Paying a Finder’s Fee When Raising Capital in the United States: The Success Fee Trap
When raising capital in the United States, companies often run into a common, very avoidable legal problem: paying a “success fee,” “commission,” or “finder’s fee” to the person who introduced an investor.
It feels fair. Someone made a valuable connection,
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The Gold Card Immigration Program: Capital, Extraordinary Ability, and Legal Uncertainties
The U.S. Gold Card Program: What It Changes, What It Does Not, and Why the Risk Still Matters
On September 19, 2025, the Trump administration issued Executive Order 14351, creating what is now known as the Gold Card program. The order directs the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, and State to establish a process…
Trade Secrets and How to Protect Your Most Valuable Information
Trade Secrets and How Your Business Can Protect Its Most Valuable Information
In today’s AI driven economy, trade secrets often represent a company’s core competitive advantage. Yet many businesses spend far more time and money protecting trademarks and patents than safeguarding the confidential information that actually drives revenue.
Two recent federal disputes show how quickly…
Tech Layoffs, Talent Realignment, and the Opportunity for Startups, Workers, and Investors
The past year has brought dramatic changes to the technology sector. Major companies have announced large-scale layoffs while at the same time making unprecedented investments in artificial intelligence and automation. This combination raises difficult questions. Why are companies cutting tens of thousands of jobs while simultaneously committing billions to new technologies? Part of the answer…
What Oregon Homeowners and Buyers Should Know About Zoning Changes and Property Value
Oregon Zoning: How It Affects Property Values and What You Need to Know
You found a property that checks every box: great location, solid bones, reasonable price. Before you commit to buy, remodel, or develop, ask one critical question: What does the zoning actually allow? Zoning laws and land use rules quietly shape what you…
Registering a Trademark in Japan: What International Businesses Need to Know
Registering a Trademark in Japan: What International Businesses Need to Know
Because Japan applies a strict first-to-file rule, opportunistic filers often racing to register brands before the rightful owners can act. If you don’t secure protection early, you risk rebranding, expensive buybacks, or losing the brand entirely.
This guide walks you through every step of…
The $100,000 H-1B: An Analysis
On September 19, 2025, the White House issued a proclamation that could reshape how American companies hire foreign professionals. Beginning at 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, September 21, 2025, any U.S. employer who wants to bring in an H-1B worker from outside the country must pay a $100,000 fee. If that fee is…
Trump’s Second Term Immigration Impacts: A Guide for Businesses
Business Immigration Impacts
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump began his second term with a staunch America-first agenda aimed at reshaping immigration policies and tightening border controls. These sweeping changes have far-reaching implications for businesses that rely on employment-based immigration.
Are you prepared for these changes?
In this post, I outline the steps businesses…
There Is No Spoon: IP Licensing of NFTs, Decentralized Disney, and the SEC’s Jurisdiction Over “Investment Contracts”
No one can be told what the Matrix is.
Similarly vexing, if perhaps somewhat less adaptable to the big screen, is telling someone what an NFT is. It ends up being easier to start with what it is not.
An NFT is not cryptocurrency. Currency, crypto or otherwise, must be fungible. For any monetary…
Q&A: What Are Some of the Key Legal Issues Facing AI Companies?
The Key Legal Issues Facing AI Companies
Our firm recently launched our AI subpage reflecting our growing expertise in this nascent industry. While developing this page, we also wrote a wide-ranging FAQ of some of the most pressing questions for companies developing AI or using AI. Some of these are based on actual questions we…