Author Archives: Admin
Silicon Handshake or Hangman’s Noose: The NDA’s Opportunities and Risks
Nondisclosure Agreements (“NDA”) are everywhere: a Silicon Valley Don Juan had an NDA ready for every date. However, NDAs are not created equal — what is good for the discloser is not good for the recipient. The “Silicon Handshake” can become a hangman’s noose for the unwary. Questions to Ask. Any potential signer to an […]
Expensive Waffles
Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles used to have a restaurant near the Bay Oak Law offices in Oakland; an assistant used to visit nearly every weekend with her fiancé. Unfortunately, the Oakland branch closed a few years ago, and Roscoe’s is currently only in Southern California. Unfortunately, Roscoe’s was in the legal news today because it […]
It’s H-1B Visa Season
2013 H-1B Visa Application Start Date If your firm is seeking to provide a new H-1B visa on or after October 1, 2012, the application season opens on April 2nd. In past years, the maximum number of visas was reached within the first few days of the period, so it will be important to get […]
Are Interns A Good Idea?
By Kim Kennedy Does your business use interns? Are you thinking of hiring an intern or two in the near future? The economy is still struggling, and hiring more employees is a significant expense in payroll costs, as well as in other costs such as health insurance, and training. There are hordes of unemployed recent […]
A Wellness Program — For Your Business
Just as your body needs annual wellness checkups, your business does, too. Much of the simple matters can be done by your office, without an lawyer – but if issues turn up, it may be time to check with counsel. Corporate Status ❏ Corporate Status. Is your business in good standing with the state? In […]
Leveling the Playing Field:
Due Process and Trade Secret Misappropriation Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 2019.210 by: Andrew K Jacobson The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees due process of law. One type of due process is knowing the details of the accusations in a court of law against you. But in trade secret misappropriation cases, the trade […]
Who Gives a Tweet About Who Owns a Tweet?
The media revolution of the last 20 years will continue well into the future, and new issues will arise that few will think about in advance. Small businesses can save themselves huge expenses in protecting their media outlets by updating their employee manuals so that it is clear from the outset of employment that these new media channels belong to the employer, not to the employee.
Benefit Corporations
by: Laura Koch California has entered the new year with a new class of corporation—the ‟Benefit Corporation,” or ‟B Corporation.” Governor Brown signed AB361 in October 2011, making California the seventh state to allow corporations to elect an organizational structure that benefits both society and shareholders. B Corporations are required to pursue the creation of […]
A New Ambush on At-Will Employment?
by Andrew K Jacobson Once again, the turn of the new year brings new laws into existence. The newspapers focus on cross-cultural clashes like the banning of new sources of shark fins or partial bans on checking job applicants’ and workers’ credit reports. California has also created new penalties if a company willfully misclassifies someone as […]
