While small businesses may be able to operate with a local trademark, businesses seeking expansion and growth may want to register their trademarks federally to turn them into valuable assets. If your business wants to begin operations overseas or over the internet, a federal trademark can be an important first step. Federal Trademarks Provide Protection Outside of Your Area Without a federally registered Read More
The Future of PAGA Claims
The California Labor Code has always been a difficult area to litigate, but the landscape of one of the United States’ most contested areas of law may change drastically soon. Depending on the decision of the Supreme Court in the upcoming case of Viking River Cruises Inc. v. Moriana, PAGA (the Private Attorneys General Act) will either be upheld as is, or the Supreme Court will rule that the FAA (Federal Arbitration Read More
Three Signs You May Want A Business Divorce
Many businesses are started by friends and/or family members working together. It can be exciting and fun to build a business with your partners, but sometimes disagreements arise that are not resolvable. If you feel that your business partner has become an active detriment to your company, or if your relationship simply isn’t working out, it may be time for a business divorce. While there are many different reasons Read More
Copyright in the Era of NFTs
Whether you’re an avid NFT investor with a large gallery, a curious traditional investor wondering what this new market is, or an artist who has discovered their art being repurposed as an NFT, it’s important to know the implications of copyright within this space. Because these NFTs commonly feature some sort of art or photography, and some NFT projects are not quite up to snuff, there have been multiple projects Read More
New Wage Theft Laws Create New Risks for Business Owners
The Wage Theft Criminalization Bill that went into effect at the start of 2022 allows for new penalties against employers, meaning that you could be convicted of a felony and sentenced to jail time if found guilty of wage theft. Now is not the time to be caught out of compliance, so we’re clearing up some specifics on how the bill works and how you can ensure your business stays in the clear. What qualifies as Read More
Clarifying California’s Overtime Exemption Laws
For California business owners, figuring out overtime exemption laws can be difficult. There are a long set of qualifications for who is exempt and from what they are exempt. These exemption laws were created to make it easier for employees to work odd hours at their own discretion when circumstances required such flexibility. Today we’ll be clarifying the overtime exemption laws so your business can ensure it Read More
California Updates Labor Code to Allow Liens Without a Court Order
Last fall, California's governor signed Bill 572, resulting in an amendment to the Labor Code. This updates the Labor Commission’s ability to create liens against the property of business or business owners for the purpose of repaying wage-and-hour claims made by employees. Previously, the Labor Commission needed a court order to create a lien, but as of January 1, 2022, a court order is no longer required. Instead, Read More
Is Your California Business Compliant?: An Overview of Business Entity Compliance Requirements
When you decide to incorporate or form an LLC, you are committing to follow certain compliance requirements that are set out by California law. Failing to adhere to these legal demands can completely undermine your business structure. Therefore, it is important to know and understand these obligations so you can fulfill these duties. Types of Compliance Requirements Generally speaking, there are two types of Read More
Major Changes To California’s Family Leave Policy
In 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several changes to the California Family Rights Act into law. The California Family Rights Act authorizes employees to take up to twelve weeks off of work every year to deal with medical and family leave. It ensures that all employees covered by the Act can take the leave they need while knowing that their job is protected. Here are the reasons for medical leave that Read More
Four Tips on Staying Compliant with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
California business owners are well aware of the many legal protections enjoyed by consumers in the Golden State. A recent example of these protections is the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This act gives California consumers the right to demand details on how their personally identifiable information is collected and shared by companies. Furthermore, it allows consumers to sue non-compliant Read More
