BUSINESS

Worden Williams helps clients in every aspect of their business, from formation of an entity to operation of an established company. The firm offers a broad range of legal services to resolve the complex challenges faced by today’s entrepreneurs and business owners.

Forming New Business Entities
The business and corporate attorneys at Worden Williams guide their clients through the business formation process, starting with selection of the appropriate business entity, such as a limited liability company, corporation, non-profit or partnership. The firm will prepare and submit all of the necessary business filings with governmental agencies including, among other things, registrations, fictitious business name statements, licenses, and notices. The firm will prepare the initial business operating documents, including bylaws, operating agreements, minutes, initial resolutions, and employment policies. In addition, the firm will advise on state and federal tax laws and regulations as they apply to your particular business needs. When required, the firm also will assist the client with land use and business permitting requirements.

Advising on Business Operations, Employment
and Transactions
Worden Williams serves as an extension of the business team, and its attorneys are available to assist clients with the full spectrum of legal issues, such as, preparation and negotiation of business contracts and leases, compliance with local land use and regulatory requirements, license compliance, trademark and copyright filings, protecting trade secrets, handling personnel matters, mergers and acquisitions, real property transactions, insurance disputes, preventing and defending litigation, and providing general counsel on day-to-day issues that arise.

Protecting Trademarks Worldwide
Worden Williams offers international trademark registration services for those clients who sell products or offer services worldwide including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. Securing your trademarks in countries in which you do business is essential to the protection of your brand and the prevention of a party’s use of your company’s business identity to market its own products. If your trademark is not registered, you may not be able to maintain or enforce your exclusive rights in other countries.

The attorneys at Worden Williams will manage this complicated process. The firm will assist with the selection of names and images to ensure the best chance of success in the application process. In addition, the firm will work with the client to assure registration and compliance in the countries in which the client does business. When required, the firm will work with appropriate international attorneys to shepherd the client’s foreign patent or trademark.

Worden Williams takes pride in its successful representation of its business clients in the following areas:

• California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA")
• National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA")
• Air Quality
• Coastal Act and Coastal Commission
• Endangered Species Act, State and Federal
• Conservation Easements
• Residential and Commercial Easements
• Design Review Regulations
• Hazardous Materials
• Nuisance and Encroachment Abatement
• Open Space Conservation
• Subdivisions
• Lot Line Adjustments
• Water Quality
• General Plan and Zoning Law