Austin TX Business Law Blog

How can I take my franchise to an international level?

In today’s global economy, it seems natural that some successful American franchisors will want to explore the possibility of expanding their franchise overseas. The United States is home to many of the most popular brands in the world, and American franchises often find considerable success when they open stores internationally. Going global does come with challenges and risks, however, that any franchisor will want to carefully weigh before they start exploring the international market.

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What are the steps to starting a successful new business?

Wallet Hub recently released its list of the best states to launch and grow a business. Once again, Texas came in as number one. The study compared 25 key business indicators across 50 states. Factors considered include the business environment, business cost, and access to resources, among others. Texas ranked high in several categories, taking the lead in the business environment.

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What are the penalties for theft of trade secrets?

One current employee and five former employees of Fitbit, Inc. have been charged by U.S. prosecutors for theft of trade secrets. The indictment alleges that the six Fitbit employees received stolen trade secrets when they left their employment at rival company Jawbone.

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Why is it so important to protect my business’ intellectual property rights?

Intellectual property law is an ever evolving field of law. Since the advent of the internet, a plethora of new intellectual property cases have emerged to define and guide businesses on and off the web. Our Austin, Texas intellectual property law lawyers explore some of the biggest intellectual property lawsuits in recent history below.

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How do I end a business partnership?

Business partnerships can fail for many reasons. Perhaps you and your partner no longer agree on the direction of the business or personal problems are affecting your partner’s work ethics. No matter what the reason for the business strife, there are ways to dissolve a partnership in a pain free manner. Our

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How has the new tax code altered business taxes?

The business world is abuzz with talk of how the new tax code may impact numerous critical aspects of a business’ taxes. Selecting a business entity for your new business has long been a critical decision for business owners. Your business entity will determine how you are taxed, as well as vital issues of liability and control over the business. Due to the tremendous impact of your entity choice on your taxes, it is possible that the new tax code could alter the entity choice of some new business owners. Our

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Does Austin’s sick leave law violate the Texas Minimum Wage Act?

Recently, Austin passed a new ordinance that would require most private businesses in the city to provide employees with 64 hours of paid sick leave. The law is slated to start on October 1st, but now it is facing a legal challenge from a coalition of Texas businesses. The group seeks to overturn the bill by claiming it violates the state’s minimum wage act. Our Read more . . .

How can I protect my trademark becoming generic?

As your trademark grows in popularity, it will become important to protect it from genericide. Genericide happens when a brand becomes so well known that it morphs into a product category. Examples of now generic brands include aspirin and escalators. Once a trademark becomes generic, it loses all protection. It becomes vital for the

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What questions should I ask a job applicant?

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas recently conducted its biannual business survey and the results were encouraging for local employers and employees. In response to the survey, more than half of the 350 Texas business executives questioned said that they are planning to increase employment over the next six months to one year. This is the first time that more than half of all employers indicated they would be hiring since the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas started the survey seven years ago.

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How long does it take to obtain a liquor license in Texas?

Starting your own liquor line or opening a liquor store can be a profitable endeavor. Alcohol tends to have high profit margins, but opening a liquor related business comes with some challenges. You will need to meet stringent liquor licensing requirements in the state of Texas. The process can take months and not all applicants will ultimately succeed. Our Read more . . .

What does the Defend Trade Secrets Act mean for employers?

The case of Waymo v. Uber was closely followed nationally by technology companies, attorneys, and many others.  While the case ended suddenly in a settlement, it still provided vital insight into the realm of trade secrets law under the new Defend Trade Secrets Act.  Our Read more . . .