Businesses create a great deal of intellectual property, in some cases without knowing it. But even if you have something as simple as a company logo or brand, you have intellectual property that is worth protecting. Other companies have large portfolios of intellectual assets but don’t know how best to secure them. Registering Your Trademarks…
Forming a partnership is one of the best ways to conduct business. It allows owners to pool their resources and knowledge so they can work together for the benefit of each other and the company. By the same token, many partnerships have fallen apart due to conflict and disagreements. Partnership disputes are among the most…
Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act The Massachusetts Legislature has adopted a new law providing for pay transparency, which is denominated as Chapter 141 of the Acts of 2024. On July 31, 2024, the Governor, Maura Healey, signed this Act. Introduction This Act has two key provisions: The Posting of Salary Ranges[1] This Section of the law…
If you’ve built a successful business, the time may come for you to franchise it. Although franchises are excellent opportunities for a business to reap substantial rewards, many of them end up failing. It is imperative that the company’s owners know the risks as they thoughtfully make the decision to franchise. Below are some questions…
Estate and business succession planning are two closely related areas of law that can both serve similar purposes. One reason that individuals, families, and small business owners choose to avail themselves of planning is to minimize taxes. If you’ve never created an estate or succession plan or it’s been a while since you’ve updated yours,…
Probate is the process by which an individual’s last will and testament is determined to be valid (or “proved”) so that the decedent’s final wishes regarding estate assets can be settled. Although probate is avoidable in some cases, there are many estates that must be subjected to this process before property can be distributed to…
Summer internships are a great way for businesses to recruit young talent. Giving a college student an internship at your company allows you to get to know each other, and see if there is a possible fit for future full-time employment. With one of the largest pools of college and postgraduate students in the country,…
Tracy Craig, Chair of our Trusts and Estates Practice Group, recently contributed an informative article to Kiplinger, focused on individuals interested in including charitable giving in their estate plans. This giving can take many forms. Oftentimes, a donor-advised fund can provide a very cost effective and easy way to give to charities, either during life or…
In a recent judgment delivered by the Superior Court’s Business Litigation Session, attorney James A. Vevone II of Seder & Chandler, LLP, achieved a notable victory for his client in a case concerning the right of first refusal related to the acquisition of a railroad company. This legal challenge centered on the enforceability of the…
A guardianship is a legal arrangement by which an individual known as a guardian is appointed to make decisions about care and living environment for the benefit of someone who is incapacitated. Incapacity is defined as a medically diagnosed condition that renders someone incapable of communicating or making decisions about their personal health, safety, or…
