Insights
Legal analysis, novel ideas, current happenings, and answers from the minds of Amini & Conant.
3 minute readTexas Court Hits Pause on the Corporate Transparency Act: What It Means for Your Business
A recent decision by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has temporarily halted enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a federal law requiring businesses to report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI). Judge Mazzant’s ruling highlighted the significant compliance costs, constitutional concerns, and potential privacy risks posed by the CTA, offering small businesses a reprieve from its requirements—for now.
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2 minute readTexas Business Courts: A New Era for Commercial Litigation
On September 1, 2024, the newly established Texas Business Court officially began accepting cases. This specialized court is designed to handle complex commercial litigation, providing a venue where judges with expertise in intricate commercial issues oversee dedicated dockets.
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3 minute readUnderstanding Sales Tax in Texas: What Businesses Need to Know
Navigating the complexities of sales tax in Texas can be daunting for business owners. While the general rule is straightforward—collect sales tax on most goods and certain services—there are nuances that require careful consideration.
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4 minute readAsset Protection: A Primer for Texas Estate Planning
When it comes to Texas estate planning and asset protection, the strategic use of trusts and business entities is essential. Many individuals request trusts for asset protection without fully understanding the options available.
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3 minute readPending Changes to the R&D Tax Credit: What Businesses Need to Know
The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which could impact the R&D Tax Credit, is stalled in the Senate after passing the House. It needs 60 votes to proceed, but lacks sufficient support.
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5 minute readSCOTUS Business Watch: Key Decisions Impacting Businesses
While many Supreme Court cases have indirect effects on the business world, some decisions specifically address business-related issues head-on. Over the past two terms, several key rulings have emerged that carry significant consequences for businesses across various industries.
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3 minute readWatching the Sunset: Expiration of the Federal Estate and Gift Tax Exemption
In January 2025, the federal lifetime exemption will see its final inflation-based increase under the current framework. However, the elevated exemption introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is slated to expire—or “sunset”—at the close of 2025
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3 minute readNavigating Probate in Texas: Common Challenges and Essential Steps
Probating an estate in Texas can be a complex process. Understanding when to probate an estate and how to navigate the process can ease the family's stress and allow for a smoother transition into healing.
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7 minute read(Not So) Hidden Risks of Skipping an Operating Agreement for Your Texas LLC or Partnership
Starting a business with a trusted partner is an exciting and promising venture. You’re excited for the future and blissfully ignorant to the myriad chaos that will ensue if the relationship sours with no rules in place about how to handle the break-up.
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12+ minute readColorado Governor Signs AI Regulation: A New Era for Artificial Intelligence Compliance
On May 17, Governor Jared Polis of Colorado signed into law the Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act (SB 205) ("CAIA"). This landmark legislation, passed on May 8, is set to take effect on February 1, 2026.
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5 minute readCorporate Transparency Act: New Reporting Rules for 2024
As of January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is in effect, mandating many U.S. entities, along with foreign entities operating in the U.S., to report detailed information about their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the U.S. Treasury Department.
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3 minute readClick, Scroll, Agree? Enforcing Online Contracts in Texas
The modern form of entering into contractual agreements online has taken a few different forms, the “clickwrap agreement,” the “browsewrap agreement,” and the “sign-in wrap agreement” and it has become an integral part of our online interactions.
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6 minute readTikTok & the First Amendment Rights of Foreign Nationals
In a significant move with far-reaching implications for free speech and the tech industry, the United States House of Representatives recently passed a bill targeting TikTok, the widely popular short-form video platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
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6 minute readThe Role of the Department of Justice in Antitrust Litigation
When we think of the Department of Justice (DOJ), our minds usually conjure images of highly skilled criminal prosecutors, knee-deep in manila folders and documents that contain the evidence that will be used to put the nation’s most notorious mafiosi behind bars.
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6 minute readThe Death of the SPAC and What It Means for the IPO Process
The SEC’s new rules are expected to severely limit the SPAC’s role in the market, and help to reestablish the traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO) process as the primary means of taking a business public in the United States.
