Should you file a patent application or keep your innovation a trade secret? This question is routinely asked by key decision makers, such as inventors, managers, and legal counsel, when evaluating a new invention. While either choice comes with its own set of advantages and trade-offs, an…
SAFEs and convertible debt financings broadly accomplish the same goals for early-stage (and even later-stage) emerging companies. The legal and negotiation costs of these instruments are typically an order of magnitude less than a traditional “equity” financing (Series Seed, Series A-Z, etc.), and for the most part…
As the summer quickly approaches, it’s the time of year that many employers consider hiring an intern for the summer. Start-up companies may view this as an opportunity to hire students as “cheap” or “free” labor. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about unpaid interns. The…
Within the next few weeks, corporations incorporated under the law of Delaware will receive ominous notices from their registered agents or the Delaware Divisions of Corporations advising such corporations of their annual obligation pay the their Delaware Franchise Tax. Save for “83(b) elections,” “scalability” and “valuation”, no…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing to grant work authorization to foreign entrepreneurs who raise substantial capital for companies they start. USCIS estimates some 3,000 foreign entrepreneurs may qualify annually. USCIS expects this new proposal to create jobs, facilitate research and development and increase innovation…
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have taken major steps forward this year with the groundbreaking launch of Pokémon GO in July 2016 and the release of several VR headsets. As the startup world convenes in San Francisco this week at TechCrunch Disrupt 2016, Perkins Coie…
Our company clients often come to us at an early stage in their growth process with some variation of the following question: “We were introduced to an amazing resource who can help our team grow the business in a material way. We’re considering putting the person on…
In this final installment of “I Got You Covered,” we provide a number of risk management tips with a focus on additional insured status. Although this list isn’t comprehensive, it covers the major risks that an additional insured should consider to actively protect its company and its…
In this installment of “I Got You Covered,” we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of additional insured status. Benefits of Additional Insured Status There are a number of reasons why a company would seek additional insured coverage. These include the following: Accessing Someone Else’s Insurance. At the…
“I got you, Babe.” It’s not just the title of a 1965 Sonny and Cher hit—it also aptly describes the relationship between a named insured and its additional insured. To clarify, an additional insured may be able to access the coverage provided by the named insured’s liability…
