Business Law

In previous posts on this blog, I have talked about a number of marketing strategies and niche products from a wide variety of different companies throughout the country. I will be the first to admit that many of these efforts have been little more than publicity stunts. At the same time, if a publicity stunt garners enough attention and helps the business in question increase its incoming revenue, one could certainly argue that the stunt is a success. As a business lawyer with more than 40 years of experience, I […]

Every week, there seems to be a new, politically charged controversy that makes national headlines. Not all that long ago, for example, news outlets were abuzz with stories about bakeries that did not want to make cakes for same-sex weddings. This week, another cake-related story has started making the rounds on news sites and social media networks—but this one is much more light-hearted and quite amusing. As a business law attorney, I am always interested to see how businesses and customers alike respond to honest mistakes or mix-ups. With that […]

Being a business owner is unlike any other type of job. When you buy a business or start a business, you become your own boss and gain the ability to control exactly how your company is run. Oftentimes, buying an existing business presents fewer risks than starting your own business from scratch, but an entrepreneur looking to purchase a business must still be diligent in choosing the right business venture. There are certain “red flags” which may be warnings that a business opportunity is not as great as it appears […]

If you are a business owner, you are probably faced with difficult decisions on practically a daily basis. Such decisions made difficult by the fact that regardless of the choice that you make, there is likely to be someone who is unhappy with the outcome. For example, if you decide to extend your business hours, your customers might be delighted but your employees will probably not be so happy about working later. As a business lawyer and a business owner myself, I realize that business owners must always operate in […]

One of the biggest responsibilities business owners have is managing employees. Making smart hiring and firing decisions can be challenging but also incredibly beneficial to your small business. The team of employees who represent your brand and operate your company can make or break your business. Hiring staff can be a complicated process full of legal pitfalls. Knowing how to avoid common hiring mistakes can help you grow your business while decreasing your chances of being involved in an employment-related lawsuit. Asking Interview Questions Which Violate Discrimination Laws When you […]

It was not all that long ago that the television entertainment industry was primarily centered around the so-called “Big Three.” The national networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC battled for ratings, while cable networks did the same but on a smaller scale with more niche offerings. Fox came along in the mid-1980s and became a major player beginning in 1994. While the network wars might feel like ancient history, they have never really gone away—they have simply shifted to a new battleground. As a business law attorney, I recognize the […]

In today’s competitive business landscape, it is important for business owners to utilize every available avenue for reaching potential customers and clients. Print advertising campaigns, television ads, and radio spots are all good examples of how some businesses market themselves, but not every company can afford to spend a great deal on aggressive advertising. Having a professional and informative company website, however, is a different story. As a business law attorney and a business owner, I recognize that every business needs to be online. At the very least, your current […]

Whenever anyone talks about major mistakes made in the business world, New Coke is almost always part of the discussion. For those who might not be old enough to remember, the New Coke fiasco was a culturally defining event of the so-called “cola wars” of the 1980s, as Coca-Cola and Pepsi battled for dominance of the soft drink industry. As a business law attorney, I was intrigued to hear that New Coke is slated to make a comeback this summer, but in a much more limited release than the last […]

You do not need to be a football fan to recognize the name Tom Brady. The future Hall of Fame quarterback is about to enter his 20th season in the National Football League (NFL), all of them with the New England Patriots. The six-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player has transcended the sport to become a household celebrity name. In today’s world, of course, being a celebrity means having and protecting a brand of sorts. As a business law attorney, I am acutely aware of how […]

There are few social phenomena that have been as fast-growing and ubiquitous as social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. In the past few decades, we have watched as social media evolved from simply a way for college students to post spring break pictures to a worldwide network of students, parents, professionals, and businesses. For years, social media pages only included individuals’ personal profiles, but now we are seeing more and more businesses creating Facebook pages and other social network profiles. If you are a business owner […]