Owning a business with one’s spouse is a common—albeit arguably stressful at times—occurrence. At BLSW, we know that managing legal matters as a partnership—both in marriage and in business—is always easier with a strong and skilled team on your side, and we’re happy to help answer questions that arise with understanding the collaboration of marriage and business. On December 19, …
The Law and Alcohol Based Businesses
Mark Johnston, a California businessman, racked up half a million dollars in gambling debt over the course of two days. That news would likely be upsetting to anyone; however, Mr. Johnston is taking a different approach to dealing with his sky-high debts. His argument is that he should not be held accountable for the debt, and he is suing the …
The Super Bowl Ad Heard ‘Round the Country
When developing a communications and marketing plan for law practices, it’s often said that targeting is much more effective than casting a wide net. Apparently no one told that to personal injury attorney, Jamie Casino. Nobody except people in Savannah, Georgia had ever heard of Jamie Casino prior to the 2014 Super Bowl. But his over-the-top ad, which cost $35,000 …
Trade Secrets – What intellectual property qualifies and how to protect them
The phrase “trade secret” conjures something that might very well be at the center of a plot in the latest John Grisham novel. And while trade secrets should indeed be carefully guarded, the true definition of a trade secret is much more black and white. The term trade secret can be used generally when referencing a variety of intellectual property. …
Employment Contracts – Does your business need them?
Employees are a vital part of your business and naturally you want to hire people you can trust. However, it is also important to have policies in place should employees break this trust through theft or other forms of misconduct. In New Mexico, employees can be hired on an “at-will” basis, meaning their employment can be terminated at any time …
Copyright Registration – What intellectual property is eligible?
So you’ve completed your masterpiece. Perhaps it’s the perfect play or a brilliant building blueprint. You want to protect your creative genius from being used without your permission, but how do you know if it is eligible to be registered for copyright?
Choosing the Right Representation – What to look for in a lawyer
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,” “don’t say another word until you talk to your lawyer,” “I’ll have my lawyer contact you,” – – anyone who’s grown up watching television dramas, or watched or read any of John Grisham’s films or books is familiar with this legal vernacular. But how do you obtain a lawyer, does everyone need a lawyer …
SKM Law, Business Litigation Attorneys, Have Changed Their Name to Business Law Southwest
Albuquerque, NM – August 13, 2013 – The law firm Streubel, Kochersberger and Mortimer LLC has changed the name of the practice to Business Law Southwest, a name they feel better conveys the firm’s expertise in business litigation and their regional presence in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. The name change is due to the departure of one of SKM’s …
Business Break-Ups – Important Tips to Prepare Before the Problem Arises
New business partners don’t typically think about anything going wrong down the road, however, business and personal disputes are often irreconcilable, and sometimes partners ultimately decide to break up the business. Ideally, businesses and business partners take the necessary steps to plan ahead for dissolution and alleviate much of the stress associated with typical business break-ups.
Complex Criminal Defense—Computer Crimes and Fraud
New Mexico news headlines were recently riddled with references to a case involving Governor Martinez’ former campaign manager and a federal indictment for “computer intrusion and false statement charges” that stemmed from the “interception of wire communications intended for others.” The increased use of, access to, and sharing of information has been mirrored by the increase in cyber crimes and …