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5 minute readDark Patterns in User Interface Design
In the intricate dance of law and technology, regulatory agencies often lag behind the pace of change that private sector tech giants constantly seem to be accelerating. Since the meteoric rise of companies like Facebook (now Meta), Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google, digital revenue streams have exploded in value and become some of the most important facilitators of economic growth for the global economy.
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7 minute readCrypto Under the Gavel: Binance and Beyond
In a landmark legal development for the cryptocurrency industry, Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, along with its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to charges related to anti-money laundering (AML) violations.
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5 minute readOpenAI’s Hybrid Governance: Overcoming AI Corporate Challenges
In the dynamic world of artificial intelligence, few organizations wield as much clout as OpenAI. Established with the ambitious mission to create an “artificial general intelligence (AGI) that benefits all of humanity,” OpenAI distinguished itself as a leader in the AI space.
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3 minute readCorporate Governance in the Digital Age: Balancing Innovation with Regulatory Compliance
Aristotle advocated for the betterment of society as a whole rather than the advancement of the individual. He believed that our survival relies on others and encouraged us to collaborate ethically with a commitment to a goal higher than ourselves.
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3 minute readProtecting Trade Secrets in a Collaborative Business Environment
Clichés such as collaboration is key, and two heads are better than one, are highly recognizable for a reason: they are generally found to be true. Standing the test of time, innovation and business growth often sit on the shoulders of collaboration.
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8 minute readThe Challenges of Using Protected Material in AI Training
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), data serves as the lifeblood that fuels machine learning models. However, the use of copyrighted, trademarked, or otherwise protected material for training these models has opened a Pandora's box of legal complexities.
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4 minute readWhat To Do When a Competitor Steals IP or Trademarked Information
Business owners that suspect IP theft must act quickly to protect their IP rights and avoid long-term damage to their company. Read on to learn when and how to respond to (and resolve) IP or trademark infringement.
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7 minute readArtificial Intelligence and the Intellectual Property Rights Debate
Businesses are adopting and incorporating generative tools into their activities at a break-neck pace, but the legal community is still grappling with major questions about the reconciliation of AI and the preexisting legal frameworks that determine how a business can protect its creations from unauthorized reproduction.
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3 minute readReceiving Money From Non-Accredited Investors
While there are numerous ways to raise capital for a business endeavor, many companies may turn to non-accredited investors. Before receiving money from non-accredited investors, there are several legal and financial matters to consider.
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4 minute readTexas House Bill 20: First Amendment And Web-Based Platforms
Enacted by the Texas Legislature in September 2021, Texas House Bill 20 (HB20) is a law that prohibits large social media platforms from removing, moderating, or labeling posts from users in Texas based on specific viewpoints.
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3 minute readNew Ruling Regarding Lawsuits Against Social Media Companies
In September 2022, the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a new Texas law that allows lawsuits against social media companies. This ruling is viewed as a victory for those who believe these platforms have unfairly censored certain viewpoints.
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3 minute readHow an IP Attorney Can Help You Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights
A business’s intellectual property (IP) rights can make up some of its most valuable assets. In today’s technology-heavy world, intellectual property rights are becoming increasingly critical.
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3 minute readChoosing a State for Your Business Entity
Once you have chosen a type of legal business entity, it is time to choose a formation state. Also called the state of organization, domestic state, or home state, your formation state is where you will file your business’s formation documents.
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3 minute readChecklist Before Buying A Business
Purchasing an existing company can be an excellent investment that provides many benefits and can be more profitable than building a new business from the ground up. However, the process of finding and transferring business ownership is complex.
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3 minute readThe Benefits of Sound Trademarks
A sound trademark allows a person to protect their audible intellectual property. If you have created a song, audible tagline, soundbite, or another sound that you are using in the stream of commerce as a business owner, you should consider obtaining an official trademark to protect your intellectual property from infringement by others.
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4 minute readPros And Cons Of Business Partnership Formation
When starting a business venture with another individual or a group of people, forming a business partnership may seem like the obvious choice. While it may appear to be the best avenue to take, it is not the only option.
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4 minute readDo I need to register my company in another state?
As businesses increasingly sell goods, hire employees and operate the confines of a multiple state, they often find themselves asking: “I’m operating in the following states…do I need to register as a foreign entity in each state?” However, the answer is more complex than it lets on.
