Keep Your Trademarks Strong: How Marketing Teams Protect Registrations Through Consistent Use
Your marketing drives brand recognition, but it also directly affects your trademark rights. The way your team uses your marks in ads, social media, packaging, and websites can strengthen (or erode) the value of your registrations at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarks are legal assets defined by their exact wording and, for […]
Why You Need the Right Business Partnership Agreement
Because the End Is Where the Rules Actually Matter Most business partners sign formation documents while everything is going well. Everyone is optimistic. Everyone is fair-minded. No one thinks they’ll be the partner who gets sick, burned out, divorced, or fed up. That’s precisely why the beginning is the only moment when balanced rules can […]
Attorney Spotlight: Steven Forrest
In what area of law do you practice and why did you choose this? I practice all forms of litigation and have been a litigator throughout my career. My background includes practice in numerous areas of law in a wide variety of venues. I have experience in criminal law (both as a prosecutor and a […]
The Family Meeting: Not Just for Billionaires
For some people, the term family meeting may not bring to mind a pleasant gathering where everyone shares fond memories and warm feelings. When someone says, “We need to talk,” it often implies that something is wrong or that tough decisions need to be made or discussed. However, in estate planning, future problems are exactly […]
Minnesota’s Proposed Wealth Tax: An Overview
A bill was introduced in the Minnesota House this past legislative session that sought to impose an annual tax of 1% on any “taxable wealth” that exceeds $10,000,000. Known as the “Wealth Tax” or HF 4616, the proposed bill joins others around the country seeking to tax the value of “property, real or personal, tangible […]
Rule 19: When Leaving Someone Out Can Kill the Entire Lawsuit
The Indispensable-Party Trap Lawyers Ignore at Their Peril Most lawsuits fail because the facts are bad or the law is against them. Some fail because the plaintiff sued the wrong group of people. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 is one of the few rules that can end a case before discovery ever starts—not because […]
The Politics of Distraction
How Smart People Get Led Away from the Question That Matters Distraction is not a mistake. It’s a tactic. In politics, business, and public debate, distraction is how weak answers survive strong questions. The goal is simple: shift attention just far enough away from the issue so the listener forgets what was asked in the […]
Proposed Changes to Estate and Gift Taxes—And Linked to Social Security Solvency
Authored by; Cole Hickman and Samuel Landman In late March 2026, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D‑MD) reintroduced legislation aimed at strengthening the Social Security system by increasing federal estate and gift tax revenue. The bill, titled the Strengthen Social Security by Taxing Dynastic Wealth Act, would reverse many of the estate tax cuts enacted over […]
What to Do If Your Business Partner Is Stealing
A Bulldog Guide to Acting Without Making It Worse Few things rattle business owners more than this suspicion: I think my partner is stealing. If you’re wrong, an accusation like that can blow up a partnership overnight. If you’re right, the damage is already happening—and hesitation only compounds it. The mistake most people make at […]
The Hidden Dangers of Using AI for Estate Planning
AI offers useful support, yet professional guidance remains essential for effective estate planning. Artificial intelligence has moved rapidly into legal services for consumers, including will generators, trust templates, and automated planning tools. This is fueled by people looking for convenience, perceived cost savings, and on-demand access. There appears to be greater confidence in AI for […]