Resources

Client Alerts, News Articles, Blog Posts, & Multimedia

Everything you need to know about BMD and the industry.

OHIO ADOPTS THE SERIES LLC: Implementation of Ohio’s Revised Limited Liability Company Act is Coming

Client Alert
February 24, 2021

On January 7, 2021, Ohio adopted S.B. 276. The new legislation establishes the Ohio Revised Limited Liability Company Act (“ORLLCA”), which effectively replaces the current Ohio LLC Act. ORLLCA will be fully effective as of January 2022. While the new law contains numerous changes to the existing LLC landscape, below is an overview of some of the key differences under the ORLLCA.

Series LLCs

The ORLLCA now makes Ohio one of only 16 states that permit the formation of “series LLCs.” The significant advantages of series LLCs are their flexibility and simplicity. They allow a single entity to own multiple “series” of assets, each of which are shielded from liability. Real estate investors are prime users of series LLC’s. Rather than creating multiple companies to own investment property, each series within a single LLC isolates one property from the rest thereby adding protection for the investor.

Under the ORLLCA, an LLCs operating agreement may establish or provide for one or more designated series of assets that has one or more members and may include:

  • Separate rights, powers, obligations or duties with respect to specific property within each of the series;
  • Separate rights concerning profits and losses associated with each series; and
  • A separate purpose or investment objective for each series within the LLC.

Each series formation has a separate operating agreement and is authorized by the articles of organization. The articles of organization only require a simple statement that the LLC may have one or more series of assets.

Series LLCs also enjoy cost and tax advantages. Standard LLC formation requires registration fees for each LLC created. Series LLC registration fees are only charged for the master LLC, and each series created thereafter do not have an associated fee. There is also only one tax identification number (EIN), and all the series are listed on only one tax return. This cuts down on time for tax preparation. In addition, and subject to certain criteria, series LLCs have the potential to avoid Ohio’s commercial activity tax, which is imposed on taxable gross receipts in excess of $150,000.

Management Structure Flexibility

The ORLLCA provides more flexibility in LLC management structures. The current LLC Act requires an LLC to either be member-managed or manager-managed. Default rules in the current LLC Act provide baseline authority of either the member or manager to perform certain actions, which can be modified through an operating agreement. Under the ORLLCA, the distinction between member-managed and manager-managed LLC’s has been eliminated; a person’s ability to act as an agent of the LLC now comes from authorization outlined in the operating agreement, decisions of the members as provided for in the operating agreement, the filing of a “Statement of Authority” with the Secretary of State, or from the default rules contained in the ORLLCA. This new feature of the ORLLCA provides more flexibility for LLC management, allowing each LLC to use a management structure that works best for its unique needs.

Statutory Penalty

There will now be a penalty for not maintaining a statutory agent and/or up-to-date contact information with the Ohio Secretary of State. Under the existing LLC Act, there is no statutory penalty for an LLC that fails to maintain a statutory agent. Under the ORLLCA, the Secretary of State will be required to cancel an LLC that fails to maintain a statutory agent, though the LLC may be reinstated upon the appointment of a new agent and the payment of additional fees. This is particularly important as the cancellation of an LLC may open its members up to personal liability. Under the new ORLLCA regime, it is of paramount importance to appoint a statutory agent and maintain accurate contact information.

The ORLLCA represents a significant shift in the law as it pertains to limited liability companies in Ohio. As the implementation of the new law approaches, businesses operating as LLCs should examine their current operating agreement to make sure its provisions comply with the ORLLCA. To undertake such a review or examine how the series LLC may benefit your business, please contact your BMD attorney, or Blake Gerney at Brgerney@bmdllc.com, S. Matthew Harris at Msharris@bmdllc.com, or Kevin Burwell at Kdburwell@bmdllc.com.

business and corporate lawMatthew HarrisBlake R. GerneyKevin BurwellOhio Revised Limited Liability Company ActORLLCA
Client Alert

Pondering Over Patient Billing: CARES Act and Provider Relief Fund Lead to More Questions

April 16, 2020On April 11, 2020, HHS, along with the Department of Labor and Department of the Treasury, issued jointly prepared FAQs regarding the FFCRA, the CARES Act, and other health coverage issues. The FFCRA was enacted on March 18, 2020 and requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide benefits for certain items and services related to diagnostic testing for COVID-19. Additionally, plans and issuers must provide coverage without imposing any cost-sharing requirements (deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance), prior authorization, or other medical management requirements.Client Alert

Important Update and FAQs: HHS Tweaks Guidance on The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Terms and Conditions

April 16, 2020On April 10, 2020, many providers awoke to find electronic payment deposits from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in their bank accounts. This was the first round of $30 billion of payments from the HHS Provider Relief Fund as a result of the CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020. All healthcare providers that received Medicare fee-for-service payments in 2019 should have received a payment.Client Alert

Returning to Work: Forecasting the New Normal in Business

April 16, 2020We cannot predict when businesses will reopen across the county. As we publish this Alert, dynamic business leaders are cooperating in comprehensive efforts to create safe work environments so that they can all re-engage the workforce. However, we can predict the new normal in business. Some important studies were published yesterday, and the new normal in business will be facemasks for all employees, and probably all business visitors.Client Alert

Updated Guidance on Ohio Department of Medicaid Telehealth Rules During the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

April 15, 2020In its initial response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (“ODM”) issued emergency rule 5160-1-21, which dramatically expanded reimbursable telehealth services, telehealth providers, allowable technology, location of both providers and patients, and covered billing provider types. See BMD’s initial COVID-19 and Telehealth Resource Guide here. This emergency rule provides wide flexibility for patients to receive necessary healthcare services while Ohio’s Stay-At-Home Order remains in place. Regulations are continually changing in response to the public health crisis, and on April 13, 2020, ODM issued new guidance further expanding telehealth services reimbursable under Ohio’s Medicaid program.Client Alert

Essential Businesses during COVID-19: Identification and Operation FAQs

April 14, 2020During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to classify your business as “essential” could be the key to its survival. Almost every state in the United States has imposed a “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” order that restricts the types of businesses that can remain open. In fact, as of the writing of this alert, there are only seven states that have not imposed state-wide restrictions on which businesses can stay open during the Coronavirus pandemic and even those states have individual cities and counties that have imposed stricter orders. However, these orders are not always clear, and interpretation is often left to the individual business. This alert will answer some of the most common questions about essential businesses.
Older posts
Newer posts