tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55459717340638862902011-07-30T16:30:15.188-07:00Drinkwater Law OfficesDrinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.comBlogger151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-49412289941960330142010-03-10T16:19:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:20:19.239-08:00WHAT IS PARENTAL LEAVE AND DO I HAVE TO OFFER IT TO MY EMPLOYEES?By Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Tracy McKenzie, Esq. Effective August 15, 2009 in the State of Nevada, if you are an employer with fifty (50) or more employees (for each working day in each of twenty (20) or more calendar weeks in the current calendar year), you must comply with the new parental leave for school activities law. This law requires you to provide an employee who is a parent, Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-66745013572917991972010-03-10T16:18:00.001-08:002010-03-10T16:19:00.281-08:00NEW PROCEDURES FOR NEVADA BUSINESS REGISTRATIONBy Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Kerry Kolvet, Esq.If you are in business or thinking about starting a business in Nevada, there has been a change in the way that your business should obtain its Nevada Business Registration (the “License”). With a few minor exceptions, this License is required of every person or entity doing business in Nevada. This means anyone who performs services or engages in Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-39116589692618961532010-03-10T16:16:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:17:58.940-08:00WHAT IS THE NEVADA DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP ACT AND WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AS A BUSINESS OWNER? By Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Tracy McKenzie, Esq.Effective October 1, 2009 (It’s coming up fast!), the State of Nevada will recognize a new civil contract between unmarried individuals who meet the requirements of the Nevada Domestic Partnership Act and who properly file registration documents with the Nevada Secretary of State. Domestic partners may be the same sex or opposite sex. The new Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-46320503014896373882010-03-10T16:15:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:16:14.404-08:00LEVELS OF TRADEMARK PROTECTIONBy: Kerry Kolvet, Esq. and Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. A trademark is a word, symbol or phrase used to identify a company or individual’s products or services and to distinguish them from the products or services of another. There are different levels of trademark protection, and rights can be acquired in one of three ways: (1) common law trademark rights, which require that the user be the Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-15702023645583184342010-03-10T16:14:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:15:13.650-08:00DATA COLLECTORS Safe HarborA SAFE HARBOR FOR “DATA COLLECTORS” IF A DATA BREACH OCCURSOn the heels of ineffective data breach notification laws, Senate bill 227, a more proactive approach, offers a safe harbor to businesses that collect personal information if a data breach occurs. Some important definitions apply: Are you a “data collector?”A “data collector” is defined in Nevada Revised Statute 603A as “any Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-37541013197946423742010-03-10T16:13:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:14:13.377-08:00COBRA Subsidy ExtensionBy Tracy McKenzie, Esq. On December 19, 2009, President Obama signed a new law amending the COBRA subsidy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). Under the ARRA, individuals who were involuntarily terminated during the coverage period from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009, and were eligible for continuation of health care benefits pursuant to Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-55124729127626725692010-03-10T16:10:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:13:27.311-08:00COMMERICAL LEASE INFO Entering into a commercial lease is one of the first steps entrepreneurs take when opening a new business or a new location. The lease process involves many important decisions, not only assessing the viability of the physical location, but also the provisions contained in the lease document. It is important to remember that not all leases are created equal. In fact, many provisions in a lease Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-20987442316106978902010-03-10T16:09:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:10:20.816-08:00CHARGING ORDER PROTECTIONBy: Kerry Kolvet, Esq. The protection of assets is generally one of the biggest reasons to form a legal entity. Specifically, the protection of business assets from an owner’s personal liabilities is critical to a business’ continuing success. In many states, a personal creditor may charge a stockholder’s stock with payment of a judgment. Such a remedy could result in the forced liquidation Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-23570097088795336902010-03-10T16:06:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:09:19.467-08:00CHANGES TO EMPLOYMENT LAW POSTERSBy Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Tracy McKenzie, Esq. Under both federal and state employment laws, employers are required to post specific employment materials for employees in a conspicuous area (such as a break or lunch room) and in a language employees understand. When there are changes to existing employment laws or new laws are enacted, the mandatory posting requirements also change. Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-53968195200283251912009-11-21T17:00:00.000-08:002009-11-21T17:01:43.824-08:00CHANGES TO EMPLOYMENT LAW POSTERSBy Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Tracy McKenzie, Esq. Under both federal and state employment laws, employers are required to post specific employment materials for employees in a conspicuous area (such as a break or lunch room) and in a language employees understand. When there are changes to existing employment laws or new laws are enacted, the mandatory posting requirements also change. Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-36891896074263198032009-11-21T16:54:00.000-08:002009-11-21T16:58:58.066-08:00WHAT IS PARENTAL LEAVE AND DO I HAVE TO OFFER IT TO MY EMPLOYEES?By Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Tracy McKenzie, Esq.Effective August 15, 2009 in the State of Nevada, if you are an employer with fifty (50) or more employees (for each working day in each of twenty (20) or more calendar weeks in the current calendar year), you must comply with the new parental leave for school activities law. This law requires you to provide an employee who is a parent, guardianDrinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-85719510030576103692009-11-21T16:52:00.000-08:002009-11-21T16:53:52.111-08:00NEW PROCEDURES FOR NEVADA BUSINESS REGISTRATIONIf you are in business or thinking about starting a business in Nevada, there has been a change in the way that your business should obtain its Nevada Business Registration (the “License”). With a few minor exceptions, this License is required of every person or entity doing business in Nevada. This means anyone who performs services or engages in a trade for profit or if you have a legal entity Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-37732206130938604982009-11-21T16:47:00.000-08:002009-11-21T16:51:47.285-08:00WHAT IS THE NEVADA DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP ACT AND WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AS A BUSINESS OWNER?By Bonnie Drinkwater, Esq. and Tracy McKenzie, Esq.Effective October 1, 2009 (It’s coming up fast!), the State of Nevada will recognize a new civil contract between unmarried individuals who meet the requirements of the Nevada Domestic Partnership Act and who properly file registration documents with the Nevada Secretary of State. Domestic partners may be the same sex or opposite sex. The new Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-3823656772154964032009-11-21T16:39:00.000-08:002009-11-21T16:46:08.946-08:00LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION AFFECTING EMPLOYERSEmployers currently find themselves in a challenging environment both economically and politically. The economic downturn has affected employers in all industries forcing many to make difficult decisions to cut benefits and layoff employees. In addition to the economic crisis, employers are now faced with a different political climate. The lay of the land changed dramatically with the 2008 Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545971734063886290.post-69442777411477153552009-11-21T16:33:00.000-08:002009-11-21T16:38:48.783-08:00A SAFE HARBOR FOR “DATA COLLECTORS” IF A DATA BREACH OCCURSOn the heels of ineffective data breach notification laws, Senate bill 227, a more proactive approach, offers a safe harbor to businesses that collect personal information if a data breach occurs. Some important definitions apply:Are you a “data collector?”A “data collector” is defined in Nevada Revised Statute 603A as “any governmental agency, institution of higher education, corporation, Drinkwater Law Officeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571592741181293197noreply@blogger.com0