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Forming a limited liability company (LLC) in California can be an excellent way for small business owners to limit personal liability while maintaining flexibility in management and taxation. Unlike corporations, which are governed by more rigid statutory structures...

In today’s world of online legal forms and AI-generated documents, it’s easy to be tempted by template contracts—especially when they’re free or low-cost. But when real money or the future of your business is on the line, using a contract that isn’t tailored to your...

In California contract law, the inclusion of a "No Third Party Beneficiaries" clause is often overlooked but plays a crucial role in safeguarding contracting parties from unintended obligations and legal exposure. This article explains the concept of third party...

In contract drafting, one of the most overlooked yet fundamental details is getting the legal name of the parties exactly right. It seems obvious, but it’s astonishing how often businesses omit crucial parts of their legal names—like “Inc.,” “LLC,” or “LLP”—or...

1. Force Majeure: When the Unexpected Happens in Your Business Contracts Force majeure clauses are common in business contracts, yet many small business owners may not fully understand their importance. Essentially, a force majeure clause protects parties from...

As a California attorney focused on business and real property transactions, I often see the word material appear in contracts—frequently, and often with significant implications. But what does it actually mean in practice? And why does it matter so much? This post...

Myth #1: Posted 4/15/25 “I don't need to register my work with the Copyright Office; all I need to do mail it by myself”. Reality: No, mailing your work to yourself has no legal effect at all. The copyright law in the US is very clear that in order to sue someone in...

We’ve all heard any number of “Urban Myths”, such as there are alligators living in the sewers in New York City and Little Mikey from the “Life” cereal commercial died because he mixed Coca-Cola with pop rocks. There are plenty of widely-held general legal myths too:...

If you’re starting a new business in California, one of the first decisions you'll face is where to form your legal entity. It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to hear that states like Delaware, Nevada, or Wyoming offer “better” benefits—lower taxes, more privacy,...

In the sale of a small business, contingencies are conditions that must be met before the transaction can close. The seller of a business usually has chosen to go to market to sell the business and are focused on finding a buyer who can afford their desired purchase...