Category: Professional
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THE MODERN ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS APPRAISER
Today, the public views the role of the business appraiser differently. We are being scrutinized more by the legal system and public and private entities. The accumulated histories of all types of financial transactions clearly show that some evaluators of marketable securities and other business assets have lacked knowledge of more sophisticated and informed methodologies…
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Be Original in Choosing a Trademark
“Why can’t I use this name as a trademark? The words in the name are practically generic and there are dozens of trademarks that use them!” I frequently hear those words from clients who want to use words or terms in their trademarks and the words are already in use for similar goods and are…
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Workplace Bullying
Is It Really That Bad? First, let’s look at the data. The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) tells us that 27% of workers have experienced bullying across industries. There are, of course distinctions to be made when talking about unkindness at work. We all have grumpy days, but if we are generally treating people well, we…
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The Top Four Decision-Making Frameworks For An Equally Owned Company
This article first appeared on Forbes. My law firm helps launch more than fifty legal entities a year. A question I often hear from clients is how a company should make decisions when it is equally owned by the founders. Here are the four most common approaches founders can take: 1. Require unanimous consent. The…
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Estate Planning Decisions Come From The Heart
I was recently asked to “submit my elevator pitch” in writing for a networking group. This is what I usually say when I introduce myself to a group of professionals: My name is Patricia De Fonte. No one ever wants to start working with me. It is not easy to tell a stranger about strained…
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The Top 7 Ways The New Tax Law Could Affect Your Startup
This article first appeared on Forbes. On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 into law. The Act was the biggest change in tax laws in more than 30 years and brought about many changes for individuals and companies. Overall, we believe that the changes will benefit new…
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Challenges lawyers face, and how the attorney action club can help you meet those challenges.
As I help attorneys grow their firms, there are certain obstacles I’m sure you’ll recognize: Feast or Famine: I’ve just finished being very busy and don’t have work waiting for me. On top of that, I don’t know where to get it! Growing pains: How do I hire? When do I hire? What kind of…
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Lawyers: What’s Your Number One Referral Source?
Who is your number one referral partner? The likely answer is another lawyer. It may be counterintuitive, but we are not each other’s competition; we are each others best referral source! If you are a startup lawyer you may have discovered that IP lawyers are a good referral source, if you are a criminal defense…
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Why The Attorney Action Club Exists
The Attorney Action Club is a community of legal professionals that exists to help lawyers succeed in life and business. Our membership includes both practicing lawyers and legal professionals who help lawyers succeed. As lawyers we are our own worst enemy. The typical lawyer has never seen a problem that cannot be solved with more…
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Personal Injury Law: Using the Just Like Me / Loving Kindness Meditation To Maximize Insurance Company Settlement Offers
Animosity between plaintiff personal injury lawyers and the insurance companies we work with does not help further our client’s goals. Viewing an insurance claims adjuster as the enemy does not facilitate an open discussion about the value of your client’s case, nor does this view motivate an adjuster to offer you top dollar for your…