Do You Have Lawful Policies Around Meal/Rest Breaks? Federal law does not give employees the right to take rest or meal breaks during the work day. The law requires employers to pay employees for a certain time, even if it is designated as a break, but it does not require employers to offer employees break...

Are You Paying Your Employees Correctly? As an employer, you may believe you are paying your employees correctly, but the reality is that many business owners, especially owners of small businesses, are doing it wrong. Employers in California need to be extremely careful in determining whether or not they are paying their employees correctly because...

How a Litigation Lawyer Helps a Business While trying to develop your goods and/or services, you might encounter some legal setbacks. In fact, there are many different legal setbacks you can encounter as a business owner. Fortunately, if you find yourself experiencing a legal setback, you do not have to handle the situation alone. A...

When you think of filing for bankruptcy, you most likely think of a straightforward process that does not involve any disputes. Often, when people are planning to file bankruptcy, they assume they will file paperwork and get a discharge without having to deal with objections from other interested parties, such as creditors and trustees. Indeed,...

Are your Independent Contractors really Contractors? Independent contractors are workers who contract their services to a business. It is often difficult to classify or define whether or not an individual is actually an employee or an independent contractor. Failing to classify a worker correctly could have severe and long-lasting negative implications on an employer, especially...

Minimizing The Likelihood and Expense of Employment Litigation It is both a business truth and a legal truth that litigation is expensive.  Lawyers, lost work time, court fees — all of these expenses contribute to the high cost of taking a matter to trial.  Even lesser solutions to conflict resolution, including settlement negotiations and arbitration...

The Importance of Employee Handbooks The employee handbook is an important set of documents that defines the company’s vision and mission. Having an employee handbook available increases the chances of hiring an employee who combines the company’s core values. The employee handbook compiles the procedures, policies, and work expectations for all employees to adhere to....

Market Manipulation Defense Strategies Market manipulation is one of several securities-related accusations any corporation or shareholder can face through their investment activities.  Specifically, it is defined as a deliberate attempt to alter the value or price of a security for personal gain.  It can also pertain to similar abuse of products or commodities. The Securities...

My Business is Being Investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), What do I do? The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a powerful body.  It has the authority to investigate suspected violations in business or accounting practices, bankruptcy cases, and business transactions of any kind, involving: Companies Brokerage firms Individuals The...

How To Appeal a Labor Commissioner Decision As an employer, large or small, you likely run into wage disputes with employees from time to time.  An employee may file a claim, for various alleged reasons, with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE, also known as the Labor Commissioner).  Such claims are not uncommon in...