For the love of your business

Articles to LIFT Your Life and Business

How Your Employees’ Social Media Contacts Could be Protectable Trade Secrets

The question of whether an employee’s LinkedIn contacts can be considered trade secrets belonging to a former employer is a question currently before a Central California district court. In Cellular Accessories For Less, Inc. v. Trinitas, LLC, defendant David Oakes was a sales account manager for Cellular Accessories for Less, Inc., a company that sells […]

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How to Have an Office Holiday Party with No Legal Hangovers

Holiday parties that had fallen victim to the economic recession are now back at many offices across the country, and are a wonderful way to show your appreciation for your employees and their hard work during the year. However, business owners are also wary of hosting parties that could leave them with a legal hangover.  […]

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Top 10 Legal Tips for Entrepreneurs

If 2015 is the year you decide to strike out on your own and start your own business, there are some basic legal issues you need to take into consideration as part of your start-up planning. Here are our top 10 legal tips for entrepreneurs: Choose the right business structure. Most businesses start life as […]

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How to Create a Bulletproof Independent Contractor Agreement

One of the most common issues facing small businesses is how to govern relationships with independent contractors (ICs). Which is not really surprising, since many small businesses use ICs to perform critical work functions like website development, marketing, bookkeeping and other important functions that keep your business functioning and growing. To protect your company’s future, […]

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How to Keep Suppliers From Putting Your Business at Risk for a Data Breach

Two major retailers that suffered a major data breach affecting millions of customers – and their bottom lines – have one thing in common: both got hacked through their vendors. Home Depot’s security system was breached by a hacker that stole credit card details and emails for over 56 million customers. The hacker gained access […]

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Did You Just Hire an Employee or an Independent Contractor? Be Sure You Know!

UPDATE SINCE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN: In a March 3, 2017 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the NLRB’s finding mentioned below that FedEx Home Delivery drivers were employees. The court agreed with FedEx that the drivers were independent contractors and therefore did not have the right to union […]

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The Best Time to Update Your Employee Handbook is Right Now

If business owners realized the role a good employee handbook can play in protecting their company from employee litigation, keeping it up to date would be a bigger priority. Alas, many employers neglect these documents until a glaring error decides a case in an employee’s favor. Historically, employee handbooks were used primarily to educate employees […]

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NLRB Lays Down the Law for Employee Discipline Based on Facebook Preferences

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that an employee who “likes” a comment on Facebook that disparages his or her employer is protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. In its Triple Play Sports Bar & Grille ruling, the NLRB extended Section 7 protection to an employee who “liked” another […]

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Entrepreneurs: Are You Making Promises You Can’t – or Don’t Want to – Keep?

When you’re starting or building a business, things can move very quickly. Entrepreneurs typically starting new ventures reach out to dozens of people who may or may not become part of the final company, to ascertain interest or recruit talent. Often, an entrepreneur will take part in a discussion about equity allocation in the new […]

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Avoid These Four Common Legal Mistakes If You Own a Business

Whether you are just starting a new business or have been running a business for years, there are four common legal mistakes that both novice and seasoned entrepreneurs make that can have a significant impact on the future viability of your company: Co-mingling of business and personal finances.  You may have started your business as […]

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Avoid These Top 10 Mistakes New Small Business Owners Make

A New York Times article lists the top rookie mistakes entrepreneurs often make when starting a business, and with our years of experience in helping entrepreneurs capitalize on new business opportunities, many of them ring true.  Here’s the list: Hiring a good friend or family member. When it comes to hiring staff for your new […]

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