Experienced, Personalized And Effective Legal Solutions
For more than 40+ years, the attorneys at Gusty A.E. Sunseri & Associates, P.C., have produced trusted legal results for our clients.
Protecting a closely held business comes down to three moving parts: selecting and maintaining the right entity, putting the owners’ agreements in writing before anyone disagrees, and planning for the day an owner leaves, dies, or gets sued personally. Most business losses trace back to one of those three going...
The prospect of launching a new business can be thrilling, yet daunting, as you bring your ideas to life. Understanding what you need to do before you open your doors to the public can make the difference between a flourishing enterprise and an avoidable failure. For example, understanding your target...
Deciding to pursue your dreams and start a Pennsylvania business is a monumental step and can be exciting and stressful. While you may have 101 things on your to-do list, determining your business structure is a decision you should not take lightly. Here are some pros and cons of forming...
As a business owner, you frequently enter into business contracts with an array of people and other businesses. Any time that contract gets breached, it means a loss of some kind. After verifying the other party has broken the contract, take action quickly. 1. Discuss the breach Once discovered, have...
The legal and financial repercussions of divorce can be immense. One of the biggest is what happens to a business. A frightening possibility is an ex-spouse affecting yours. Even if your marriage is going great, know how to protect your operation in the event of a split. A bit of...
Perhaps you have dreamed about starting a business of your own for years and the time is finally right to get it off the ground. However, you worry about making mistakes. Here are five tips to help you launch your startup successfully. 1. Develop your marketing strategy Many new business...
Purchasing a Pennsylvania business may allow you to minimize your risk of failing as an entrepreneur. However, there are many items that you’ll need to consider before the acquisition becomes official. For instance, it’s a good idea to determine if the company can be profitable in the long-term or if...
Every year, entrepreneurs open new companies throughout Pennsylvania. If you’re ready to launch your new company, there are several steps you’ll need to take. One of the most beneficial steps might be to have a lawyer on your side. Here are a few ways an attorney may help you with...
In some ways, ending a business relationship is a lot like ending a marriage. For instance, you could save yourself a lot of money by putting a partnership agreement in writing. The agreement may specify how to dissolve the partnership and what happens to the company after the relationship comes...
Entrepreneurs often start out as freelancers or sole proprietors. But for many, there comes a time when those kinds of business structures just don’t work anymore. Every businessperson in Pennsylvania should know a bit about limited liability companies and how they work. LLCs can act as a great form of...
Workers in Pennsylvania and around the country who have access to trade secrets or other sensitive information often have non-compete clauses in their employment contracts or are asked to sign separate non-compete agreements. These clauses or agreements are designed to protect employers by preventing key workers from taking positions at...
Business formation is an important step for any new business owner to consider. It is one of the most important decisions a new business owner or entrepreneur setting up a business will make. As a result, they should understand how business law and the different business forms available can help...
Zoning laws can be particularly important to property owners because they can have a dramatic impact on the property owner’s use of their property. Zoning laws regulate the development and use of real estate; the most common type of land-use law includes zoning laws. Typically, zoning laws divide a city...
Contract relationships provide a foundation to many business transactions and business relationships. As a result, parties to a contract should always understand how contracts work, what to do in circumstances of a contract dispute and business law basics as well. Contracts are legally enforceable agreements between parties concerning a variety...
When selecting a business form, there are many considerations to consider. Selecting the best business form for their venture is one of the most important decisions a business owner or entrepreneur will make so they should have all the information before making the selection and be aware that business law...
Pennsylvania recognizes at-will employment. This means that an employee can be fired at any time with or without cause. On the flip side, an employee can quit a job at any time. Of course, there may be consequences for prematurely terminating employment, especially when that employment is dictated by an...
Individuals who are interested in starting a business have many important decisions that they must make. One critical issue that they must figure out is how to raise the funds needed to finance their endeavor. This week we want to take a brief look at venture capital and how it...
For an establishment that serves alcohol, losing a liquor license is incredibly detrimental and may even ruin your business. In Pennsylvania, it is the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (PSP BLCE) that enforces liquor license violations. A business may lose its liquor license for many reasons. Below...
Starting a business can be a tricky endeavor. Those who are successful in doing so can feel an enormous sense of pride, as they should, since this is a big accomplishment. However, business troubles don’t end with the successful creation of a business. Instead, they are oftentimes just beginning. Knowing...
As we discussed on a recent post to this blog, the digital age has reshaped the ways in which business is carried out. While this can make markets broader and communications more efficient, it can also make matters more confusing. In the world of business, misunderstandings and downright deceit can...
With new emerging technologies come changes to the business environment. This is especially true when it comes to the digital world where computers, cellphones, and other devices make interconnectivity a 24-hour affair. Due to this, Pennsylvania employers and employees alike need to ensure that they are taking the proper steps...
There are a number of ways to start a new business. Some people take a unique idea or an old idea with a fresh twist and start their enterprise by building it from the ground up. Others, though, would rather jump into a business that is already reputable and has...
