A lawsuit can be an overwhelming experience for any business owner – particularly if you have not previously had any dealings with the court system. It is not, however, cause to panic. There are many different ways employers can resolve such disputes, such as through litigation, arbitration, mediation, or simple settlement negotiations. The Many Strategies […]
How Many Shares Should be Authorized in a Certificate of Incorporation?
There is no simple, “one size fits all” answer to how many shares you should authorize when you form a corporation. Instead, you will need to discuss your goals with a Silicon Valley corporate lawyer who can help you think through all of the relevant considerations. What are Articles of Incorporation? A corporation’s founders file […]
What Determines My Pre-Money Valuation?
You have done the hard part; you have come up with a novel idea. The question now becomes how do you turn this dream into a reality? One of the most important first steps is to know how to determine your pre-money valuation. What is a Pre-Money Valuation? A pre-money valuation is the amount of […]
Reviewing Your Commercial Lease
Monthly rent is typically one of the largest operating costs for most businesses, particularly in areas with high rental values such as Palo Alto. However, non-financial terms of a commercial lease also have a direct impact on a business and its bottom line. Because most standard commercial lease agreements tent to favor the landlord, negotiating […]
E-Commerce – How Do I Do Business Online?
E-Commerce is everywhere these days. The sale of goods online allows businesses to reach more customers and gives consumers access to a much wider range of products and services than ever before. E-Commerce makes it possible to buy and sell goods on a local, regional, national, and global scale. If your Mountain View-based business or […]
Important Contracts for Startups in Silicon Valley
Startups in Silicon Valley are just like startups anywhere else — they depend on strong relationships with investors, employees, and others to get off the ground and expand. Where do legal contracts come into the mix? The best way to safeguard your startup and ensure long-term success as the business grows and evolves is to […]
What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Board Observer Rights?
A board observer is someone who is allowed to attend a board meeting but is not permitted to vote on matters concerning the board. The question becomes – are there any benefits to being a board observer if you don’t get to vote on matters of importance? The simplest answer is “yes.” The benefit is […]
How Much Power Do Stockholders Have?
The Electoral College: Stockholders Edition If I were to ask you whether any other system in America aside from its political election system uses an electoral college type system, you would probably say no. You might be surprised to find out that this isn’t exactly the case. The vast majority of those who hold stock […]
How do I Write a Secure Privacy Policy?
With the influx of data breaches and cyber-crime, it essential to make certain that you write a strong, secure privacy policy (SPP). It’s a safe bet that the next time a CEO testifies before Congress on privacy issues, they will be prepared. What is an SPP? If you plan to have an online footprint as […]
Dissolving a California LLC
Your Bay Area business has voted to dissolve the LLC. What happens next? Dissolving an LLC is not just as simple as shutting the doors, throwing away the keys, and declaring the business closed. Under California law, there are formal dissolution requirements that business owners must follow. Voting to Dissolve the LLC Most LLCs are […]