For the love of your business

Articles to LIFT Your Life and Business

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.  […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

Preparing Your Company for an Eventual (and Profitable) Sale

If you are a small business owner, chances are that most of your personal net worth is tied up in your business.  So even if selling your company is not on your radar anytime soon, there will come a day you will want to cash out and sell it at the best possible price. Even […]

Read More

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, […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

How to Avoid a Trademark Infringement Dogfight

A New Jersey entrepreneur who sells organic dog treats under the label, “Snaks 5th Avenchew” has prevailed in her fight to keep the name after a short scrap with fashion retailer Saks Fifth Avenue. Carrie Sarabella, who sells her organic dog treats online and direct to retailers, received a cease-and-desist letter from Saks threatening litigation […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

Asset Protection Strategies for Female Business Owners

Female-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy, with the number of women-owned businesses doubling over the past 17 years, according to a recent Forbes article. Many women who run their own companies often do double-duty as CEOs of their families as well. The tendency for many is to leave […]

Read More

A Simple Way for Business Owners to Document Their Legal Agreements

Sometimes you just want to document your own agreements without consulting with a lawyer. Written agreements are binding documents that define the obligations of all parties involved in a specific project or for the sale of a good or service. Written agreements are necessary to provide a clear record of agreed upon terms. That way, […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

Looking for a licensed Family Business Lawyer?