Category: Business Law

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA), offers E-Verify to help employers instantly determine an employee's eligibility to work.  Initial confirmations and "Tentative Non Confirmations" are available in as little as three to five seconds. The voluntary Internet-based program works by comparing the information from an...

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires employers to verify the identity of their employees and their eligibility to work in the U.S.  To comply, employers must retain original I-9 Forms for current employees and, for former employees, keep them for at least three years.  These need not be submitted to the government but...

Almost every business collects uses and records customer information in some way, shape or form.  Your business may obtain names, addresses, telephone numbers, credit and debit card information, social security numbers or health care and insurance information in the ordinary course of business.  This data is often required in order for you to be...

A franchise agreement is a contract that governs a franchise relationship.  These agreements are entered into by the franchisor, the entity that owns the business model, and the franchisee, the individual or entity that will run a location of the business.  While the terms of each contract are unique to the particular deal, most...

There are different types of commercial leases, such as gross leases, modified gross leases and net leases.  One variation of the net lease is a “triple net” lease, in which the tenant is liable for a net amount of property taxes, insurance and common area maintenance relating to the property they are possessing.  Most...

A limited liability company is a very popular business form that combines some of the best features of a corporation and a partnership.  Like a partnership, an LLC is taxed through its individual members.  Like a corporation, it provides limited liability to its members.  In most situations, the personal assets of LLC members cannot...

We live in a digital world and if you are not doing business online you could be missing out on the profits and other benefits of this marketplace.  If you want to expand your business horizons using the internet, you should be aware of the legal implications that may come along with the benefits. ...

Social media is a phenomenon and in this day and age, it is rare that an individual, organization or business does not utilize it.  The use of websites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin can be of great benefit to your business and can assist in advertising, marketing and branding.  But, it is important to...

A mechanic's lien is not just for mechanics.  It is a legal tool used to protect workers and suppliers who contribute the labor and materials used to improve a property, real or personal.  Workers and suppliers can file a mechanic's lien if they do not get paid and may be able to force the...

Perhaps math isn’t every lawyer’s strong suit; although some lawyers prefer to stay away from fractions and decimals, it doesn’t mean they aren’t able to do math when needed to help their clients. When it comes to businesses, math is intertwined in so many issues from basic day-to-day operations to complex corporate mergers and acquisitions. ...

The American Dream of starting your own business and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is alive and well. In fact, it is the creation and growth of small businesses that is instrumental in helping America recover from the Great Recession. What many do not realize is that a significant percentage of new business...

There are many advantages to registering a mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  A licensed trademark can provide “constructive notice” to customers on a national basis.  Moreover, if there is a lawsuit, a valid registration can be used to substantiate or prove ownership of the mark. A trademark is used to...