In this week's episode, real estate partner Cary Jones summarizes the recent California legislative history of efforts to promote affordable housing in single family neighborhoods, as well as the Supreme Court background of single family residential zoning.

Startup companies are faced with many decisions at the start of their business. In this episode of CalCurrent, partner Bill Kastin discusses six general corporate and tax issues every startup should consider at formation, and how those issues could impact the business and its owners over time.

Over the past several months, there have been startling new interpretations and changes in the U.S. immigration system that affect businesses that hired or are trying to hire foreign nationals to work within our borders. Partner Rebecca Winterscheidt discusses the changes the immigration system has experienced and how businesses are responding to such changes.

What is a design patent? What is the process to obtain one and how can you enforce it? On this week’s episode of CalCurrent, host Dwight Kim contrasts a design patent and its more famous cousin, the utility patent. When a product’s differentiation is in its unique design and appearance, you can still seek to protect it from competitors and knock-offs by applying for a design patent.

Earnouts are a tool used in M&A transactions, specifically a purchase agreement, when a portion of the purchase price for an acquisition is determined based on the performance of the acquired business after the closing of the transaction. LA partner Josh Schneiderman discusses how earnouts are used and how careful negotiation and drafting of the purchase agreement can be critical.

Consider securing your estate now. On this episode host Steffi Hafen highlights the benefits and risks of using Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs) to lock in your gift and estate tax exemption.

There are many facets for employers to consider when moving to a work-from-home model. This episode will discuss best practices and biggest pitfalls for employers when creating or revising a remote work policy.

There are complex issues at play when a company faces an attempt to obtain their sensitive information. This episode will discuss the importance of having a security program and provide strategies on ways to mitigate risk once a security breach is detected.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a myriad of technological advances that have been entering the patent system with the help of Snell & Wilmer’s life sciences patent team. On this episode, Jeff Morton from our San Diego office will discuss lessons learned from drafting dozens of critical COVID-19 therapeutic and diagnostic cases over the last eight months.

When a whistleblower complaint implicates senior leadership in a company, it falls to the board of directors to investigate. This episode will cover what the board needs to think about in different scenarios when they have to oversee an investigation..