Patheon to take over Roche Carolina facility

Patheon has plans to take over the Roche Carolina Inc. facility, company officials announced today.

With U.S. headquarters in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park and European headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, the pharmaceutical company signed an agreement to integrate Roche Carolina’s 300,000-square-foot site into the Patheon network.

See Full Story here: http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_7d62fb5a-b590-11e6-b674-0729381db09f.html

Local Businesswoman Honored During Small Business Week

 

Small Business Week is always a big deal at our firm for two reasons. First, even though we have been in business for over 100 years, our firm is technically a small business. Second, many of our customers are small business owners. So, we were delighted when we saw that during this year’s Small Business Week a local businesswoman had been named the 2016 South Carolina Female Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Denise Thigpen, who founded and operates Wholesale Boutique just a few miles down the road from our Myrtle Beach office, was selected as this year’s award winner because she has grown her start-up retail shop into a thriving wholesale business while helping mentor other business owners. We love stories like this!

We believe small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, and the data backs that up. In South Carolina, small businesses employ 743,262 people, which is 46.9% of the private sector workforce. We are happy to play a small role in keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive in South Carolina by providing legal services to many small businesses.

Business Formation

When they are just starting out, small businesses need someone they can trust to give them advice about how their company should be structured. We regularly advise business owners trying to decide whether they should set their business up as a partnership, LLC, or corporation. We explain the benefits and downsides of each, and once the business owner has made a decision about which structure is right for them, we help them put their business plan into action. We help ensure that everything is set up properly and compliance mechanisms are in place so that our clients stay on the right side of the law as they begin operations.

Business Litigation

As our clients become more established, we work with them to resolve legal disputes that inevitably arise. Unfortunately, in this day and age, litigation is one of the costs of doing business. For a lot of businesses we work with, we operate like an in-house legal firm because we are so familiar with their needs. But unlike bringing a legal team in-house, we offer cost savings since our clients benefit from the knowledge and experience we gain serving all of our clients, not just them. We know keeping costs down is especially important to our small business clients.

Helping Business Owners Move On

When it is time to move on, we help our clients do succession planning or work with them to vet potential buyers. Turning your business over to someone else is a difficult (yet rewarding) decision. We strive to make transitions easier by laying out the legal issues that might arise and helping our clients navigate them.

Small Businesses Truly Are the Lifeblood Of Our Economy

It is businesses like Wholesale Boutique and business owners like Denise Thigpen that keep our economy growing. We are happy that as a firm we can be a part of the small business culture that keeps South Carolina’s economy growing.

The Florence attorney and history buff with Willcox, Buyck & Williams tells us what’s good in the neighborhood

Local Counsel with Mark W. Buyck Jr.  Published in 2016 South Carolina Super Lawyers — May 2016

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A NEW CLIENT  –  Victors restaurant in Hotel Florence, which is just a block away from my office. 

FAVORITE HISTORICAL SITE  –  The Confederate Stockade. When the Yankees were approaching and Andersonville was evacuated, they put the prisoners on trains, brought them to Florence and quickly put up a stockade in September 1864. It’s where prisoners were kept until the end of the war in 1865, and a number of them died here. As a result, right across the street there’s a national cemetery.

BEST PLACE TO REFLECT  –  We have a magnificent county library. It rivals, architecturally, New York’s Public Library. It’s named after Drs. Bruce and Lee, two famous doctors in Florence who owned the hospitals. 

FAVORITE ANNUAL EVENT  –  The Carolina-Clemson football game, the Carolina Cup steeplechase race in Camden, and whatever bowl game the Gamecocks are playing in.

FAVORITE PLACE TO VACATION  –  A cottage in Pawleys Island. We go there with our three children and grandchildren. 

FAVORITE SPORTS VENUE  –  Williams-Brice Stadium. I was there yesterday to meet and introduce to the press a new football coach, Will Muschamp; and I’m the chairman of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee of the USC Board of Trustees. I also love the Inn at USC. We go there when I have meetings or we’re there for games. 

FAVORITE HISTORICAL RESIDENT  –  Melvin Purvis practiced in my law firm when he first graduated from law school, and then he went on to be head of the Chicago bureau of the FBI. He’s credited with killing John Dillinger at the Biograph Theater when Dillinger was fingered by the lady in red.

FAVORITE ARTS VENUE  –  We have a magnificent little theater, as well as the wonderful Florence County Museum, both of which were financed by the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation. I serve on that foundation board. My wife played Maria in The Sound of Music and Anna in The King & I, and I certainly enjoyed both of those.

