Stamford Startup Attorneys & Lawyers

Key Takeaways

• Contracts should use clear, plain language to avoid ambiguity and reduce legal disputes.
• Defining key terms and outlining specific timelines helps ensure mutual understanding.
• Including procedures for dispute resolution, change orders, and renewals adds clarity and legal strength.
• Written contracts reduce the risk of misunderstandings and enhance enforceability.
• Consulting a qualified attorney can help ensure contracts meet legal standards and industry norms.

What Is a Contract?

A contract is a legal agreement between two or more parties. A business contract includes the following:

• Names of all parties
• Contract beginning and end dates
• Payment amounts and schedule
• Steps to take when a party breaks the contract
• Signature with date

Business Contracts: What Are They?

Also known as a contractual business relationship or an agreement, a

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Key Takeaways:

• Hold harmless agreements protect property owners from liability during inspections or viewings.
• These agreements must outline protection scope, activities covered, and timeframes.
• Residential, commercial, and investment properties require tailored agreements based on risks.
• Proper documentation, insurance alignment, and real estate professional guidance ensure effective protection.
• Modern digital tools streamline agreement processes and enhance security for both physical and virtual tours.
• UpCounsel’s real estate attorneys can draft and update agreements to meet evolving legal and market needs.

Most property sellers now require potential buyers to sign a hold harmless agreement before viewing a property. This legal requirement has become standard practice, particularly when showing high-value residential or commercial properties.

What Is a Hold H

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What Is the Key Man Clause?

A key man clause (or key person clause) says that when certain executives of an investment firm are absent, the firm cannot make any new investments until they replace them. Investments need constant watching. Therefore, it's important for investment firms to always have someone in charge.

Key man clauses trigger anytime the executives named by the clause aren't spending enough time managing the firm's investments. This can happen if the executive:

• Dies
• Suffers a permanent or long-term disability
• Spends too much time at another job
• Quits or is fired
• Is convicted of a serious crime

Whatever the cause happens to be, if the executive can't do his or her job, the key man clause puts investing on hold at the very least. Sometimes it means the investment firm has to end, depending on how big the firm is and how important the key person was.

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Key Takeaways

• Unfair competition includes deceptive business practices like false advertising, trade secret theft, trademark infringement, and reverse passing off.
• Both federal (e.g., Lanham Act, FTC regulations) and state laws govern unfair competition.
• Legal remedies may include monetary damages, injunctive relief, or even criminal charges in extreme cases.
• Courts consider factors like intent, duration of misconduct, and financial harm when awarding penalties.
• Preventive measures like trademarks, NDAs, and employee training help protect businesses.
• State-specific unfair competition laws can vary widely and may provide broader protections than federal law.

What Is Unfair Competition?

Unfair competition occurs when another company uses wrong or deceptive business practices to gain a competitive advantage. The major category of unfair competition relates to intentional confusion of customers as to where t

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Key Takeaways

• New business owners need a range of internal, external, and compliance-related business documents to operate legally and efficiently.
• Organizational documents like business plans, mission statements, and corporate resolutions help define and support a company’s operations.
• External communications such as business letters, memos, and proposals establish credibility and maintain professionalism.
• Employee and HR-related documentation—including handbooks, evaluations, and onboarding packets—are vital for internal management.
• Digital-era essentials like email policies, website disclaimers, and online agreements enhance customer transparency and compliance.

One of the most difficult parts of starting a business, and one of the least intuitive, is the paperwork piece.

To help alleviate some of that mystery, we've put together a list of some of the most important business documents that will give you a quick

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