The decision to start a business isn’t one that should be taken lightly. Those who choose to engage in entrepreneurship often wind up putting their future and their finances on the line. When their businesses fail, their financial security and future can take a significant setback. This is why it...
There’s no doubt that the economy has recovered considerably since the Great Recession. With the job market growing in response and the employment rate continuing to decline, employers are often left competing for the best employees in their field. This means that the terms of one’s potential employment need to...
Before a business can get up and running in Pennsylvania, many important decisions must be made. Amongst those decisions is the one regarding the structure that the business will take. There are often advantages and disadvantages to each, and fully understanding them is imperative to making the right decision. One...
Whether they like it or not, business owners often find themselves amidst conflict. Sometimes this friction is caused from the negotiation of a contract or laying out a business plan with partners. However, some conflict arises from interactions with employees. This is particularly true in the hiring and firing process....
On its face, the business world is pretty easy to understand. Companies are created to sell goods and services to customers. Once you dig a little deeper, though, you can see that the business world can be fraught with legal complexities. Merely starting a business can be a legal and...
Businesses have a lot of issues that must be dealt with on a consistent basis. Many of these matters have a direct impact on a business’s bottom line. Whether it is a contract dispute that threatens to slow the delivery or sale of a product, an intellectual property infringement that...
Starting a business isn’t just about identifying a problem and finding a solution. Sure, these aspects are critical to founding and successfully running a business, but there are a number of logistical elements that can be just as pivotal to a business’s success. For example, even though many Pennsylvania businesses...
There are many considerations that must be taken into account when creating and maintaining a business. The type of business created, the employees to hire and countless management decisions can all make or break one’s company. One long-term, ongoing business issue is the building and maintenance of the brand and...
If you are thinking about starting a business, then you have a lot on your plate. You may find yourself pondering how you will raise capital, who you will hire to help you provide your goods or services and how you will protect your brand. Yet, from the get-go, the...
Choosing the right structure for your business is an essential step toward its future success. Several options exist for Pennsylvania business owners, each offering its own pros and cons. Your choice may depend on your type of business, its size and your future plans for it. The Limited Liability Company...
In many instances, in order for businesses to operate properly promises have to be made and kept. Because of this reality, many individuals and businesses find themselves relying on the promises of others. This is the basis of contracts. Most often, parties come together to barter over some sort of...
In order to protect yourself and your business, it is crucial to have a firm understanding of the laws and regulations in place. There may be instances where you find yourself in an uncomfortable or unwelcome situation either facing business litigation or the victim of another business’s illegal tactics. In...
Different business entities have different characteristics in different areas, including: ownership and control; liability; taxation, reporting requirements; formation and dissolution requirements; distribution of profits, and so on. The type of entity selected when forming a business is important to get right, as making a wise selection will help ensure the...
Earlier this year, a new Pennsylvania law went into effect which made significant changes to several types of partnership entities and limited liability companies. The changes were fairly widespread touching upon matters of formation, dissolution, registration, governance, distribution and liability for general and limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and limited...
In previous posts, we looked briefly at some of the important ways businesses can protect valuable information, including intellectual property protections and trade secret protections. Both are useful tools when employed strategically and with the help of an experienced attorney who knows how to make effective use of them. Another...
Starting a new business is an exciting venture, but it often comes with some questions and stress. As you begin to follow your dreams to become a business owner, you might be wondering what type of business you should form. With so many options out there, this choice can be...
Last time, we began commenting on some of the tools and strategies businesses can use to protect sensitive information from competitors, specifically taking a brief look at intellectual property rights. As we noted, registering and enforcing trademarks, patents and copyrights, and establishing an effective strategy for licensing, can be an...
For employers, protecting valuable businesses resources from competitors is critical to ensuring the success of the business. Valuable resources include not only intellectual property created by the company, but also trade secrets and employees, particularly high-level employees who have access to sensitive company information. Protecting intellectual property includes not only...
It starts with an idea and a dream, and you have been successful at turning it into a business that continues to thrive and grow. Unfortunately, no matter how great your ideas or business skills are, you are likely to run into some type of growing pains as you stretch...
It’s best to get any important agreement in writing. Even among friends and family that go into business together, a contract can save a lot of frustration, anger and even unease. The idea is that by writing it down on paper (make sure there is a hard copy), the terms...
Restaurant and bar owners know all too well that one mistake can jeopardize your business. A simple mistake can cost you in fines or cause you to lose your license. A lost liquor license can mean the difference between success and failure of a business. Be aware of the following...
So you’re starting a business and you want to know what the first step is. Number one, start the process by interviewing a knowledgeable business attorney. You see, not all attorneys are “knowledgeable” when it comes to business formation and practical day to day business issues. In the course of...
Speaking as a Pittsburgh Business Law Attorney, I quite honestly believe there are very few instances where a small to medium-sized business should not take advantage of the protections afforded by incorporating or by forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Individuals who own a business or who are beginning a...