FAVORITE WATERING HOLE  –  Florence Country Club, and they have excellent food, too.

MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOT  –  The Atlantic Ocean from the deck of my beach cottage.

BEST PLACE FOR A SROLL  –  Jeffries Creek Park. It’s about four blocks from my house, and I walk down there to the creek that runs through the park.

FAVORITE SPOT TO GO WITH YOUR WIFE  –  The Springdale Hall Club in Camden.

FAVORITE PLACE OUTSIDE OF FLORENCE  –  I love going to Charleston—I have a son who practices law there—and there are many nice places: The Mills House, Charleston Place hotel, and Carolina Yacht Club.

https://willcoxlaw.com/lawyer/Mark-W.-Buyck,-Jr._cp14157.htm


Preparing for the future is an uncertain business…

Estate Planning Don’ts

Preparing for the future is an uncertain business, but there are steps you can take during your lifetime to simplify matters for your loved ones after you pass, and to ensure your final wishes are carried out. Planning for what happens to your property, or who cares for your family members, upon your death can be a complicated process. To simplify things, we’ve created the following list to help you avoid some of the pitfalls you may encounter before, or even long after, you create your estate plan.

Don’t assume you can plan your estate by yourself. Get help from an estate planning attorney whose training and experience can ensure that you minimize tax implications and simplify the process of settling your estate.

Don’t put off your estate planning needs because of finances. To be sure, there are upfront costs for establishing the estate plan; however establishing your estate plan is an investment in the future well-being of your family, and one which will result in a far greater cash savings over the long term.

Don’t make changes to your estate plan without consulting your attorney. Changes in one area of your estate plan could impact other provisions you have made, triggering legal or tax implications you never intended.

Don’t assume your children will intuitively know your wishes, and handle the situation appropriately upon your death. Money and sentimental items can cause a rift between even the most agreeable siblings, and they will be especially vulnerable as they deal with the emotional impact of your passing.

Don’t assume that once you’ve prepared your estate plan it’s set in stone. Estate planning documents regularly need to be revised, often due to a change in marital status, birth or death of a family member, or a significant change in the value of your estate. Beneficiary designations should be periodically reviewed to ensure they are up to date.

Don’t forget to notify your family members, friends or other beneficiaries of your estate plan. Make sure your executor and successor trustee have access to your end-of-life documents.

Don’t assume your spouse will handle everything if something happens to you. It’s possible your spouse may be incapacitated at the same time, for example if you both are injured in the same accident. A proper estate plan appoints alternate representatives to handle your affairs if both you and your spouse are unable to do so.

Don’t use the same person as your agent under both the financial and healthcare powers of attorney. Using the same individual gives that person an incredible amount of influence over your future and it may be a good idea to split up the decision-making authority.

Don’t forget to name alternate agents, executors or successor trustees. You may name a family member to fill one of these roles, and forget to revise the document if that person dies or becomes incapacitated. By adding alternates, you ensure there is no question regarding who has the authority to act on your or the estate’s behalf.

The Best Lawyers in America

Congratulations to Mark W. Buyck, Jr. and Mark W. Buyck, III for once again being selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2016.  Mark W. Buyck, Jr. was selected in the fields Personal Injury Litigation and Mark W. Buyck, III was selected in the areas of Employment and Labor Law.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Over 79,000 leading attorneys globally are eligible to vote, and we have received more than 12 million votes to date on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2016 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, 6.7 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 55,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Careful what you post on social media

Don’t Let Your Social Networking Activities Undermine Your Divorce Negotiations

According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, in the past five years 81% of its members have represented clients in cases involving evidence from social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Posted pictures and comments can make the job all-too-easy for your former spouse’s attorney to attack your credibility and ensure you do not receive the relief that you are requesting from the court.

A picture is worth a thousand words. And that picture you posted of yourself, in various stages of undress, or with a marijuana cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other, speaks volumes to the court and can result in unfavorable rulings regarding child custody or visitation. But the information posted doesn’t even have to be tawdry or illegal to land you in trouble. What about the ex-husband who claims he has no income, but his Facebook profile is chock-full of photos of luxury purchases or exotic vacations? What about the parent who posts profanity-laden status updates, insulting the judge’s competence? Should it find its way into the court, none of this information is going to help your case.

All of these communications can be considered by the court in making its rulings. Nothing you post online is 100% private, regardless of your privacy settings. Opposing attorneys can always subpoena the records, share your dirty secrets with the court, impeach your credibility, and obtain a favorable ruling for their client – your ex-spouse.

