When you’re starting your business there are so many things to do and so much to learn. It can be tempting to look for shortcuts; to think “This will do for now, I’ll fix it later when I’m earning more.” I have people regularly ask me “Is it okay to copy someone...
I’ve been a corporate lawyer for 17 years and these are some of the mistakes that I made, especially in my early days. Mistake 1: Multi-tasking I used to have all of the files that I was to work on that day on my desk. I even had them lined up in the order that...
(Photo credit: rawdonfox via photopin cc) I’ve always thought that drafting a contract is like doing a jigsaw puzzle; you know how you want the end picture to look, there are lots of tiny pieces that need to come together in the right sequence and there will always be...
At some stage in every business a contract will need to be entered into. I thought it would be worthwhile to get back to basics and explain what a contract is and what it is made up of. What is a contract? A contract is an agreement between two or more people....
When I talk to business owners I often hear that they are avoiding going to see a lawyer because of the cost. While I agree that lawyers can be expensive (remember I was one for a number of years), there are ways to lessen the cost. At some stage you are going to need...
The law relating to companies is extensive (there are many books on the subject) which is why this post is longer than my usual. So grab a cup of coffee and come over into my world of company law. I’ve mentioned that being a sole trader or a partner in a partnership...
Previously, I’ve written that being a sole trader was like living in a little studio apartment; there is no separation between you and your business. Today when I talk about partnerships I want you to imagine that the kind of building you are living in with...
There are 3 main types of legal structures that a business could operate within. Think of these structures as the building within which your business will live (speaking of structures, todays photo is of one of my favourite structures – the Brooklyn Bridge). The 3...
You’ve decided that your business needs a lawyer, yet you’re not sure where to find one or how to pick a good one. Recommendations from friends or colleagues are a good place to start. You could also contact the law firms whose newsletters you receive or seminars...
Yesterday, I wrote that whether your business actually needs a lawyer depends on how you feel about risk. As a business owner it’s important that you learn to be a calculated risk taker who can create a plan and implement it; part of that education is knowing when to...
