Articles
Our knowledge, distilled.
Every step of the way, startups have a lot to think about. We help ease that burden by considering all the angles and providing clients with clear, forward-looking advice. We know just how quickly the startup landscape can change, so we proactively outline emerging issues and provide actionable recommendations for managing the challenges and opportunities those developments present.
Equity Compensation: Navigating 409A Valuations
This article demystifies 409A valuations for private companies: what they are, why do you need them, and how do you get them?
Trademark Fundamentals: Distinctiveness
Understanding the levels of trademark distinctiveness can help startup founders make informed decisions when selecting and registering trademarks.
Trademark Fundamentals: Likelihood of Confusion
A core concept in trademark law that every startup founder should understand is “likelihood of confusion.” This legal standard plays a pivotal role in both trademark registration and enforcement.
Trademark Fundamentals: Materials Ineligible for Trademark Protection
Not everything can be protected as a trademark. Certain types of material are specifically excluded from trademark protection under U.S. law. As a startup founder, it’s crucial to understand what cannot be registered as a trademark to avoid potential rejections and legal challenges.
Trademark Fundamentals: Opposition and Cancellation Proceedings
For startup founders, navigating the complexities of trademark law is essential for protecting your brand. An important aspect of this process involves understanding opposition and cancellation proceedings.
Trademark Fundamentals: Selecting Goods and Services for New Applications
As a startup founder, you’re often faced with numerous decisions that impact the future of your business. One such decision is how to approach trademark applications.
Trademark Fundamentals: Use in Commerce
Startup founders looking to protect their brands need to understand the concept of “use in commerce” to successfully register their trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Trademark Fundamentals: What Is a “Basis” for a Trademark Filing?
When applying to register a trademark, a critical component you will encounter is selecting a “basis” for the application.
Trademark Fundamentals: What Is a Specimen of Use?
As you dive into the world of trademarks to protect your brand, one element you will encounter during the registration process with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the “specimen of use.”
Trademark Fundamentals: What Is a Trademark?
For startups venturing into competitive business landscapes, protecting your brand is not just an option—it’s a necessity. One of the most effective ways to protect the investment you make in building your brand identity is through effective trademark management.
Trademark Fundamentals: Who Owns a Trademark?
When launching a startup, it’s crucial to establish a strong brand identity, which often includes selecting a unique name, logo and other identifiers that distinguish your products or services in the marketplace.
Protecting IP During Joint Development Projects: Agree on More than Non-Disclosure
In these joint-development scenarios where the ultimate product requires the integration of multiple systems devised by two or more specialized businesses, the involved parties should understand the consequences of sharing information and how it can impact their planned project outcome.
Nevada Doesn’t Have Corporate or Personal Income Taxes: Should I Form There?
Though Nevada’s tax advantages and business-friendly reputation might appeal to startups with limited financial resources seeking to minimize costs and maximize returns for founders and investors, in most circumstances you will not be able to avoid the burden of state corporate taxes or personal income taxes simply by incorporating in the Silver State.
Moonlighting: When Should I Quit My Day Job?
Most founders cannot afford to quit immediately upon conceiving an idea. Here are a few considerations to mitigate risks related to a founder’s relationship with their employer.
Should I Incorporate on My Own?
Given the mass availability of “do-it-yourself” incorporation websites today, many founders might be tempted to save some cash by simply filing the incorporation documents with the Secretary of State themselves instead of consulting with a lawyer.
Privacy Breach: The Silent Killer of Startups
A privacy breach and data breach can be intertwined. This article explores the reasons why a privacy breach is harmful to startups and key considerations when dealing with a privacy breach.
Steal My Idea, I Dare You: The Power of Protecting Your Intellectual Property
In the cutthroat arena of business, where ideas spark revolutions, the protection of intellectual property (IP) is not just a legal formality—it’s a survival strategy.
FAQ for Entrepreneurs
You are an entrepreneur and about to start a new business. Or maybe you are already selling your product or service to several customers. How do you make sure you have set up the appropriate legal entity, prepared for fundraising and are ready for an exit?
How to Split Founders’ Equity and Other Preliminary Startup Issues
Early-stage entrepreneurs are faced with many issues when launching a startup. Handling these issues properly can mean the difference between success or failure. Making the right moves can ensure that company shares are allocated in a fair and equitable manner.
BOSS Lab
As part of our commitment to help increase access and opportunity for Black-owned startups, Pillsbury formed the Black-Owned Startup Support (BOSS) Lab to address the systemic inequities that have resulted in Black founders representing only 1 percent of venture-backed startups.
Three Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building an Advisory Board for Your Startup
Developing a strong advisory board can be a key element of a startup’s success. Founders may have great ideas, but running a successful business requires expertise in a variety of fields, and it would be unrealistic to expect even the most well-grounded founder to be well-versed in everything. For this reason, having an advisory board with seasoned and experienced executives can provide key insights and help founders navigate unfamiliar issues on their way to that next level of success.
Benefit Corporations and B Corps Among Options for Startups Seeking to Do Good
Added legal protection and potential marketing benefits make benefit corporations and B Corps a great fit for certain entrepreneurs and industries. But interested parties should carefully consider all details before jumping in.
Establishing and Managing a Business in the UK 2020
Establishing and Managing a Business in the UK”, authored by the attorneys of Pillsbury’s London office, is a concise and practical guide for foreign investors in the UK. The guide covers key concerns and topics such as choice of a business entity, tax, employment and immigration, as well as intellectual property, among others.
A Taxing Decision: Choosing between C Corps, S Corps and LLCs
Forming a legal entity is one of the first big steps for a startup, so if you have reached this stage, congratulations! Now comes the hard part: choosing which type of legal entity to form.