The lasting implications of a negative court ruling can far outweigh the momentary, fleeting satisfaction of venting your frustration at the judge or your ex, or sharing “fun” photos on your Facebook profile. The bottom line is that you have to think before you post. It has often been said that you should not publish anything that you wouldn’t want your Mother to see. A similar standard should be applied for those going through a divorce. What if that comment you are about to make, or the photo you are about to post, were to fall into the hands of your ex-spouse’s lawyer? This can have far-reaching consequences, affecting your income and support obligations, or visitation and custody of your children.

To avoid the pitfalls of information sharing in the digital age, you must assume that anything and everything you post will be obtained by opposing counsel and find its way into the courtroom. Family law cases involve some of our most private matters and care should be taken to ensure you protect your own privacy. Preserve your attorney-client privilege by refraining from sharing any details of your relationship or conversations with your attorney. Avoid posting compromising photos, or making derogatory remarks on your social networking profiles.

Above all, do not post anything you wouldn’t want your ex, his or her attorney, or the judge to see. Regardless of how restrictive your privacy settings may be, this information can easily be subpoenaed and become a part of the court record. If there is any doubt, do not post. You cannot “unring that bell!”
 

Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing Coming September 19, 2015

South Carolina’s new area code 854 will overlay the 843 area code region, including the coastal communities of Charleston, Hilton Head Island, Myrtle Beach, and Florence. This will require 10-digit dialing within the region.

  

You won’t have to change your present telephone number. The new 854 area code will be assigned only for new telephone numbers within the area code region. The only change will be the way you dial local calls in the 843 area code region.

Effective September 19, 2015, all calls that are currently dialed with 7 digits will need to be dialed using 10 digits to be completed: area code 843 then 7-digit telephone number. The same dialing procedure will apply to telephone numbers assigned to the new 854 area code.

  • Local calling areas and rates will not be affected by this change.
  • Special services that use three-digit numbers, such as 911 and 411, as well as 1+ 10-digit “long distance, will not change.
  • Other three-digit numbers that are currently available in your community or from your provider, such as 211;311, 511, 611, 711 or 811, will not change.

 

Start early using 1.0-digit dialing so it will be second nature by the time it is required on September 19, 2015. Beginning October 19, 2015, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the new 854 area code.

 

What you should do to get ready for 10-digit dialing.

  • Make sure your websites, stationery, advertising materials and checks include your area code. Since your area code remains the same, there is no need to reprint if these items already contain your area code.
  • Update all stored local telephone numbers to include the area code for services such as call forwarding, call blocking and voicemail, and for equipment, such as wireless phones.
  • You may need to reprogram or upgrade equipment such as fax machines, dial-up modems, Internet connections, multi-line key or PBX systems, or any equipment with automatic dialing features.
  • Customers who have security systems, life safety systems, or monitored medical devices need to contact their vendor to determine reprogramming needs for 10-digit local dialing.

What are you going to do with the extra time you have today?

Although a standard year is 365 days long, the Earth actually makes its journey around the Sun in about 365.25 days. This means that, over time, the calendar will start to get out of synch ….

 See full article here  http://http//www.gizmag.com/happy-leap-second/38027/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=39adb6c4b1-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-39adb6c4b1-91134365

 

Quarterly CEO Breakfast allows for community discussion.

A special thanks goes out to everyone who attended the Chamber’s quarterly CEO Breakfast this morning, sponsored by Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. It’s always fantastic to be able to get a group of the area’s business, government and community leaders around one table to discuss what’s taking place in our community, where current projects are headed and how we can all work together for the betterment of Florence.

 https://www.facebook.com/florencechamber/photos/a.342372315813095.105046.241496762567318/993199614063692/?type=1&theater

 

Willcox Buyck & Williams Receives Partnership Award

Full Story here : http://www.florencenewsjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=13564

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance hosted a reception during which several community members received recognition for their contributions to the arts community.

The Business & Arts Partnership Award Recipient went to Willcox, Buyck, & Williams, P.A. This award recognizes a Florence County business for its vital commitment to the arts as evidence by operational and/or project support provided on a substantial and ongoing basis. Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. championed by Reynolds Williams changed the landscape of Florence in 2015 through its organization and support of the “Play Me I’m Yours Project.” Through the establishment of the Willcox, Buyck & Williams Foundation, this partnership built bridges throughout the community and brought people together through music and art.