Business Law

A family business has unique considerations that do not exist with other businesses. They are special and require special attention at times. For instance, times of succession with a family business are not only critical, but are difficult to do dynamics that are not at play in other kinds of businesses.
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When starting any business venture, it can be tempting to rush through the beginning planning phases in the excitement of it all. Don’t let this happen. Take the time upfront to set your business up for success.
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One of the central decisions when forming a business is what type of business structure you want to operate under. If you have settled on a corporation, then you have to choose what type of corporation you want. You will also need to decide what type of tax treatment you want for the corporation.

They say a fool and his money are soon parted, but modern-day scammers are getting so sophisticated that many non-foolish folks are being taken in as well. The federal courts and the U.S. Marshals Service are...

There was a time, not so long ago, when disagreements between gentlemen were more likely to be decided by a duel than a court of law. Although the most famous duel is probably Hamilton’s fatal showdown with Vice President Burr in Weehawken, New Jersey, this alternative means of dispute resolution was particularly popular in the Carolinas. Today, dueling is illegal (although Canada is working on bringing it back), but other alternatives to lawsuits remain quite popular.

If you have been active on social media lately you have probably seen someone raising money for a good cause via an online platform like GoFu

If you have been active on social media lately you have probably seen someone raising money for a good cause via an online platform like GoFundMe. These crowdfunding campaigns take the concept of the coffee can on the gas station counter and bring it into the 21^st century.

But do-gooders are not the only ones who are looking for funding online. Businesses have been eager to get into the crowdfunding game as well. One need only take a quick look at Kickstarter or other similar sites to see how popular the concept has gotten.

Although one of the attorneys in our office is a Duke alum who never cheers for the Tar Heels, it was still exciting to see North Carolina win the men’s NCAA tournament last month. And it was even more thrilling to see South Carolina win their first ever women’s title. The Carolinas are home to some really fine ball players, and we can all be proud of how the student athletes represented us.

They play so well, and are so poised during interviews, that it is easy to forget that the players in the March Madness tournament are students. (Some students are arguing that this is evidence that they are virtually professionals and should be paid like it, but that is a topic for another day.

Earlier this month the popular tech company Snap, owner of the hot app Snapchat, went public. It is just the latest example of a tech start-up that grew phenomenally by bucking the trends and cutting its own path, but that ultimately decided to take a more traditional route to fully capitalize on its success.

The crazy thing about Snap, is that its main product, Snapchat, is notoriously difficult for anyone over 30 to understand. Yet its IPO was a resounding success. Some reports suggest that the company’s devoted, young fan base may be the reason why.

With all that has been going on in the world over the past month, it was easy to miss the fact that an interesting new lawsuit has been filed against the state of South Carolina. The fact that the state is getting sued is not news. That happens all the time. What is different about this case is that it is about whether or not an innovative new company is able to do business in South Carolina.

Opternative is a Chicago-based company that allows consumers to get a prescription for glasses or contacts over the internet.