Law Offices of Ronald D. Jackson

Publications

Business Law

Choose the Right Legal Structure for Your Business.  This article examines issues that you should understand before deciding to operate your business as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or something else. Take the guesswork out of one of your most important decisions.

Tips for Raising Money for Start-ups and Emerging Businesses. This publication covers seven things start-ups and emerging businesses can do to increase their chances of getting other people to invest in their companies.

How to save money when you receive restricted stock. Learn what a section 83b election is, how it works, and how it could save you money.

Copyright & Trademarks

To Negotiate with Power, Know Your Copyrights. This article demonstrates how a basic understanding of copyright law can help you negotiate better deals when you sell or license creative work.

Who Owns the Copyright?    Whether you are a creative employee, freelancer or a business that outsources work, it pays to know how ownership rights are determined under copyright law.

Why Trademark Searches Make Good Business Sense.  You should always do a trademark search before using a name or spending lots of money promoting a product or service. Discover the truths and consequences of trademarks and unfair competition law.  

Real Estate

How to Evaluate a Real Estate Investment.   Discounted Cash Flow Analysis and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) are key measurements often used to evaluate real estate investment opportunities. This article shows you how to use these sophisticated tools to make better deals.

The 1031 Exchange: A Powerful Tool for Savvy Real Estate Investors.  Most investors know that a 1031 exchange can be used to defer taxes on a real estate sale, but few fully appreciate the deal-making potential of an exchange. Learn how you can use a 1031 exchange in a variety of situations to seal a deal. 

How to Choose a Qualified Intermediary in a 1031 Exchange. Every 1031 exchanger needs to understand some basic truths about qualified intermediaries. If you're considering a 1031 exchange, you're probably fully focused on identifying economically acceptable replacement property within the time allowed by the tax rules, and closing the acquisition of the replacement property within the time allowed. However, there is a third issue that deserves your undivided attention: choosing a reliable "qualified intermediary" to facilitate the exchange.

Is a Letter of Intent Enforceable? It depends on the fine print and of course, the intentions. Carelessly signing a letter of intent can cause great harm. Doing so could lead to unintentional and perhaps very bad consequences. The next time you're asked "to put your John Hancock" on a letter of intent, be sure you fully understand what it means.