Presentations at MEDA on Business Law Basics and Contracts

I do pro bono volunteer legal work with the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights – Legal Services for Entrepreneurs program, which provides free legal services to low-income individuals and immigrants that are starting businesses. It’s a terrific program, and I really enjoy working with new entrepreneurs to help them establish their businesses.

I’ll be giving two workshops in Spanish at the Mission Economic Development Agency over the next few weeks. The workshops are intended to help immigrant entrepreneurs understand basic legal issues affecting their business. [Read more…]

Startup Visas Are a Great Idea!

Congress is currently considering a bill that would provide 75,000 visas to persons who currently hold H-1B or F-1 student visas who have started businesses with investment of at least $100,000 and that employ at least 2 other people within a year and at least five in the following three years.

The bill, the Immigration Innovation Act, received support from President Obama in his State of the Union speech. [Read more…]

A Tale of Two Incorporations

I filed an incorporation mid-December, and just received the acceptance notice from the State of California today, nearly two months later. I could have gotten it back sooner, but we had some time and wanted to avoid the $500-1000 expedite fees charged by the California Secretary of State.

But that seems to be the new normal here in California: If you want to form a business, it will take two months to do so, unless you pay an expedite fee on top of your regular fees and taxes. [Read more…]

Should We Raise Capital Through Equity Crowdfunding?

Lots of people are excited by the potential for equity crowdfunding ever since the federal government passed the JOBS Act. Many new businesses are popping up to exploit the new model, and there is a lot of buzz about equity crowdfunding these days. Of course, it is still not legal yet, and won’t be until the SEC finishes writing the rules. But I still hear the same question over and over: Should my company raise capital through equity crowdfunding? Unfortunately, in the case of most startups I don’t think it makes sense. Here’s why: [Read more…]

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all clients, colleagues and friends!