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Lawyers Without Paper: Global IP Law and the Importance of the Cloud

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Lawyers Without Paper by Richard Card

By Richard Gurak, Founding Partner Advitam IP, LLC

An intellectual property practice knows no geographic or political boundaries. My own practice, Advitam IP, LLC, has a network of top law firms in over 120 countries to call upon, and who call upon us.

While many concepts related to trademarks, patents, or copyrights might be similar everywhere, there are political issues, procedural issues, bureaucratic issues, customs issues, and more that must be accounted for. To maintain these networks and to stay current with changes in practice and law in nations all over the world, my partner, Michele, and I, attend world-wide conferences year-round. IP law has its own world – a big world that is often evolving faster than most local practices will ever experience – and we find these conferences are the most effective way to stay up to date.

We have found ourselves embracing all the 21st century has to offer to operate our law firm seamlessly, no matter where we find ourselves each week. By embracing software and cloud technologies, we are now 99% paper free. (Imagine that – lawyers without paper! Can it be?) This embrace of technology has done double duty. Not only are we able to attend international conferences while addressing our practice’s daily needs but being paperless has also minimized our need for office space, which allows us to reduce costs, so our clients pay less no matter how large our firm grows.

We recognize that while traditional values of hard work, diligence, commitment to clients’ needs and goals, and service to community are imperatives in the practice of law, so, too, is the need to stay on the forefront of change in the practice and delivery of legal services in the rapidly advancing technological world.

Our clients are often at the forefront of this technological world. They need us to provide custom solutions, and to be a trusted partner and advisor to protect their intellectual property assets. And they expect us to be able to respond quickly and knowledgeably. We strive to continue to fulfill their expectations.

 

Richard Gurak

Four years after their prior firm, Welsh & Katz, merged with a larger firm, Richard and his partner Michele Katz decided to satisfy their entrepreneurial aspiration. Combining their 40+ years of international intellectual property experience they formed Advitam IP, LLC.

“Advitam” is a Latin word meaning “for life,” akin to the word “tenure.” Richard and Michele say that the name was chosen to exemplify the best traditional practices of law but blended with modern technologies to benefit their clients.

Advitam IP now has 8 eight attorneys assisting firm clients and an overall support team of fifteen. The firm is still growing. They love what they do, and they love helping clients. For life.

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Guitar Chicago: Relieving Stress & Providing Outlets for Busy Chicago Attorneys & Other Professionals

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Guitar Chicago: Relieving Stress & Providing Outlets for Busy Chicago Attorneys & Other Professionals

Amata Law Office Suites’ member James Lenger of Guitar Chicago is bringing stress relief and renewed focus to attorneys, IT professionals, those in the finance industry, and more with guitar lessons – and all for an impressively low cost.

Low Cost, High Reward

Typical lessons run between $80-90 for an hour and offer a form of therapy that allows busy minds to settle, anxiety to abate, and an overall positive demeanor to flourish in spite of the daunting, and oftentimes highly stressful, work environments the professionals that he teaches experience.

Guitar Lessons Provide Far-Reaching Benefits

In fact, Lenger’s approach has been so successful that fellow Amata member and clinical psychologist, Stacey Willard, is now referring her clients to Guitar Chicago as a way to manage their anxiety.

Music Therapy Brings Newfound Fulfillment for Busy Attorneys

For those that are less concerned about stress and more about ways to find enjoyable time for themselves and a creative outlet to devote to, lessons from Lenger are the perfect solution.

As partner at Kirkland and Ellis, LLP, Ralph Dado III, can attest to this very sentiment. During his sometimes 100-hour work weeks, he’s still able to find fulfillment in learning something new with guitar lessons at Guitar Chicago.

These lessons offer an enjoyable way for attorneys and professionals alike to focus their time and attention, even if just for an hour, in another area outside of their daily work environment. By doing so, it opens up new avenues of finding joy, fulfillment, and fun.

Don’t miss the featured article on James Lenger and Guitar Chicago by the Chicago Tribune.

If you’d like to experience the benefits of guitar or other related lessons, give James a call at 312.863.8588, or head to the Guitar Chicago website today!

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Non-Disparagement Clauses and Their Restrictions in the Digital Age

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Non-Disparagement Clauses and Their Restrictions in the Digital Age

As the digital age continues to grow, more and more people are turning to places like Facebook and Yelp to gather information about a company. Using digital platforms allows them to read reviews as well as leave reviews of their own and determine whether or not to invest their time and money into a business. Given the rise in digital communication, attorneys are finding themselves confronted with an ever-increasing amount of claimed non-disparagement violations.

Enter The Non-Disparagement Clause

A non-disparagement clause is a legal representation of a private agreement that restricts free speech. Employers often implement a mutual non-disparagement clause that promises both parties, company and employee, agree to not disparage the other.

However, as with any provision, the non-disparagement clause can come with inferences, assumptions, and questions regarding what, exactly, constitutes disparagement.

What Constitutes Disparagement?

At its core, the term disparage means to belittle or reduce in rank or esteem.

