Category Archives: Featured
Simms Showers Secures First Amendment Win for Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers in Delaware
Simms Showers LLP is proud to announce a significant legal victory on behalf of pro-life pregnancy centers challenging an unconstitutional Delaware law. Partner Will Thetford served as lead counsel, working alongside Alliance Defending Freedom, in a federal lawsuit that has now resulted in the State of Delaware agreeing to a court order permanently barring… Read More »
Virginia’s Shifting Landscape: What the New Noncompete Laws Mean for You
For decades, Virginia was considered one of the more employer-friendly states in the country. Courts enforced noncompete agreements with relatively few restrictions, and businesses could count on those agreements to protect their competitive interests when employees moved on. That era is coming to an end. Over the past six years, the Virginia General Assembly… Read More »
How Your AI Chats Can Be Used Against You
A recent federal court ruling sends a clear warning to anyone who has discussed legal matters with an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude: your chats are potentially discoverable by a court, a government agency, or an opposing party in a lawsuit. I. A Case That Made Legal History In February 2026, a federal… Read More »
Sacred Spaces, Scattered Statutes: Understanding Virginia’s Fragmented Church Law Part One
By Robert Showers, Esq., with Justin Coleman, Esq., and William R. Thetford, Esq.* In this Article, the Authors have outlined portions of Virginia statutes, case law, and tax code that are most relevant to churches seeking to become more informed about their relationship with the law. The Authors intend this Article to make legislators,… Read More »
Church and Nonprofit Cybersecurity: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
Robert Showers, Esq. and Micah Schachtner, Esq. In line with nearly all modern industries, nonprofits increasingly employ digital technology and online tools to expand their operational capabilities. But unlike larger corporations with more risk awareness and legal jeopardy, many nonprofits apply few security measures to their data storage and transactions. This common failure to… Read More »
Johnson Amendment Enforcement Relaxed for Church Political Speech
By Robert Showers, Esq and Micah Schachtner, Esq. For the first time in the Johnson Amendment’s history, the Internal Revenue Service officially agreed in July 2025 that churches may advocate for political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status, under limited circumstances. This development affects thousands of religious organizations and raises important legal compliance issues… Read More »
CTA Reporting Deadlines Paused Again Following Fifth Circuit Reversal
On December 26, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed its December 23, 2024, decision and reinstated a temporary nationwide injunction halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This decision follows a legal battle surrounding the CTA’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements, leaving business owners in a state of uncertainty. Background:… Read More »
**UPDATE** Increased Salary Threshold for Exempt Employees Blocked by Texas Court
By Robert Showers Esq. and Justin R. Coleman, Esq. On November 15, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas overturned the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) rule to increase the salary threshold for exempt employees. As identified in our original article (https://www.simmsshowerslaw.com/salary-threshold-for-exempt-employees-to-increase/), the DOL increased the minimum annual salary… Read More »
Companies Now Required to Report Beneficial Owner Information to Federal Government
By Kyle D. Winey, Esq. and Melissa L. Ruby, Esq. In 2021, the U.S. Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), a law which authorizes the collection of beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) of domestic and foreign corporations and limited liability companies. This law, purportedly enacted to counter money-laundering schemes and financial terrorism networks, creates… Read More »
Virginia Church and Religious Entities Employment
Legal Updates for Churches Attribution: H. Robert Showers, Esq. Kyle D. Winey, Esq. Date: 7/31/2024 View PDF View recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBNLcgOL8s Disclaimer: This memorandum is provided for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice particular to your situation. No recipients of this memo should act or refrain from acting… Read More »
