From the Blog

If you have spent any time around bootstrapping startups, you will likely have heard talk about convertible notes (also called bridge financings).  But what exactly are convertible notes and why do startups like them so much? A convertible note...

Claire Kalia will be a featured speaker at the upcoming seminar, ‘How to Choose Your Business Entity,’ on November 8, 2012 at 6:30pm at ITRI International, 2870 Zanker Rd., Suite 140, San Jose, CA 95134.   The seminar, which will also feature...

This month, book publishers and Google reached a settlement regarding how Google may digitize books and make them available for its users.  At issue is whether Google’s book-scanning project, known as “Google Books,” violated both publisher’s and author’s copyrights....

If you have been paying attention to our upcoming presidential election, there are two things that should be obvious: first, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are desperately trying to get your vote. Second, they both would like to “fix”...

As a startup or small business, you may have more office space than you need, and you may consider subleasing that space to help you cover rent and other business expenses. Before you enter into a sublease arrangement with...

As an employee, founder or an investor in a startup, you may receive restricted stock that will vest at a later date. Upon receipt, you have the option of making an 83(b) election with the IRS. But what is...

Startups frequently need to value their companies in order to issue stock options or other equity interests in the company, but in the early stages, this can be difficult. Here are some tips that new startups can use to...

The US has more than 900,000 franchises, and Kalia Law P.C. is routinely approached by aspiring entrepreneurs who are considering becoming involved in a franchise arrangement. The benefits of such arrangements for new entrepreneurs are brand recognition, marketing materials,...

If you blog or have a website, chances are you have looked at other people’s writing to get ideas or content. At what point do you cross the line from legitimate research to copyright infringement? A few guidelines may...

In the wake of his sudden rise to fame, the New York Knicks phenomenon and point guard Jeremy Lin has taken the step of trademarking the word “Linsanity.”  What makes “Linsanity” a trademarkeable phrase?  The fact that the word...