Generally speaking, if a non-disparagement clause is included in an employment or severance agreement, courts view and enforce it as a matter of contract interpretation principles.

In regards to the courts in Illinois, they examine the contract to determine the intention of all parties at the time they entered into it. Once the court has determined the intention, they may rely on a dictionary to provide a definition of any undefined terms, giving them their intended meanings.

Challenges Non-Disparagement Clauses Face

Certain positions within a company offer higher risks of disparagement than others. Employees with access to confidential information within the company, separated employees, and those that have been terminated all pose a greater risk.

While a non-disparagement clause can lessen this risk, it isn’t without its challenges.

These contractual clauses restrict free speech, and with that can come legal attacks from governmental agencies charged with regulating the workforce.

For instance, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed lawsuits challenging certain non-disparagement provisions included in severance agreements that precluded employees, both former and current, from cooperating with them in their investigations into illegal discrimination.

Consumer Review Fairness Act Levels The Field

In 2016, Congress passed this act in order to void provisions in non-negotiable “Terms of Use” contracts that limit someone’s right to publish genuine, negative reviews online.

Even the United States Supreme Court became involved when they overturned a non-disparagement provision due to it being an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

Overcome Restrictions On Free Speech & Protect Your Company

Restrictions of free speech caused by non-disparagement clauses are not being taken lightly.

In order to best protect your company as well as your legal clients, these contractual provisions should be drawn up in a way that only includes what is reasonably necessary.

Ensure the language used in the non-disparagement clause limits the restriction on free speech. You will also need to include a reasonable timeframe the provision holds rather than an unending, over-generalized contract.

To find out more about non-disparagement clauses in the digital age, download the original article found in the Newsletter of Illinois State Bar Association.

Article shared by: Law Office of Cathy Ann Pilkington

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DRB – Global Approach. Tailored Solutions.

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drb-team

Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC is a Chicago-based law firm representing clients in all types of immigration matters including family applications, employment immigration and compliance, removal proceedings, naturalization, and appeals.

Co-founders Marta Delgado and Elizabeth Rompf Bruen have nearly 35 years of combined legal experience and have focused their careers in the immigration and nationality law areas. They routinely represent clients before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Justice and numerous U.S. consular posts worldwide.

The attorneys at Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC analyze individuals’ immigration histories, explain the options that exist to obtain the solutions they are seeking, and develop comprehensive strategies to present the strongest case possible.

Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC builds immigration solutions with consistent client communication, extensive experience, intelligent case strategies, dedicated advocacy, and compassionate service to its clients and community.

DELGADO ROMPF BRUEN LLC

DELGADO ROMPF BRUEN LLC

180 North LaSalle Street, Suite 3700

Chicago, Illinois, 60601

www.drbimmigration.com

TEL: 312.216.5116

FAX: 312.981.0051

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PARO: End-of-Year Checklist

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Now that we start a New Year it is important to reflect on our past year’s performance and set a plan for success in the years to come.

Below, please reference PARO‘s End-Of-Year checklist for small businesses. These 6 steps can help your business become successful in 2017:

  1. Review accounts receivable and payable
    Accounts Receivable: To ensure that your cash flow is accurate be sure that your accounts receivable is up to date. If a payment is owned collect ASAP, collect in the next year- but file as a cash or accrual basis, or write it off as a loss.Accounts Payable: Be sure to record your bills on a monthly basis. If you do have a system in place review your accounts payable to see if it is accurate.
  2. Review you inventory (if applicable)
    It is important to keep an accurate record of your inventory quarterly and if you can monthly is even better. This can help you plan in the next year so you know if you are holding too much or missing out if you are holding to little.
  3. Verify 1099 / W2 information and send out forms
    Accurately obtain the personal information from your vendors and contractors to send their 1990s and W-2 forms.
  4. Close your books and prepare for tax filing
    Before you reflect on 2016 your books must be closed. Your bookkeeper or accountant must reconcile your bank accounts, credit cards, and credit facilities. Finally, then can you can review your financial year of 2016 more accurately.
  5. Review your P&L Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
    Review your key performance indicators by identifying 2 or 3 indicators that drive your business. Over the course of tracking these indicators you are able to see what areas are doing well. From there you can assess the low indicators to help improve your business.
  6. Create a budget for the new year
    Now that you have finally reviewed your financial statements you can plan on working on your businesses’ yearly budget. Since you have gained a financial insight you can budget accordingly.

Click to download PARO’s End-of-Year Checklist

Upcoming Events:

  • Stop by for PARO’s Lunch & Learn Event! January 18th at 12pm, 225 W. Washington , Floor 22.
  • See more upcoming events

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Amata Partners with Small Business Advocacy Council to Support Illinois Business Owners

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Amata Partners with Small Business Advocacy Council to Support Illinois Business Owners

Amata recently became a sponsor of the Small Business Advocacy Council, a non-partisan, Chicago-based advocacy group that empowers the state’s small business community through legislation and other initiatives designed to improve the Illinois economy and give a voice to the small business owners who call Illinois home.

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