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 »
Business Law Breakdown: Force Majeure and Other Defenses for Non-Performance
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 »
How Will COVID-19 Impact My Business?
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 »
Business Law Breakdown: Resolving Disputes – Accord and Satisfaction
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 »
Business Law Breakdown: Will Boilerplate Assignment Clauses Wreck the Sale of Your Business?
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 »
When Do You Need A Business Dispute Attorney?
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 Law Breakdown: The Role of Attorney Opinion Letters in M&A Transactions
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 »
Business Law Breakdown: Services and Deliverables Contracts
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 »
What Type of Corporate Loan is Right For Your Business?
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 »
The Lowdown on Legal Issues Facing FinTech Startups
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 »
Business Law Breakdown: Taming the Relationship With Your Co-Owners
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 »
The Case for Starting Your Business in Texas — or Moving Here as Fast as You Can
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 »
Business Law Breakdown: Things to Consider Before Signing a Commercial Lease
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 Do Startups Need Legal Representation?
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 »
Five Tips for Negotiating a Commercial Real Estate Transaction
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 »
