Spera Law Group, LLC
Legal Update

Andrew Legrand, Spera Law Group, LLC

Thanks to GNOEA member George Messing, Owner Messina’s Catering, for hosting this week’s networking event for GNOEA members at the The Basin St. Station!

Mr. Legrand is the founder and owner of Spera Law Group, a cloud, remote, and paperless law firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. When clients are facing changes to their business or disputes within the office or with an external party, Andrew doesn’t just provide them with a textbook response that temporarily fixes their problem. Instead, he works with clients to create real-world solutions that leave no room for error and help get their businesses where they want them to be. An important part of setting up these businesses for success is anticipating risks before they happen. Bad contracts, brand theft, and other issues often can be avoided with a few mere hours of set-up, which is why Andrew and his team work with clients to build systemized business models for prevention on the front-end.

Andrew reported the FTC passed a Rule banning non-competes with executive and sale exceptions that is set to go into effect on September 4, 2024. However, a Texas judge issued a nation wide ruling which temporarily blocks the ruling. Employers nationwide should continue to monitor the course of the various cases challenging the rule and consider other alternatives. Andrew explained the difference between non-compete agreement which prevents an employee from competing with their employer after their employment ends, and a non-solicitation agreement which prevents an employee from soliciting their employer’s clients, customers, or employees.

Andrew also reported that July 1, 2024 the minimum salary to be classified as exempt increased to $43,888 per year and will increase again January 1, 2025 to $58,656. To be exempt from overtime pay under this provision, workers must be paid a salary of at least $43,888 and must also meet certain job duties for executive, administrative, and professional employees. Workers with a salary below this salary threshold must be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week.

Please click here to view Andrew Legrand’s presentation.

Membership

If you have a prospect, please have them connect with Jacquie Bonano, membership chair at membership@gnoea.com.

Thank You & Announcements

Duaine Duffy, Benefit Analysis, thanked Chad & Jim Perrier, Universal Data Inc, for checking on his office after Hurricane Francine.

Q3 2024 dues reminder. Q4 dues will be sent out in October

Guests introductions:

Belinda Fly, HR & More, Inc.- provides quality outsourced human resource management support to small to mid-sized groups, referred by Andrew Legrand, Spera Law Group, LLC

Upcoming Meeting Schedule

  • Sept 24- Allstate Sugar Bowl, Jeff Hundley, CEO
  • October 1- Jay Cicero, President/CEO, New Orleans Sports Foundation, Super Bowl
  • October 8 – New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Sandra Lombana Lindquist, president
  • October 15 – Matt Jewell, St. Charles Parish President – Board meeting to follow
  • October 22 – Daniel Hammer, President/CEO Historic New Orleans Collection
  • October 29- No meeting- Happy Halloween!
  • November 5 – No meeting
  • November 12 – Jimmy Aitken, Entergy Update, Board meeting to follow
  • November 19 – Paula Polito, Berry Cherry Tree, Owner, State of the school system
  • November 26 – No meeting, happy Thanksgiving!

Check website for updates and bulletins that include upcoming events. Meeting events are on the calendar. Speaker suggestions: contact Program Chairman, Glenn Landrum, glenn@magelland.com.