Recent Blog Posts
How to Fire an At-Will Employee without Risking a Lawsuit
Firing someone can be tricky business. For starters, no one wants to be the bearer of bad news — even if the person you need to let go has not produced much for the company in years. Then again, many situations require businesses to fire employees for reasons that have little or nothing to… Read More »
How Do I Know if Wage and Hour Laws Apply to Me? A Quick Guide for Employers and Employees
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) became federal law in 1938, establishing a national minimum wage, requiring time-and-a-half pay for overtime in many jobs, and prohibiting child labor. In Washington, DC, district law requires employers to pay the national minimum wage as established by the FLSA—currently $7.25—plus one dollar. But wage and hour laws… Read More »
Why Should My Contracts Include an Arbitration or Mediation Clause?
Managing litigation risk is an important issue for businesses of all types and sizes. In some cases, a single over-the-top judgment can push a vulnerable business into bankruptcy. Some legal risks do not permit advance planning and risk management, such as when an employee causes a serious motor vehicle accident or a visitor to… Read More »
Estate Planning: Wills, Trusts, Living Wills and Living Trusts
Nobody likes to think about what happens when we die, especially when still relatively young and healthy. But careful estate planning can save you and your loved ones from all sorts of difficulties. With the right combination of wills and trusts, you can avoid expensive or protracted delays in probate court, ensure that your… Read More »
What is Corporate Litigation?
Corporate litigation encompasses a lot more than one business suing another. In fact, corporate litigation includes any type of legal proceeding having anything to do with a business or corporation, and can include steps taken to avoid litigation as well as actually litigating and managing business disputes. In general, corporate litigation involves a whole… Read More »
How Will the Affordable Care Act Affect my Business?
Now that the Supreme Court has upheld most of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), businesses should be prepared to meet ACA requirements when they go into full effect in 2014. But with all the rumors and misinformation out there, how can you begin to estimate the actual effect of the legislation… Read More »
I Know My Company Is in the Right—Why Should We Settle?
With some notable exceptions, most corporate litigation defense today deals almost exclusively with limiting the damage, not with winning or with proving a point. Litigation can be hideously expensive — for example, the sheer ease and volume of electronic communications today may add significantly to the cost of discovery — and that’s before the… Read More »
How K Visas Work
If you met your fiancé abroad and want to marry in the United States, you must follow a special process. While spouses of United States citizens can usually obtain permanent residency — also called a Green Card — this usually cannot occur until after the marriage actually takes place. If your fiancé wishes to… Read More »
Common Business Disputes
Business disputes are nearly impossible to avoid and even companies that have harmoniously done business together for years can unexpectedly find themselves embroiled in a conflict. If not handled properly, such disputes can ruin previously lucrative business relationships and cost both parties substantial time and money. When you do find yourself involved in a… Read More »
Risks of Doing Business as a Sole Proprietor
There are many things to consider when starting a business, and something as fundamental as liability protection may take a back seat to seemingly more pressing concerns. It may be tempting for entrepreneurs to take the easy path and simply operate as a sole proprietorship, but doing so carries a number of risks. When… Read More »
