- Premarital AgreementPringle & Pringle also assists its clients with personal needs, including prenuptial agreements, trusts, wills and estate planning, and administration.
- Criminal DefenseDespite its growing approval among the states and voters, marijuana remains illegal under federal criminal law and its possession and distribution may be punishable with long prison sentences. Under the Obama administration, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued memoranda setting out its priorities regarding enforcement of marijuana related crimes in states that have approved medical or recreational use. [ii] Essentially, it was the policy of federal agencies and prosecutors to avoid interference with the application of state marijuana laws, unless specific activities violated the priorities they set out (e.g. sales to minors, revenue to gangs or cartels, etc.). The Trump administration has reversed course from the Obama administration – ostensibly taking authority away from the states – and Attorney General Jeff Sessions revoked the prior memoranda on January 4, 2018 of this year.
- Sex Crimes[ix] That is, felons convicted of more serious crimes (e.g. first & second degree murder, human trafficking, and child pornography) are “required to serve not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of any sentence of imprisonment imposed by the judicial system prior to becoming eligible for consideration for parole.” 21 O.S. § 13.1. This law originally became effective in 1999, and inmates subject to its provisions continue to linger in prison as more roll into the system. What assures the 85% population’s continued growth is that Oklahoma prison sentences continue to grow in length. “Between 1990 and 2009, the average time served by Oklahoma prisoners increased by 83 percent, the fourth biggest jump in the country.”
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsState Question 780, self-titled the “Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act”, amends certain state drug laws and property crimes. It would make possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor and raise the threshold of property crimes to $1000 for a felony. The best statement in favor of SQ 780 is made within its proposed Section 1, which states...
- Drug CrimesIt is hard to disagree with this statement. Moreover, drug crimes in particular disproportionately affect African Americans. For example, nationally, blacks are 3.6 more likely to be arrested for selling drugs and 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for possessing drugs, even though “whites are actually
- Murder
- Money LaunderingIn this advisory FinCEN specifically reminds all financial institutions to be vigilant in maintaining the confidentiality of SARs and states that this includes ensuring all employees, agents, and individuals appropriately entrusted with information in a SAR are informed of the individual’s obligation to maintain SAR confidentiality. FinCEN explains that this obligation applies not only to the SAR itself, but also to information that would reveal the existence (or non-existence) of the SAR. FinCEN also explains that these same individuals should be informed of the consequences for failing to maintain such confidentiality, i.e., both civil and criminal penalties may be imposed for SAR disclosure violations. Violations may be enforced through civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each violation and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment up to five years. In addition, in some situations financial institutions could be liable for civil money penalties resulting from anti-money laundering program deficiencies (i.e., internal controls, training, etc.) that led to the SAR disclosure and those penalties could be up to $25,000 per day for each day the violation continues.
- Corporate LawLAURA N. PRINGLE received her Juris Doctorate with Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1976, completing her degree work at Emory University Law School. Her practice is concentrated primarily in the areas of Financial Institutions Regulatory Law, Banking, Commercial, and Corporate Law. Ms. Pringle is a principal of Pringle Publications Corporation, developer of PRINGLE® Products for financial institutions, and was the primary author of PRINGLE® Compliance Policies & Audit Procedures and PRINGLE® Safety and Soundness Policies & Audit Procedures as well as other products for financial institutions, affiliates, and other related parties. She also has significant experience in representing nonprofits including trade associations and educational and charitable nonprofits.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsIndustry executives are predicting an uptick in both bankruptcies and mergers and acquisitions in 2016. See Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, “Tenth District Energy Survey”, released Jan. 8, 2016 (available at www.kansascityfed.org ). In the Survey, respondents opined that “large debt loads would limit M&A activity and would instead lead more firms to defaults/bankruptcies.” One responder noted “Banks will want companies to sell assets and reduce debt levels as the year progresses. Still seems to be a considerable amount of private equity available, this money will be able to purchase assets cheaply in 2016.” Thus, a lot of dust has yet to settle in the oil industry.
- Employment ContractWe are well versed in drafting and negotiating many types of contracts. Our attorneys have extensive experience with many types of contracts including, among others, third-party service provider agreements (on behalf of vendors and financial institutions), stock purchase agreements, asset purchase and sale agreements, shareholder agreements, leases, real estate purchase agreements, employment agreements, and agency agreements.
- Real Estate LitigationOur Firm was founded in 1988 by Lynn Pringle and Laura Pringle to offer clients quality legal services. We can provide our clients with specific expertise in a number of substantive legal areas including: administrative law; contract drafting and review; transactions such as mergers and acquisitions; commercial and general civil litigation; real estate law; association and legislative law; franchising; and, estate planning. Our attorneys have particular expertise in area financial institution regulatory matters and handle matters within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and state banking and other administrative agencies. Firm attorneys also provide risk management counsel for financial institutions and represent banks in responding to various regulatory directives and orders.
- Real Estate TransactionsWe assist corporate and individual clients with the negotiation, documentation, and consummation of real estate purchase and sale transactions.
- Property Damage[4] Examples of administrative employees include insurance claims adjusters if their duties involve interviewing insureds, witnesses and physicians; inspecting property damage; reviewing factual information to prepare damage estimates; evaluating and making recommendations regarding coverage of claims; determining liability and total value of a claim; negotiating settlements; and making recommendations regarding litigation.
- Estate PlanningAn area of particular importance in which unwary practitioners may find problems is the appropriate notice or prior approval of the regulations of change of control of a financial institution. This is an area which may result in enforcement actions against individuals or the financial institution. Review of the rules of notice and the definitions of what constitutes "control" is advisable. [37] While there are delineated exceptions, it is imperative that if there is any question with regard to the application of these provisions, the staff of the Federal Reserve Board or other regulator with jurisdiction be consulted prior to taking any action which could result in direct or indirect control of a bank or other financial institution. One of the common errors by counsel involved in estate planning has been establishment of a trust which may inadvertently cause a violation of these provisions if the requirements of the exceptions are not met.
- Wills
- BankruptcyLYNN A. PRINGLE received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University. Mr. Pringle’s practice is concentrated in the areas of Corporate, Financial Institutions, Transactions, Commercial Law, and Civil Litigation. Mr. Pringle’s banking and corporate practice includes an emphasis on merger and acquisition transactions as well as strategic and succession planning. Mr. Pringle is also a principal of Pringle Publications Corporation, provider of PRINGLE® Products for financial institutions. Mr. Pringle has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Bankruptcy Law at the Oklahoma City University School of Law and served for many years as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association (Bankruptcy and Reorganization Section Director, 1983-95 and Chairman 1989-90) (Financial Institutions Section), and Oklahoma County Bar Associations. Mr. Pringle has contributed to many legal publications, including the Oklahoma Bar Journal, the Oklahoma City University Law Review, and the Consumer Finance Law Quarterly, and was the principle author of PRINGLE® Retail Sales of Nondeposit Investment Products Policy and Audit Procedures and a contributing author to PRINGLE® Safety & Soundness Policies and Audit Procedures and PRINGLE TELLER PROMPT®. Mr. Pringle is also a frequent lecturer on corporate, banking, and ethics issues to both industry and legal groups. Mr. Pringle is admitted to practice before the State Courts of Oklahoma, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Tenth and Fifth Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma and the Northern District of Texas.