Author Archives: James Blake

When Business Owners Die Without a Last Will and Testament

No one likes to think about their own death, and sitting down with an attorney to draft a last will and testament is often a difficult mental challenge for people to face.  While it’s important for any person to draft … Continue reading

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Disclaimed Warranties & Representations: Promissory Fraud & the Right to Lie

What your mom taught you about telling the truth is still good advice.  While it may seem to go without saying, at least one judge has reaffirmed your mother’s rule: “it’s not okay to lie,” even if your contract says … Continue reading

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Tax-Advantaged Exit Strategies: Employee Stock Ownership Plans

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can be a fantastic tax-advantaged tool for selling your business or for transferring a family company to younger generations while avoiding gift and inheritance taxes. ESOPs are a kind of tax-qualified retirement savings plan whereby … Continue reading

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5 Ways to Prevent Excessive Costs in Your Construction Project

Large construction projects come loaded with latent risks that could lead to project failure or excessive cost due to the interdependent relationships of material suppliers, sub-contractors, general contractors, architects, and engineers. Some of these risks may be mitigated through no-cost … Continue reading

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Letters of Credit vs Documentary Collection in International Business Transactions

What’s the best way to ensure the quality of products and timely payment for business transactions across international borders? Letters of credit are an established mechanism for ensuring that sellers will receive payment for goods that have been properly shipped, … Continue reading

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