As a business owner, you face a number of potential liabilities. Employees are a common cause of legal issues, but there are ways to minimize them. No matter what size business you have, you should have a detailed contract that employees sign. This outlines...
Business Litigation
How to prepare your company for litigation
Many people look for alternatives, such as arbitration or mediation, to expensive and time-consuming litigation. However, sometimes it is impossible to avoid going to court. Getting ready for litigation takes a lot of preparation, and the better you prepare the better...
What is a severability clause for?
As a business owner, you will find many uses for contracts. They exist between companies, contract employees and providers of various services. In order to keep your contract as airtight as possible, it is important to cover your bases. A severability clause can help...
Do you know how to handle allegations of trademark infringement?
You may use trademarks to protect your logo and products, as well as the name of your company. Sometimes, other business owners may allege that your trademark infringes on their materials. You have several options in this situation. According to the United States...
Managing and updating your business contracts
Having strategic business contracts allows you to leverage professional relationships to your advantage. However, once implemented, contracts require maintenance and updates over time. Refining agreements may facilitate protection for your company. It may also allow...
What are pros and cons of going through arbitration?
Going to court to resolve your business contract dispute can be a lengthy and costly process. This is why some parties look for other ways to resolve a dispute. One alternative to a court battle is to go to arbitration. This is a method that may be to your benefit but...
Using an employee handbook to protect against lawsuits
Finding out that your company is the focus of a lawsuit can cause uncertainty and angst. You may find yourself questioning if you did everything right to effectively prove your company's innocence despite the claims of a disgruntled, former employee. Preventing this...
Who can end a contract for convenience?
Entering into a new business contract represents an important moment in the lifecycle of your business in California. Such an agreement represents both stability and security (due to the assumption that your new partner cannot end your agreement without cause). Yet is...
How to handle a breach of fiduciary duty
Whether you are in a business partnership or you are a business owner building a team of faithful employees, fiduciary duty is most likely involved in your daily practices. This term is used to describe a person’s duty of care, loyalty and honesty entered into when...
When is it best to avoid litigation?
As a business owner, it is unfortunately inevitable that a time will come when you butt heads with someone else. This may be an employee, a co-owner or even someone from another business you work with. In the case of the latter, you may feel tempted to swing...