Category Archives: Business Corporate
Raising Friends and Family Capital: Avoiding Securities Violations in Informal Rounds
For many entrepreneurs, the first infusion of capital doesn’t come from a venture capitalist or angel investor—it comes from people they know personally. Friends and family often step up to support a new business idea, offering financial backing based on trust and relationships rather than formal due diligence. Yet what many founders overlook is… Read More »
What Every Startup Needs to Know About Pre-Money and Post-Money Valuation in Convertible Instruments
Startup founders often focus on raising capital quickly, eager to fuel growth and innovation. Yet many overlook one of the most consequential aspects of early financing: understanding how pre-money and post-money valuations work, especially in the context of convertible notes, SAFEs (Simple Agreements for Future Equity), and other convertible instruments. Misunderstanding these valuation mechanics… Read More »
Founders’ Equity: Structuring Ownership Splits to Prevent Future Litigation
Launching a new business is often an exciting collaboration among friends, colleagues, or investors who share a common vision. But as any seasoned entrepreneur or Florida business and corporate lawyer can attest, enthusiasm at the formation stage must be tempered with careful legal planning—particularly when dividing equity among founders. Early-stage ownership decisions have long-term… Read More »
Assigning Intellectual Property at Startup: Why DIY IP Agreements Lead to Ownership Disputes
Every startup begins with an idea—an innovation, an algorithm, a brand name, or a unique process that distinguishes it from competitors. That idea is intellectual property (IP), and it’s often the company’s most valuable asset. Yet many early-stage founders overlook the formalities of assigning IP to the business entity. They assume that because they… Read More »
Florida Imposes Even Stricter E-Verify Requirements For Private Employers
In May 2023, Florida’s governor signed a strict crackdown explicitly intended to ‘scare’ undocumented immigrants out of settling in the state. The law voided out-of-state driver’s licenses without proof of citizenship, prevented any state municipality from using government funds to obtain IDs for undocumented immigrants, and made several other changes designed to make life… Read More »
Crafting A Florida Business Partnership
A partnership is one of the most common and enduring methods of structuring a Florida business. There are pros and cons to choosing this option, but the cons can be minimized by properly crafting the partnership itself, and ensuring that both potential profits and loss are handled equally. A knowledgeable attorney can help you… Read More »
I Want to Buy a Business: What Steps Should I Take?
If you are thinking about options for purchasing a business in Florida, you need to be prepared for the variety of steps that are involved in buying a company. Whether you are seeking out a smaller company to acquire in connection with another business you already own or you are a first-time business owner,… Read More »
What Do I Need for an Initial Public Offering?
While it may be difficult to plan ahead for your business during a global health pandemic, many companies are making plans to go public and are even realizing that initial public offerings (IPOs) are surging in some capacity despite public health and economic concerns. If you currently have a private company and are thinking… Read More »
5 Tips for a Business Merger
If you are anticipating a business merger in Florida or are considering a business acquisition, there are many considerations you should be thinking about. In particular, small businesses in Florida may be thinking about options for merging in order to grow their brands or their businesses. According to an article in Forbes, there are… Read More »
Trade Secret Protection and Litigation in Florida
When a business or person obtains and uses information deemed to be a trade secret, it can result in litigation. Trade secrets are typically defined as any information that includes a pattern, formula, method, process, device, compilation, or program that is a form of intellectual property that is not generally known or reasonably ascertainable… Read More »
