This episode of the Deep Dirt Dive is all about the fundamentals of tariffs. We’ll cover what tariffs are, the different types, the agencies responsible for collecting and enforcing them, key tariff tools and related lawsuits, how tariffs are calculated, and—most importantly—how businesses, particularly in the construction industry, can navigate today’s complex tariff landscape.

ACREL Fellow, Jin Liu interviews Jennifer Diaz, President and founder of Diaz Trade Law—South Florida’s only law firm recognized by Chambers and Partners in its Spotlight for International Trade. Jennifer is a Board-Certified International Attorney who specializes in customs and international trade law and consulting. Before founding Diaz Trade Law, she led the Customs and International Trade practice at a prominent South Florida firm.

Mechanic’s liens are a way to secure payments for contractors, but also can cause significant title issues for lenders and owners. This program provides a primer on what one needs to know about Mechanic’s Liens from the title perspective.

In this episode, Joey Lubinski and Kevin Shepherd discuss the Corporate Transparency Act, which is a federal law passed in 2021 intended to counteract tax fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes. The law requires that certain individuals report the “beneficial ownership” of privately-owned companies to the United States government. With few exceptions, the law created new obligations (and potentially new liability) for millions of companies across the country. Not surprisingly, it also generated legal challenges and is, in fact, currently enjoined from enforcement pending resolution of a lawsuit in Texas.

Kevin Shepherd is a partner at the Venable Law Firm. Kevin’s expertise in matters relating to money laundering, generally, and the Corporate Transparency Ac, specifically, are widely recognized and we think you will benefit from his insights on the law’s applicability even while its enforcement remains in limbo. You can learn more about Kevin from the Venable website: https://www.venable.com/professionals/s/kevin-l-shepherd