Richards Rodriguez & Skeith | Attorneys at Law
Your Business' Success - Front and Center
Materiality in M&A deals is, these days, normally a heavily negotiated issue. There’s often a push and pull between sellers and purchasers. Sellers often try to qualify their representations and warranties in the definitive agreements with materiality in order to avoid being found liable for immaterial breaches or for immaterial damages. Indemnity Basket Parties typically… Read More »
We’re long past our 2020 business plans now. These are strange times for business owners and operators, and if you’re finding yourself in a situation that you wouldn’t have imagined possible six months ago, you’re not the only one. A common issue we’re seeing a lot of people facing right now is the threat of… Read More »
In this Business Law Breakdown, Richards Rodriguez & Skeith Partner David Rodriguez shares the major cybersecurity risks facing buyers during M&A transactions. Cybersecurity issues are becoming more prevalent in M&A deals these days. The major risks facing buyers relating to cybersecurity are twofold. Firstly, that the seller may or may not have been the victim… Read More »
Between these trying economic times and the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are struggling to keep their bills paid during a time when they may not be able to keep their doors open. The fact of the matter is that a lot of these businesses will be filing for bankruptcy soon, and that will impact everyone… Read More »
CARES Act – Low-Interest Loans to Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Title IV of the CARES Act provides $500 billion in emergency relief in order to provide liquidity to eligible businesses, States, municipalities and Tribes related to losses incurred as a result of coronavirus. What you need to know: The Treasury is directed to use $454… Read More »
How does the CARES Act affect unemployment insurance benefits? The Texas Workforce Commission is still working on an agreement with the federal government for the implementation of the CARES Act assistance, but here are some of the highlights of the CARES Act unemployment insurance provisions: It creates a new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program which: provides… Read More »
Big Picture The Paycheck Protection Program is intended to provide American small businesses with 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100% federally guaranteed loans. There is no cost to apply. The funding is meant to help retain workers, maintain payroll, and cover rent/mortgage/utility expenses. The loan is intended to help small business owners cover expenses… Read More »
CARES Act, Texas, Travis County and City of Austin Temporary Relief from Evictions for Certain Residential Tenants What you need to know: The CARES Act imposes a national 120-day moratorium on evictions against residential tenants who cannot pay their rent due to income interruptions related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Who/What is covered: The moratorium only… Read More »
My firm and I do a lot of work for a variety of healthcare organizations. These organizations include hospitals, physician groups, and individual physicians. Every single healthcare professional I’ve ever worked with understands the importance of making sure the patient’s protected health information is kept safe and secure and is not disclosed accidentally to some… Read More »
What it is: Emergency FMLA and sick leave legislation designed to protect employees and employers affected by COVID-19. When it takes effect: by April 2, 2020. What you need to know: For many employers, you may be responsible for providing your employees with additional benefits, including paid leave related to COVID-19. The Big Picture On… Read More »
As you navigate through the current economic downturn and try to make adjustments to your business, the contractual terms of your agreements with suppliers, vendors, and customers become very important. Many contracts contain force majeure clauses which can sometimes be invoked to excuse your performance of a contractual obligation. Even without a force majeure clause,… Read More »
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are faced with figuring out how to protect their businesses while minimizing the harm to their employees. The challenges employers are facing include making sure they are complying with applicable health and safety regulations, navigating laws regarding disability discrimination and family medical leave, and ensuring employee privacy… Read More »
In this business law breakdown, Richards Rodriguez & Skeith founding partner Dan Richards discusses resolving disputes, and in particular the legal contract of accord and satisfaction. What is Accord and Satisfaction? Accord and satisfaction is a relatively powerful tool you can use to resolve money disputes. The elements are simple: There’s a claim for… Read More »
When business owners are negotiating contracts, they’re rightly concerned with things like how much they are going to get paid, how much they have to pay, who’s responsible for what, and what happens if something goes wrong. At the end of the contracts, however, there are several pages of type called “boilerplate”. Inside those boilerplate… Read More »
Business owners and operators can face a wide range of legal issues during the lifetime of their business. While many of these issues can be handled through prescribed courses of action set out in your business contracts and other legal documentation, sometimes that’s just not enough. Maybe a contractor or a client isn’t fulfilling their… Read More »
Business owners are very used to working with their attorney, having their questions answered, and having their lawyer give opinions on legal issues. When a seller is selling their business, however, sometimes a buyer will ask for the seller’s lawyer’s opinion on certain issues related to the sale. It’s About Due Diligence So, what’s all… Read More »
If you own a business, it’s highly likely that you’re going to hire someone to do something for you at some point. Maybe you’re a person or a company that provides services and deliverables to others. In either case, you should have a written contract. I would like to talk about some things that… Read More »
Finances are at the heart of any business, whether you’re a B2B service-based business with thousands of employees, or a tiny eCommerce startup operating out of a garage. When you’re looking to make big purchases or expand to a new location, however, you may find that you just don’t have enough capital to do so.… Read More »
Financial technology, or more commonly termed “FinTech” is the next big thing in the world of startup businesses. As far as funding is concerned, it’s a big deal—FinTech companies have gone from bringing in 5% to 20% of total investment dollars in the last decade. Empowered by technology, tools harnessed by these young FinTech firms… Read More »
Today, Richards Rodriguez & Skeith partner Kathryn Turpin discusses an issue that she helps business owners out with a lot, and that is how to structure the relationship among the owners of the business. Clear Expectations So, my perspective on this issue, and really with all business issues, is that business relationships, just like personal… Read More »
As a state with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation and an economy that’s growing at record speeds, it comes as no surprise that there are a lot of successful businesses based in Texas—and those numbers are only growing. With an unemployment rate of 3.4% and the second-largest gross domestic product—valued at… Read More »
A big part of any business’s journey is acquiring space to conduct their activities. Whether you are looking for office, retail, or industrial space, it’s important that this first space has room for your business to grow. Here are a few things to think about when negotiating your commercial lease: Your Lease Terms Pay close… Read More »
When you start a business, there are likely occasions on which you already know it might be best to consult an expert on a particular subject. Whether that’s on the financial end of things, or as you begin marketing, or at the inception of your company, the fact of the matter is that you just… Read More »
If you have ever owned a business or managed the operations for a business of any size, you’ll know that a commercial lease is an essential part of any business. A lease that is in your favor will set the foundation for long-term business success—so it is necessary to do your best to ensure that… Read More »
