Practices

One of the first steps to creating a successful company is choosing the legal structure that will best suit the needs of the business and its owners. ZIA's attorneys have the skills and the experience to help you choose and form the appropriate business entity. We can explain how you can limit your personal liability, the different ownership and management options, the various tax advantages and disadvantages, the complexity or simplicity of operating different entities, whether you should form your entity in California or Delaware, and other considerations. Some of the entities we can help you form include:

  1. C Corporations
  2. Close Corporations
  3. General Partnerships (GPs)
  4. Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
  5. Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
  6. Limited Partnerships (LPs)
  7. Non-Profit Organizations
  8. Professional Corporations (PCs)
  9. S Corporations
  10. Sole Proprietorships

ZIA's attorneys all have an entrepreurial background that gives us first-hand experience and deep understanding of the many business and technology issues your start-up will face. We provide start-ups with the following services:

  1. Articles of Incorporation/Organization
  2. Assignment Agreements
  3. Business Consultation
  4. Business Formation
  5. Business Plan
  6. Buy-Sell Agreements
  7. Bylaws
  8. City Licenses
  9. City Permits
  10. Consultant's Copyright Assignments
  11. Contracts Drafting
  12. Contracts Negotiating
  13. Contribution Agreements
  14. Convertible Promissory Notes
  15. Employment Agreements
  16. Executive Employment Agreements
  17. Federal Employment Identification Number (EIN)
  18. Fictitious Business Names/Doing Business As
  19. Franchise Agreements
  20. Initial Directors' Consent Document
  21. Internal Business Documents
  22. Invention Assignment Agreements
  23. License Agreements
  24. Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreements
  25. Non-Disclosure Agreements
  26. On-Site Employee Confidentiality Agreements
  27. Option Agreements
  28. PowerPoint Pitches
  29. Privacy Policy
  30. Promissory Notes
  31. Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements
  32. Software Licenses
  33. Stock Certificates
  34. Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plans
  35. Stockholders' Consent Documents
  36. Terms Sheets
  37. Trademarks
  38. Trade Secrets
  39. Website Copywriting
  40. Website Terms and Conditions
  41. 83(b) Elections

We help both employers and employees with services including, but not limited, to:

  1. Board of Directors Resolutions
  2. Buy-Sell Agreements
  3. Change of Control Plan Agreements
  4. Contract drafting, reviewing, and negotiating
  5. Compensation
  6. Employee Handbooks
  7. Employment Agreements
  8. Executive Compensation
  9. Executive Employment Agreements
  10. Independent Contractor Agreements
  11. Independent Sales Agent Agreements
  12. Intellectual Property Assignment Agreements
  13. Internship Agreements
  14. Interview Guides
  15. Job Descriptions
  16. Meal and Rest Break Policies
  17. Nondislosure Agreements
  18. Offer Letters
  19. Performance Improvement Plans
  20. Personal Services Agreements
  21. Talent Agreements
  22. Release Agreements
  23. Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements
  24. Settlement Agreements
  25. Shareholder Resolutions
  26. Stock Certificates
  27. Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plans
  28. Termination Certificates
  29. Termination Letters
  30. 83(b) Elections

ZIA's business savvy attorneys understand that our clients' brand recognition plays an increasingly important role in today's business world. Trademarks are among the most valuable intellectual property assets for traditional, brand-driven, consumer product companies and technology businesses alike. With the globalization of potential markets and the continued expansion of the Internet marketplace, more and more businesses recognize that their corporate and product names, logos, and slogans are essential for communicating product value, establishing a solid reputation, and building brand loyalty in each of their key business jurisdictions.

 

We help our clients develop and protect the value of their trademarks and service marks by:

  1. Preparing, filing, and maintaining trademark applications and registrations
  2. Conducting trademark searches
  3. Working with clients, designers, and copywriters to create strong trademarks and service marks
  4. Working with clients to develop trademark protection strategies and to manage portfolios
  5. Negotiating, reviewing, and drafting trademark licenses and co-existence agreements
  6. Handling opposition and cancellation proceedings

Almost every facet of a company's operations, from internal employment practices to online operations and consumer data collection, is subject to a complex array of legal and business challenges related to privacy. To resolve these issues, companies need practical advice from experienced counsel who thoroughly understand privacy law.

 

ZIA's Privacy practice offers the expertise necessary to negotiate the full range of privacy challenges confronting businesses. We partner with clients to identify and resolve regulatory compliance needs, craft and implement privacy and data security policies and address emerging developments ranging from consumer privacy law to European privacy initiatives.