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The last two years have given many workers a chance to reassess their priorities, whether by the loss of a job, a layoff during quarantine periods, or just through moments of clarity in what has been a time of stress.  The period now known as “The Great Resignation” has resulted from the pandemic era, and …

Noncompete Agreements in the Great ResignationRead More

Contracts are everywhere in our modern business world. However, we may not always see them; or as in the latest 63-page scroll-through on that music service app, we may choose to outright ignore them.  Nevertheless, terms and conditions float around us in the digital ether and now replace the handshake deals and gentlemen’s understandings that …

Mastering the Contractual RelationshipRead More

  If you are like most private business owners of a closely held or family-owned business, the illiquid value of your business interest represents a substantial portion of your net worth.  Do you know what would happen to this ownership interest if you were to die or otherwise depart the business?  If you answered ‘no’ …

Should Your Business Have a Buy-Sell Agreement?Read More

Clients frequently ask me for “standard”, “normal” or” boilerplate” legal documents. This includes contracts, employee handbooks, non-competition agreements, and even legal pleadings.  The truth is, very little is truly standard. Outside of a few narrow regulations, if a document needs to be drafted, it’s (almost) all negotiable. Even truly standard contracts, like the Minnesota Realtors …

It’s (Almost) All Negotiable – the Dangers of a Form MindsetRead More

With the holiday season upon us, the spirit of giving is in full force.  Besides being a good way to celebrate this year’s festivities, gifting property can also be an important estate planning tool.  There are many benefits to gifting property, such as reducing your taxable estate, transferring tax obligations to your children who may …

Should You Incorporate Lifetime Gifts Into Your Estate Planning?Read More

While much maligned in election season and scorned as part of C-suite settlements coming from the recent Me Too movement, Mutual Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreements – more commonly referred to as NDAs – remain an integral part of business relationships. Their purposes are far less nefarious, providing vital protection of the products and processes at …

The Need for NDAs in BusinessRead More