The marketplace of ideas is becoming increasingly competitive, which means that understanding the basics of leveraging intellectual property (IP) protection is more important than ever. Even if your idea is original and uniquely yours, if you don’t take steps to protect your IP, there’s a chance it could be co-opted by another person, entity, or company before you get a chance to benefit from the fruits of your Read More

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the workplace across dozens of industries because it promises to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and boost productivity. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has concerns, however, about issues with potential bias, especially when AI is deployed during the hiring process. Every business leader who is contemplating the inclusion of AI in Read More

As an employer, it’s important to build a team that works together cohesively to maintain daily operations and improve the bottom line. Certain petty disputes may not seem like they’re urgent enough to get involved in, but it’s essential to proactively address these conflicts to maintain a positive work environment and avoid potential liability. There are many ways for employers to effectively manage employee Read More

Every good business owner works hard to ensure that their employees are doing their jobs under safe conditions. But what about when an emergency situation arises? Is there a way to plan for that? California legislation recently passed Senate Bill 1044 which introduced new employee protections related to emergency conditions. As an employer, it’s important to understand the key elements of SB1044 to stay compliant and Read More

Getting your business started off right starts with selecting the optimal entity structure for your company. Two common options are S-Corporations (S-Corps) and C-Corporations (C-corps). They both have unique characteristics and benefits, especially when evaluated in the context of California’s existing business regulations. Understanding the Basics Both S-Corps and C-Corps are business entities that offer Read More

Business owners have a natural inclination to bootstrap their way through everything. Running a successful business requires expert-level multi-tasking and management skills. If you’re already running day-to-day operations, handling finances, and managing employees, it doesn’t seem like a huge leap to tackle your business’ legal matters on your own. The rise of do-it-yourself (DIY) legal services has made the Read More

Growing your business enough to hire employees is an exciting time as an entrepreneur. Employees can help optimize the products and expand the services that your company offers. Of course, with that growth and opportunity comes more workplace regulations to manage. The bigger your workforce grows, the more challenging this becomes, but for this post, we will focus on just one key state employment law: job-protected Read More

Digital platforms are nothing new, but evolving legislation constantly pushes businesses to comply with more and more technology-related policies. In November 2020, California voters passed the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) to amend and expand upon the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and these changes went into effect as of January 2023. This post will review some of these changes, and the implications Read More

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