Blog - Laborde Legal Group, LLC

Before You Sign: A Practical Checklist for Business Contracts You Didn’t Draft

Signing a contract you didn’t draft can feel like stepping into the unknown. Missing key clauses or overlooking hidden risks can cost your business time and money. This checklist highlights what to look for during a business contract review, from indemnification clauses to payment terms, so you can protect your interests before...

How to Protect a Trademark Before You Launch a New Brand Name

Most people assume picking a brand name is the hardest part. The real challenge comes when you try to protect that name before it hits the market. Without a thorough trademark search and proper USPTO filing, your brand could face costly conflicts or even legal battles down the line. This...

Protect Your Brand Name Before a Competitor Files First

Your brand name can be claimed by someone else while you’re still planning your launch. Waiting to file a trademark application leaves your business open to costly disputes and lost opportunities. Taking early steps like a thorough trademark search and filing an intent-to-use application can secure your priority and reduce the chance...

5 Essential Steps to Protect Your IP During Business Expansion

Hiring a contractor for branding, software, or marketing work without a solid legal foundation can lead to costly disputes and lost rights. Many business owners overlook key contract elements like intellectual property ownership and scope of work SOW details until it’s too late. This guide breaks down what to watch for in...

Before You Sign: An Auto-Renewal Contract Checklist for Business Owners

Auto-renewal contracts often include tricky clauses that can lock your business into unwanted commitments. Missing key details like the cancellation window or price increase clause might cost more than you expect. Before you sign, knowing what to watch for can protect your cash flow and control. Let’s walk through the essential points...

Protect Your Brand Name Early: Practical Steps to Secure a Trademark Before Competitors Do

Your brand name can vanish overnight if you don’t act fast. Competitors often file trademark applications first, locking you out of using your own name. Taking practical steps early, like a comprehensive trademark search and timely USPTO filing, can secure your priority and protect your business from costly disputes. This guide will...

Aligning Your Company’s Ownership Documents With Your Estate Plan

Many business owners overlook one critical step: syncing their company’s ownership documents with their estate plan. This gap can lead to costly disputes, unexpected taxes, and delays when transferring interests. Aligning operating agreements, buy-sell provisions, and shareholder agreements with your wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations ensures your business succession planning runs smoothly....

How to Protect a Brand Name Before Someone Else Files First

In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 60% of adults die without a valid will, a situation known as dying intestate. This reality often results in significant financial and emotional burdens for surviving

How to Protect Your Brand Name Before Someone Else Files

Small business owners and law firms face significant challenges when protecting their brands from infringement. Competitors copying slogans or product names used in commerce and advertising can lead to costly disputes under the Lanham Act.These disputes drain revenue through fees, lost sales, and forced rebranding. Understanding...

Before You Hire a Branding, Software, or Marketing Contractor: A Legal Checklist

Most businesses rush through contractor agreements, only to face costly disputes later. Missing key details in your independent contractor agreement or marketing agency contract can leave your intellectual property unprotected and payment terms unclear. This checklist highlights what to watch for before signing, so your software development agreement or statement of work...