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4 minute readPros and Cons of Franchising Your Business
Anyone who is planning to scale or buy another business may want to franchise. This option focuses on expansion, growth, and opportunity. Like any important decision, there are pros and cons of franchising a business. Franchising may not be the best choice for every person, so it is vital to understand the risks and benefits before starting the process.
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3 minute readUnderstanding Mezzanine Financing
Mezzanine financing blends equity and debt, with lenders providing subordination loans over traditional ones. When a business needs funding for a significant acquisition or project, creative financing options like mezzanine loans can help to fill that need. Understanding mezzanine financing can be difficult since it differs slightly from traditional loans.
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2 minute readIntellectual Property Rights During A Pending Trademark
Trademarks provide legal protection for brand names and logos, preventing other businesses from copying them or using similar marks. An individual or company with a logo, phrase, design, symbol, or word that identifies goods or services may apply for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Although applying for a trademark has the end goal of protecting the intellectual property (IP) rights of the business, how does the trademark owner protect his or her IP rights when a trademark is pending?
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4 minute read7 Responses To A USPTO Final Office Action
Despite its name, a “final” office action from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) does not mean your trademark application has been rejected. Instead, this communication represents the last opportunity you have to correct the application and file a response during the application process.
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3 minute readAdding Additional Classes To Your Existing Trademark
Business owners may file trademark applications and later wish to add additional classes as their businesses expand to more goods and services. Unfortunately, people cannot directly amend trademark applications to add additional classes, but they may be able to establish new filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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3 minute readWorking Capital Adjustments in M&A Transactions
An evaluation of a company’s working capital is a critical piece of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions. A detailed financial evaluation must be conducted to determine the financial and legal expectations of both parties involved in the transaction.
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3 minute readHow to Register a Trademark Internationally
Some countries have “first to file” rules that recognize the trademark as belonging to whomever first files the trademark application, even if the real owner of the trademark is someone else. Register a trademark internationally to help protect intellectual property rights in other countries where you do business.
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4 minute readSteps To Take If You Receive A Trademark Infringement Letter
If a business believes someone is using their unique trademark, they may send a trademark infringement letter. The infringing party may face several repercussions, including an injunction from a court that orders them to stop using the infringing mark, as well as having to hand over their profits to the owner of the mark.
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11 minute readLandslide
What happens when Congress provides a statutory damage scheme that ranges from $750 to $150,000 (with the opportunity to multiply the award tens, perhaps hundreds, of times), and leaves it almost entirely to the discretion of judge and jury to determine the appropriate award?
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5 minute readBreaking Up is Hard To Do – Chapter 3
Your client is a bass player that has just been ousted by his group. Historically, the group has made business decisions collectively and split profits equally. However, after a secret meeting of the other members of the band, the decision was made to terminate the bass player.
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3 minute readGuide To Term Sheets for Startups and Investors
The owners of startups, VCs and other businesses often make frequent use of term sheets, which are nonbinding agreements that provide an overview of the general terms and conditions for an agreed-upon investment.
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3 minute readUSA Trademark Registration Requirements
Registering a trademark is a necessity for protecting the brand of a business, as it offers protection against third-party infringement of the company’s branding.. Business owners who are planning to apply for a federal trademark should be aware of a few key requirements.
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6 minute readTexas Small Business Taxes
As a small business in Texas, it's already difficult to make sure customers (and revenue) are walking in the door. But it can be even more difficult if you don't understand your tax obligations. We provide a thorough review of the taxes a small business must account for.
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6 minute readSection 925 and the California Non-Compete Law
Are California's notoriously stringent non-compete laws easing up? The law is far from settled, but we take a look at encouraging developments and offer a roadmap for employers who want the best chance to enforce non-competes in the state.
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10 minute readIndependent Contractor or Employee?
It may be tempting to classify employees as independent contractors, but making that designation is a decision fraught with potential consequences. We take a look at what differentiates an employee from an independent contractor.
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6 minute readBroker-Dealer Registration and Finder Exemptions
An overview of registration requirements for broker-dealers and finders under both Securities Exchange Act and the Texas Securities Act, paying particular attention to finders who match companies with investors or buyers.
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