If you are a company executive, you were likely asked to sign a contract before assuming your new employment role. The legal agreement you entered into typically spells out the responsibilities of your position, your salary, any fringe benefits you are eligible...
Seasoned Trial Attorneys,
Thomas Whitelaw Legal Blog
Patent expiration dates and delinquent fees that may invalidate infringement claims
When it comes to filing patents, many companies fall between two extremes. Some startups rush to be the first to patent their invention and get it to market, while other entrepreneurs are much more deliberate in creating a design for their product, building...
What is involved in a business opportunity transaction?
In California, a real estate license is required when participating in a majority of business opportunity transactions, such as listing, selling, transferring, or leasing on behalf of others. The transaction of a business opportunity is complex. It often requires an...
The top 3 reasons why shareholder disputes occur
The owners of a public company, its shareholders, can be individual people, institutions, or other corporations. Each of these parties must abide by a shareholder agreement. Shareholders and company directors aren't generally the same. Shareholders typically don't...
What your firm and broker-dealers should know about FINRA audits
As a California business that operates in the financial services sector, you are well aware that your company and the registered investment advisors (RIAs) are subject to significant government oversight. It's not uncommon for the Financial Industry Regulatory...
California contract law & breaches
Contracts are the backbone of any business. They outline the obligations expected from both parties. The terms set therein (and those that California law applies, whether the conditions are in the contract or not) are the basis for managing smooth partnerships. ...
Is your company Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliant?
Many corporations are at the forefront of innovation, developing technology that aims to revolutionize the world. Some business owners find it necessary to establish relationships abroad to move their company forward. Be careful if you do. You may expose yourself to...
Who is liable in an accident with a self-driving car?
Autonomous, or self-driving, cars have been a hot topic in recent years. More and more automobile companies are adding advanced self-driving features, requiring increasingly less input from a human driver. Waymo, Google's autonomous car subsidiary, even has a limited...
The complexity of commercial litigation
Commercial litigation encompasses a broad range of legal disputes involving business entities and corporate law. In California, a litany of laws regulates business partnerships and fairness practices. It's rare for these matters to have simple answers. Most arguments...
Legal issues relating to artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is any system that imitates human beings in conducting tasks. Such a system improves itself based on its information as it handles different tasks. AI is now used across all industries, from e-commerce sites to education, automobiles,...