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Various issues can always arise when starting a business, especially when ownership and responsibilities are not clearly laid out from the start.  When starting a business, it is crucial to discuss ownership, compensation, and responsibilities.  This can be challenging when a business is first forming and those roles are evolving […]

An asset is defined as, “property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies.”  As a result of legal liability, assets can be levied upon by creditors.  Protecting assets is not about hiding assets, it is about utilizing options to […]

Generally, employers own work email accounts.  Employers typically own the computer used to access the email, servers, and other data.  Accordingly, emails sent and received on work email accounts are the property of the employer and can generally be monitored by the employer.  Employees should not expect email messages to […]

So you have formed a business partnership, but one or more partners do not agree on an issue that is important to the business – what do you do now?

Intellectual property is a crucial part of many businesses.  Protecting this proprietary information is essential.  Proprietary information includes trade secrets, client lists, development plans, marketing plans, and other confidential information.  Although non-competition agreements are almost always void in North Dakota, that is not the only way to protect your business’ […]

One of the most important parts of business is raising capital.  When raising capital, regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or your state securities department may become involved.  Some might assume that business contributions by friends and family are not subject to securities laws. Offering friends and family […]

You received a summons and complaint – what happens now?  In civil lawsuits, the proceeding begins with a summons and complaint.  This is your notification that you are being sued.

Demand letters are often a starting point to the resolution of a dispute.  Although non-attorneys can send demand letters, having an attorney assist in writing the demand letter is important to hopefully efficiently resolving the dispute.

Generally, it is in everyone’s best interest to avoid litigation.  Litigation is expensive and time consuming for all parties.  One way to avoid litigation is to draft a contract with the possibility of future litigation in mind.  Even if you think your contract will never be the basis of a […]

Selecting a name for your business is an important part of business formation.  There are some rules about naming your business in North Dakota, depending on the type of business structure you are planning.  Generally, a business name cannot include any words that indicate it is involved in anything other […]

In the event of death or illness, every business needs a plan in place.  This is especially important for family business owners.  Much like planning for an individual’s estate, business plans are crucial to preparing for what happens next.