

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  • "If there is an issue facing a municipality, Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is the source for sound guidance and direction.”

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meet our elite team
West Chester, PA
17 West Gay Street
P.O. BOX 515
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 692-1371
Phoenixville, PA
120 Gay Street
P.O. Box 289
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 933-8069