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How can we help your business? JRR SOLUTIONS knows especially for new businesses, needs such as marketing, sales, staffing and just getting the business off the ground can easily take priority over legal issues, particularly ones that don't seem to be of immediate concern. But smart business planning also includes preventing problems and making sure the business is protected against potential trouble. Corporate Governance While most corporations will use an attorney to help with the process of incorporation, new businesses sometimes neglect the on-going legal requirements to maintain their corporation status. Annual shareholder, director and partner meetings need to be held, and recording of minutes and election of officers must conform with state requirements. Failure to do so could jeopardize corporate status and result in "piercing of the corporate veil" in the event of a lawsuit or other legal action, exposing corporate officers to personal liability or other legal problems. Intellectual Property Many intangible assets of a business should be legally protected. A company's name, logo, brand name and distinctive goods and services are entitled to copyright protection. Proprietary computer software, semiconductor chip mask designs, vessel hull designs and many other creations may be eligible for trademark registration. Patents are often thought to cover only machines and other manufactured products, but can also protect processes, such as a method for refining petroleum, or new compositions of matter, such as chemical compounds or mixtures. Trademark, copyright and patent registrations can help a business protect the things that give it a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Employment Agreements Many companies, especially technology companies, count the knowledge of their employees as some of their most important assets. Yet they fail to protect those assets through non-disclosure and non-compete agreements with their employees. Inevitably, some employees will leave the company, and it's important to protect your business against their taking their knowledge of trade secrets with them over to the competition. Exit Strategies Entrepreneurs sometimes are so focused on starting a new business that they don't consider what happens if one of the principals leaves the business. When a partner or major shareholder decides to suddenly exit, it can potentially threaten the ability of the business to continue operating. Closely held corporations need to have buy-sell agreements or buy-back agreements to ensure that partners or major shareholders can sell their interest without legal entanglements or placing an undue financial burden on the company. For more details contact: |