The proprietary innovations individuals and organizations create are essentially the “secret recipe” that contributes to their success. For this reason, trade secrets are treated as a type of intellectual property that refers to any confidential business information that provides a competitive advantage to a company and is protected under the law. Although the progression and ease of data transfer technology and even Read More

Tyger tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? William Blake wrote these words while chewing on the conundrum that the hand that wrought the prey also wrought the predator. But he could have equally bent this thought to Congress, as it perhaps unwittingly spun prey and predator from the words of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 Read More

Newspapers are filled with stories about unwary investors misled by duplicitous CEOs and corporate founders. But what is far less covered is the unreasonable or bad faith investor who peppers all levels of the organization with demands for information, who panics over every change in the marketplace or the business plan, who doesn’t trust management, who poisons fellow investors against the company, who tries to Read More

In our August 2021 BAKER JENNER ALERT, we advised our clients and colleagues about the Biden Administration’s new policy initiative, centered on eliminating noncompete restrictions applicable to many aspects of the American workplace. Following, on January 5 and 19, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unrolled its sweeping new proposed rule that would ban noncompete restrictions on workers and others. A copy of Read More

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll created a topsy-turvy world peppered with riddles and puns. That world may feel familiar to anyone who has gone through the due diligence process, where opportunities for misunderstandings are rife. The goal, however, of due diligence is to demystify and clarify, which can best happen when the parties rely on process, structure and well-articulated expectations Read More

Running the numbers, modeling markets and demand, and planning growth and profitability are common exercises for any acquisition. But in the excited rush around making the next big purchase, businesses sometimes neglect the trail of sticky and costly problems that can tag along with a deal, frequently expressed in the form of successor liability. Understanding how liabilities can follow an asset through the door–or Read More

The term “at-will employment” may be familiar to many, since it is the default rule under Georgia law, per O.C.G.A. § 34-7-1. But at-will employment is not a panacea for every difficult employment situation or decision. And blithely relying on the right can result in unexpected complications for the unwary employer. Below, we provide an overview of at-will employment within the context of Georgia law. Next, we Read More

Freedom of religion has deep roots in American history, stemming from the great diversity of peoples, faiths, practices and philosophies that have helped define our civic culture and values. But in application, freedom of religion–and from religion–have proven subtle and more thorny questions, especially when applied to private modes of business, association, and conduct. In short, what can a private employer be Read More

In May 2022, House Bill 389 (HB 389) was signed into law and became effective as of July of this year. HB 389 brought significant updates to the definition of employment in Georgia, ostensibly expanding the class of persons who qualify for employer contributions to unemployment. But, HB 389 can be expected to have broader ramifications for employers, including a potential expansion liability for unpaid taxes, minimum Read More

There are times when disputes between business partners arise, and it can be difficult to settle them without outside help. Mediation is a process that can help to resolve these disputes, and it can benefit both parties. To start, mediation is often cheaper than going to court. It can also be faster and more informal than traditional methods of dispute resolution. This means that it can be a good option for small Read More