626-795-6001

626-795-6001

Category: Business and Real Estate

  • How can you protect your trade secrets? 

    You’ve been developing a business strategy for years now and it has recently come to fruition. The foundation of your business is founded upon your unique methods, designs and processes. In other words, your trade secrets are the key to the success of your company. The corporate world is highly protected and you’re worried about…

  • 3 signs of a bad business partner

    Building a business can be rewarding, refreshing and change the future for millions – but it’s not accomplished without a ton of work. That’s why many business owners divide the work between themselves and a business partner.  Having a business partner at your side can have many perks: a wider range of skills, broader connections, responsibility…

  • Can you prevent your employees from internally recruiting?

    Each new skilled worker that you add to your team will help grow your company’s operations. Unfortunately, when they decide to part ways with your business, their actions could cause significant financial issues for the company. Former employees can become your worst competitors and can do real harm to your company’s operations. A former worker…

  • Why you could find yourself accused of trademark dilution 

    Many trademark infringement cases don’t involve outright theft of a trademark. Responsible companies don’t try anything that obvious. A more common scenario involves a type of infringement known as “dilution.”  Often, those who end up as defendants in these cases had no intention of infringing on another company’s trademark. However, companies that are protective of…

  • Getting photos off the internet could land you in trouble

    Grabbing a photo off the web is usually about as easy as hitting “right-click” with your cursor and saving it to your computer. People do it all the time with memes and other interesting things they see. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because an image or photo isn’t watermarked that it’s…

  • 2 ways businesses can limit their product liability

    Whatever your industry, designing a new product or finding a way to manufacture one more cheaply than others can lead to massive business success. However, years of successful operations could come grinding to a halt with a defective product claim.  Issues with the products your company produces could lead to massive financial liability for the company…

  • The fundamentals of a sound business contract

    Contracts are the backbone of many business deals. It’s imperative that this written set of expectations and terms for transactions and agreements reflect what both parties agreed to. Because contracts are enforceable in court, you should ensure that your company only uses ones that are well structured and contain all the vital information. While the contents…

  • Will hiring make you responsible for mandatory annual training?

    Business success and expansion is as much a danger as it is a goal. When there is more demand than you can reasonably meet for services or products, it can hurt your company’s brand or market share. Consumers may turn to your competitors or may come to associate your brand with long delays or bad…

  • Proper training and clear rules make HR an asset, not a liability

    When the number of employees at a business goes from a handful to dozens, the company may need to bring in professionals to support their employees. Human Resources (HR) professionals serve multiple purposes. They help employees navigate company systems to request paid time off or report what they suspect is discrimination. HR professionals also help…

  • What must someone prove to claim negligence against your company?

    If a visitor to your business or an employee brings an injury claim against your company, they need to meet certain requirements. Generally, for a situation to be actionable, it needs to involve provable losses and either misconduct or noteworthy negligence.  Perhaps someone had a slip-and-fall incident while in your retail facility, or maybe a…

  • The End of 2021 Leaves Businesses with Familiar Uncertainties

    As 2021, perhaps unbelievably, nears a close, the world is two years into COVID and a year into vaccination against the disease. While in some ways normalcy has returned, from sporting events to holiday gatherings, the uncertainty of the path forward remains stark for businesses. Many questions remain as we head into the new year.…

  • California Changes the Law on Survival Actions

    Beginning January 1, 2022, survival actions – a cause of action that allows a decedent’s personal representative or successor in interest to pursue recovery as if the decedent had survived – will change dramatically, allowing the decedent’s estate to recover damages for pain, suffering, or disfigurement when the law previously did not allow such recovery.…

  • Comparative negligence and claims against your business insurance

    California businesses are subject to more regulations than companies in many other states. Protecting yourself from the many potential forms of liability and financial risk from doing business means carrying specialized business insurance. You probably already have insurance policies in place to protect you from product defect claims or premises liability claims if someone falls…

  • Confusing Economic Signs Mean Continued Uncertainty for Businesses

    As discussed previously on this blog, there is significant uncertainty for businesses, as we move into new phases of dealing with COVID. Along with a longer-term question around a possible automation boom, there are significant shorter term questions raised by economic signs not seen in decades. One of starkest issues is the continued rising inflation…

  • Delta Variant Changes Economic Outlook

    The economic recovery in the country had been surging as vaccinations picked up and states opened up more and more. However, with the delta variant spreading quickly, the outlook going forward could be less favorable. In June, we saw mixed economic signals with increase hiring, wages, and payrolls but also increased unemployment. In July, the effects of…

  • When can workers bring a wage claim against your business?

    When employees believe that you have failed to pay them in accordance with federal or state laws, they could potentially bring a claim against your company. Common wage claims involve failing to pay minimum wage. As an employer, you have certain obligations to your employees. You need to maintain a safe workplace environment, provide a…

  • Businesses Adjust as COVID Restrictions Lift

    There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel as COVID restrictions are lifted. Vaccinations have been increasing and cases and deaths are decreasing. Along with this some states are easing restrictions with some places opening up fully and activities like attending live sporting events are slowly returning. Assuming this progress continues, businesses…

  • Avoid these mistakes when classifying employees in employment agreements

    As an employer, you will need to correctly classify anyone who is working for your business. You will need to have documentation to monitor whether they are a full-time or part-time employee, a contractor, seasonal worker or volunteer. This will be done through employment agreements. The category into which an employee falls will dictate the…

  • Senate Bill 95 – Vaccination Gives Hope to Businesses

    As vaccinations pick up, and the hope that everyone who wants a vaccine will have one by summer, California continues its attempt at staying nimble in its approach. This includes recent changes to Senate Bill 95 that will help guide the increased return to work and re-opening in the state. The first change is one…

  • A Different Economic Outlook as Biden Administration Begins Agenda

    With the Biden Administration approaching thirty days in office, the economic landscape in the country shows mixed signs, with many potential policy changes ahead, especially for business law. On the unemployment front, filings continue to be high but have dropped for three straight weeks. This suggests the economy could be turning a corner, particularly as more…