The choice of a business entity involves consideration of your immediate and long-term goals. Choosing to operate as a sole proprietorship, a general partnership, a limited liability company (LLC), a corporation or some other entity has legal, risk and tax...
Protect your legacy – estate planning tips for small business owners
When it comes to estate planning, most people think about their tangible assets such as their house, car and personal effects. They might also think of their intangibles, such as savings accounts, retirement accounts and stocks. What some people fail to take into...
Looks like federal taxes may be rising. Are you prepared?
Over the last few years, Democratic leadership has been calling for increased federal taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals. Now that they have the White House and majorities in the House and Senate, their tax increases are more likely to pass. According to...
When could you be held liable for your business’s actions?
When you organize a business entity, one of the main considerations is liability. Who should be held responsible for damages or debts caused by the business’s actions? Should the owners, members or shareholders be liable? Or is the business its own entity that is...
Is your estate plan going to fail?
Even well-drafted estate plans can fail, meaning they fail to achieve your goals when the time comes. Those goals are generally 1) to distribute your assets to your heirs and beneficiaries; 2) to pay your creditors and taxes; 3) to prevent undue losses of assets or...
Better deal-making requires a long-term perspective
Have you fought hard to close a deal only to have it fall apart during implementation? Have you negotiated a contract that didn’t stand up to real-world conditions? Has a dispute arisen because you didn’t foresee a certain eventuality? There are ways to prevent...
Harmed by false, misleading or deceptive business practices?
If you as a consumer or your business has been harmed by a breach of warranty or any false, misleading or deceptive business practice, Texas law may offer you recourse. The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act (DTPA) allows consumers, including...
I want to sue for breach of contract. How do I get started?
If a customer, vendor, supplier or other company has breached its contract with you, it can be tempting to file a lawsuit immediately. It’s a matter of principle that a contract breach should not be tolerated, and you should receive compensation for your losses and...
High yields, fresh opportunities attracting investors to landlords
If you are a landlord, the past year has been an immense challenge. Office and retail spaces, restaurants and hotels have had to face a reality in which no one is using this real estate. Uncertainty in the market has made it hard to get financing, even for properties...
Distressed commercial real estate lease? Time to try a workout
2020 was a tough year, but problems with the commercial real estate market are headed right into 2021. After almost a year of disruption, including eviction moratoriums, massive numbers of office workers working from home, and virtually no street traffic for...