Growing your business through a merger and acquisition (M&A) can be a very exciting opportunity. A successful M&A can give your company access to new talent, new technologies, and higher revenue, plus diversify the products and services you can offer. For California businesses, however, M&A transactions have several additional regulatory hurdles to navigate and are subject to specific legal requirements. Read More

A professional corporation (PC) is a type of legal structure specifically designed for licensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, and architects. It is a business entity that is typically formed by professionals who want to provide their services through a corporation rather than as individuals because this provides additional tax and liability advantages. California has some specific requirements Read More

Most people who go into business with a partner do so with someone they know. It's a daunting prospect to launch a new enterprise, logistically and financially, so it's natural to team up with people you have some reason to trust, such as family members, friends, or members of your community. Unfortunately, when people go into business relying on their personal ties, they sometimes overlook the kind of legal Read More

Remote work has been relatively common for decades, but it became even more so after the COVID-19 pandemic. This has created a lot of opportunity for business owners to hire from a broader pool of candidates and to rethink some of their operating costs, but it has created some new legal wrinkles too. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to employ remote workers, particularly if they reside outside of Read More

A hot-button issue for businesses all over the country is the Federal Trade Commission’s proposition to end non-compete clauses in employment contracts, but this isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. There are many ways a business can protect its intellectual property assets without having to resort to non-compete clauses.  Employment Contracts That Utilize Copyright Laws Every employee contract should explicitly Read More

On September 27, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom enacted a new pay transparency law for the state of California. The law takes effect this month, and it requires all businesses with 15 or more employees to disclose a position’s pay within the job posting regardless of where the vacancy is posted. The pay rate must include either salary or hourly rates and may not include bonuses or stock options.  The wage Read More

Seeking legal services for your business generally starts when the business is first formed. At first, most companies just need legal assistance sporadically as they bring on their first employee, navigate various contracts, and so on, but as your company grows, so do your legal needs. Eventually, there comes a time when the volume or complexity of a company's requirements becomes a burden best handled by handing it Read More

When you are looking to create something for yourself or your business, you need to make sure that it is not already copyrighted by someone else. For example, when having a logo designed for your business, you need to be certain that it is sufficiently unique to avoid any potential copyright lawsuits from taking place in the future. This also will help you avoid wasting time and money on having something designed Read More

In the event of a potential legal dispute, a cease and desist letter is one of the most effective tools a business owner can use to protect their rights and intellectual property without having to take extensive legal action. In issuing a cease and desist letter, a business is requesting that a person or organization cease engaging in behavior that it doesn't have a legal right to conduct.  A business may issue a Read More

All forms of intellectual property need to be carefully maintained and protected in order to keep their value, but none more so than a company's trade secrets. In many cases, the loss of a trade secret can cost a business its competitive edge or even spell the end of the business altogether. If your operation depends on information that shouldn't be shared, it's worth taking some time to make sure you have the proper Read More