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A series of damaging cyberattacks have put cybersecurity back in the headlines. Earlier this year, a cyberattack shut down a major oil pipeline that transports gasoline to much of the country, disrupting gas supplies for days and raising prices.

Soon after, another cyberattack temporarily halted meat production at a large beef processor and disrupted these supply channels. Incidents like these are a reminder of the tremendous damage cyberattacks can unleash on our nation’s infrastructure and the importance of building up cyber defenses.

We are excited to announce our September promotions. Four team members have been promoted with more to follow in November. Promotions include (from top left clockwise) Justin Hoffman and Shauna Hovancsek to Shareholder, and Tenly Krakoff and Stacey Monson to Principal.

Some people make video recordings of their will signings in an effort to create evidence that they possess the requisite testamentary capacity. For some, this strategy may help stave off a will contest. But in most cases, the risk that the recording will provide ammunition to someone who wishes to challenge the will outweighs the potential benefits.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic turndown in some areas, you may have family members in need of financial support. If you’re interested in lending money to loved ones in need, consider establishing a “family bank.” These entities enhance the benefits of intrafamily loans, while minimizing unintended consequences.

With so many pandemic-driven changes to tax rules over the past 18 months, it’s easy to have overlooked some revisions. For example, recent changes to the deduction for business-related meal and entertainment (M&E) expenses may have slipped below the radar.

The IRS has published new guidance on the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The credit was created in March 2020 to encourage employers to keep their workforces intact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notice 2021-49 addresses various issues, particularly those related to the extension of the credit through 2021 by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released new guidance intended to expedite the forgiveness process for certain borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The simplified process generally is available for loans of $150,000 or less, which the SBA reports account for 93% of outstanding PPP loans. The guidance comes at a time when many borrowers are nearing a critical deadline regarding their applications for forgiveness.

When a ransomware attack recently debilitated the largest gas pipeline in the US, it was impossible to ignore. Even small company owners sympathized with the decision faced by giant Colonial Pipeline—to pay or not to pay to unlock their files. Eventually the company chose to pay ransomware gang Darkside $4.4 million in Bitcoin for a key to restore its data.

Although probate can be time consuming and expensive, one of its biggest downsides is that it’s public — anyone who’s interested can find out what assets you owned and how they’re being distributed after your death. The public nature of probate may also draw unwanted attention from disgruntled family members who may challenge the disposition of your assets, as well as from other unscrupulous parties.