All Forum Posts by: Jenifer Levini

Hi @Robin Valadares

A quick word of advice... do not hire an accountant to form your corporations. Have a lawyer do it. I am a lawyer and make quite a bit of money fixing corporations created by accountants. Also, do not hire a lawyer to do your taxes. Corporation are legal structures and lawyers understand how to do it to fit you and your situation.

I dont work in your geographic area, only California. That is just a bit of advice from someone who has seen a lot of mistakes.

Jen

Hi @Hanna C.,

I'm a lawyer helping investors in the bay area with all the legal processes: forming LLCs, writing the Sale & Purchase Agreements, Lease Agreements, Lease-Option Agreements, and any other contracts they need, explaining real estate processes, helping with negotiations and strategy, lot-line adjustments, land use questions (zoning & use permits), due diligence ...

The reason lawyers charge more than someone illegally practicing law without a license is because a good lawyer gets to know and understand your needs, writes operating agreements that will protect you and your LLC for your specific situation, works with you to make sure you understand your operating rules including the all the actions you can and cannot take when operating as an LLC. Creating an entity (LLC) is not like buying a shirt. The cheapest one is not what you want. You are buying a suite of services and a team member who will be there to protect you.

PM me if you want any help. I'm working with a lot of the investors around the area.

Jen the lawyer

Hi @Simon Gill, I am a local real estate attorney who is helping people sell/buy properties when there is no realtor, like in your situation. I can help you write the contract, negotiate all the closing costs, and understand the steps you'll need to take to protect yourself and the deal. If you want help please send me a PM. And the price is really reasonable, based on how much help you need.

Thanks,

Jen the lawyer

Hmmmm. Interesting. If you want to cancel someone's trademark, you do it through the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). This is a division of USPTO, that issues the trademarks.

All this other stuff sounds like nonsense. 

The person who plans to release "dirt" on the company will just get sued for slander. (Everyone else should stay away from this strategy and the people who will do it.)

I suggest you use the correct legal channels to fix this problem. That's why they are there. This trademark sounds generalized and like generic words. It's likely your dispute will have merit and you can get it cancelled.

It also sounds like the owners of the trademark are doing the legally correct things to protect their trademark, to prevent other people from using it, so it doesn't become diluted. 

That indicates that they will defend the mark and you will have a fight on your hands at TTAB. In other words, there could be high legal costs to cancel the mark.

Its your choice. If this phrase is really important to you, then you should hire a lawyer. If not, you should make changes to your literature.

Good luck!

Jen the lawyer

Hi, I'm a land buyer in Santa Cruz county. I'd like to learn more about what you are selling. Please pm me.

Also, it takes years and a lot of money to harvest timber. Its a money loser, not maker, in that area, unfortunately.

Jen

Hi @Brad Brazeau, Unfortunately, I cannot possibly answer that question without knowing a lot more about your products. For example, if it is a Cannabis product, the laws in California are being written right now. And you are not allowed to take these products over state lines. If it is a pharmaceutical it is subject to specific federal regulations and state regulations vary from state to state. Consumer protections vary from state to state too. 

Overall, it sounds like you know that you need to hire a lawyer. Any general advice you get will not protect you. It's time to pay the piper, brother.

Jen the lawyer

Hey @Joe Camarillo,

I'm a lawyer in No. Cal. My clients are all over the state, including in your area (which is my home town, by the way). If you still need help Pm me. We can do this over the internet & phone.

Thanks,

Jen the lawyer

Important things to know about a lawyer:

Does she have time to take you, and will you be a priority? Lawyers can be pretty busy and stack up a lot of clients. It's good to know if you'll be 5th in line or 500th.

Has she done the type of agreement that you need recently? Can she give you examples of different ways to structure that sort of agreement?

Will she help you with the negotiations if you need help?

Good luck,

Jen the lawyer

Hi @Katherine Kwan, I'm areal estate attorney in the Bay Area. I work with a lot of investors, here on BP. These services include many partnership agreements usually in the form of an operating agreements for LLCs. I work in SF, Santa Cruz & Santa Rosa, although my clients are all over the State of CA. My hourly rate is $265.

Private message me for contact info.

Jen the Lawyer

@Ralph C.'s explanation is right on the money. Yes, all transactions will be done by the LLC (not "under the company's name," per se). The actions like marketing, negotiating deals, entering and executing contracts are the actions of the entity, the LLC. You are the member of the LLC. Or the LLC could hire managers or employees to carry out its actions.

I would ignore this background noise about s-corps, trusts, and the very few times LLCs did not protect someone's personal assets because the person was a criminal.

Jen the lawyer