Your Risk of Litigation Unfortunately, we live in a litigious society. And if your small business is in the US, the odds of you being sued are high. About 40 million lawsuits are filed every year in the US, forcing businesses to spend more than $22 billion in commercial litigation costs. Walmar...
Happy Holidays! I hope you are all finding time to celebrate with friends and family this holiday season. It has been a tough year, with all of us getting our hopes up that Covid was on the way out this summer, only to be brought back down to reality as fall approached. I'm grateful fo...
Starting your own business is exciting! And it's not just about the money. You get to follow your passion, control your schedule, achieve financial independence, and share your unique product or service with the world. Whether you start your business on a shoestring or have millions in venture ca...
Choosing the correct entity for your new company will be one of the most critical business decisions you will make. Should your business be run as a corporation, an LLC, a partnership or something else? What are the differences, and which one will work best for you? While owners and businesses ar...
Business Basics Series: The Importance of Succession Planning and Valuation Prior to Sale What is succession planning and why is it so important? Succession Planning is a process designed to help you prepare for a possible change in leadership or ownership, such as a key employee leaving your bus...
Business Basics Series: Hiring Employees What do I need to know and do before hiring employees? So you have formed your business entity and found some funding. Now, you're ready to hire your first employee. Before you leap into becoming an employer, however, there are certain requirements you sh...
What are the different types of funding available? When starting your business, you'll want to ensure you have adequate funding to help pay for any expenditures. By understanding what type of funding is available to you and the potential advantages, you will be able to make the best choice for y...
What are the entity types and how do I select one? Before you register your business, it's important to consider the best entity type to register. Choosing the appropriate business entity type is important because it can impact how your business is run. You need to consider the purpose of your b...
Happy Pride Month! It has been a busy summer already here at Res Nova Law, with new clients and cases and their myriad of legal issues. And with Howard and I both moving households (Howard last month and me next month), plus at least one graduation (my son) and an upcoming move to colle...
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Act) that President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021 includes a new $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (the Fund). The Fund will provide much-needed grants instead of loans to restaurants, bars, food trucks, brewpubs and similar...
What is a trade secret and what types of information can trade secrets protect? A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that is used in your business and can provide an advantage in the marketplace over competitors who do not know it. Trade secret...
What is a copyright and who can claim it? Copyrights give exclusive legal rights to an author or the author's assignee to reproduce, distribute, perform, display and prepare derivative works of any original work of authorship. Original works of authorship include literary, dramatic and artistic w...
Happy Earth Day! What a beautiful start to spring we have had here in the Pacific Northwest! I can't think of another place I'd rather be this time of year. However, with COVID-19 still very present in our communities, it's a constant reminder of how closely the pandemic is tied to clim...
What is a patent? There are three types of patents in the United States: utility patents, design patents and plant patents. A utility patent protects the way a machine, article or process is used and works. A design patent protects the ornamental design of an item. A plant patent protects asexual...
What should I do to protect the goods and/or services associated with my business? You may want to consider filing a federal trademark application if you haven't done so yet. A trademark is any symbol, word, slogan, design, or any combination associated with your particular goods and/or services....
What is intellectual property? Intellectual property law protects copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents. Copyrights refer to any original work of authorship and cover creative works such as literature, illustrations, films, and songs. Trademarks cover branding such as a business or...
Hope Springs Eternal! “Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest. The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” ―Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man. With spring comes hope for new beginnings. The flow...
With the shift to remote work likely here to stay for many, companies and their employees are regularly relying on remote conferencing tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx and other platforms to conduct business. Companies should be aware of a recent decision from the Chancery Court in Dela...
Celebrating Black History Month In honor of Black History Month, I thought I'd share some links to black dancers, writers, artists and musicians whose creative works have changed our world for the better. Zadie Smith, Alvin Ailey and Etta James have added meaning and beauty to my life....
The Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) being distributed under the CARES Act have been a godsend for many small to midsize companies. However, many are surprised to find that there are strange and problematic requirements hidden in the legal documents. The EIDL packages contain the standard lo...
Good Riddance, 2020! Although 2021 got off to a rocky start, I don't think I'm alone in feeling some glimmer of hope that 2021 will be a better year. There is still much to be done to "heal the soul of our country", as President Biden puts it, and to make this country a more equitable p...
Background Congress has the power to promote the progress and science of useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries. Article I, Section 8, United States Constitution (Article I). The Copyright Act of 1976...
SHARE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT It's that time of year again and I'd like to wish each and every one of you happy holidays and best wishes for 2021! It has been my sincere pleasure to work with our clients and colleagues this year and I look forward to serving them and many others with their b...
What is an employee stock option incentive plan, and why does my startup need one? There is a misconception that exists among the startup community that employee stock option incentive plans and agreements are only available to midsize or larger companies. The truth is that these plans are tools...
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” –Gandhi During these difficult times, one constant comfort for me has been my two dogs, Ava and Rudy. They sit patiently behind me while I type, bark during my calls, and follow me up and d...
