How to Form a Corporation or LLC

Tuesday, September 14, 2021: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

Business entities come in many shapes and sizes, and choosing the right one can avoid serious tax and liability consequences. Learn which business entity is right for you, how to prepare and file incorporation documents, and why supposed "formalities" like corporate by-laws can be so important to your business success.

Class covers:

  • Creating legal structures that will protect business start-ups and accommodate the business as it grows
  • Common myths and mistakes people make in setting up a business
  • The difference between an LLC, C-Corporation and S-Corporation and how to determine which one is right for your business
  • Why shouldn't you just operate as a partnership or a sole proprietorship?
  • What are the issues that co-owners should address and resolve in a "Shareholders Agreement" before starting a business together?

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by: Prof. Michael Chasalow
Professor Chasalow directs the USC Law School Small Business Clinic, where students gain hands-on experience handling transactional legal problems and providing basic corporate legal assistance to small businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. Professor Chasalow has worked with start-up companies for over 25 years. His scholarly interests involve the development and structure of business ventures as well as corporate governance issues, fiduciary duty standards and issues relating to the operation and governance of partnerships and LLCs. Professor Chasalow received his B.A. from UC-Berkeley, his J.D. from Berkeley Law and his M.B.A. at UCLA. After law school Professor Chasalow practiced law for several years, initially as a transactional attorney with Latham and Watkins in Los Angeles, where he specialized in such complex corporate transactions as mergers and acquisitions and the issuance of sophisticated debt securities.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.
Classes fill up fast, register today to reserve your seat! All registrants must check-in 10 minutes prior to class time to ensure your seat is not reassigned to waiting-list and walk-in attendees when classes are full.

Photography / Videography:
If you register for this class, you may be photographed or recorded. By registering for this class you are giving the LA Law Library your consent to photograph, videotape, record and broadcast your picture, likeness, voice and statements.  

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Keeping the Books: Business Accounting Basics

Tuesday, September 28, 2021: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

Every business decision must be made with an eye toward the bottom line. Learn to accurately assess your business’ financial outlook and plan for the future by understanding the basics of business accounting and finance.

Class covers:

  • How to apply the fundamentals of financial modeling to set realistic, achievable goals
  • How to apply basic accounting concepts to ensure an accurate financial snapshot of your business
  • How to use key financial statements like income, balance sheet, and cash flow
  • Apply what you learn to real-life “case studies” of businesses in different financial situations
  • Pros and cons of different accounting software available to small businesses

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by Gary Krausz:
Gary Krausz provides audit, accounting and consulting services to middle-market businesses and not-for-profit organizations in Southern California. He is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA.) He also holds the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential offered by the AICPA. Gary serves on the Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards Technical Committee which is the highest technical committee of the California Society of CPAs on accounting and auditing issues; Gary also helps plan the annual Accounting and Auditing Conference of the CalCPA Education Foundation. Gary regularly teaches undergraduate level accounting courses at UCLA Extension.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Southern California. Outside of work, Gary serves on the Board of Directors and is the Treasurer for The Executives, a support group for the Los Angeles Jewish Home, volunteers for his children's school PTA, and various other community outreach and educational committees of the California Society of CPAs.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.
Classes fill up fast, register today to reserve your seat! All registrants must check-in 10 minutes prior to class time to ensure your seat is not reassigned to waiting-list and walk-in attendees when classes are full.

Photography / Videography:
If you register for this class, you may be photographed or recorded. By registering for this class you are giving the LA Law Library your consent to photograph, videotape, record and broadcast your picture, likeness, voice and statements.  

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Make It Official: Licenses, Permits & Reopening

Tuesday, September 7, 2021: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

In this class, government officials from the state of California and the City and County of Los Angeles will give business owners and entrepreneurs important, practical information on how to “make it official,” obtain business licenses, comply with local tax requirements, and follow COVID-19 reopening requirements.

Class covers:

  • How to comply with state and local COVID-19 reopening requirements
  • Determining which licenses and permits you need
  • How to apply for business licenses and permits
  • City, county & state tax requirements
  • How to avoid common license, permit & tax compliance issues

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by officials from the L.A. City Office of Finance, L.A. County Department of Business & Consumer Affairs, and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

 

Know Before You Sign On the Dotted Line: Reading & Negotiating Business Contracts

Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

New and growing businesses must enter into a variety of contracts, with landlords, suppliers, and clients, to name a few. Learn how to read common “boilerplate” contractual language and negotiate contractual terms to your advantage.

Class covers:

  • Contract law basics
  • Essential terms of a commercial lease: what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable
  • Essential terms of a contract for goods or services
  • “Typical” contracts negotiated by business people
  • Caveat emptor: how to avoid problematic contracts

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by Gina Pak:
Gina Pak
is the COO and Co-founder of Lawgood, a legal tech company that is helping business owners with their everyday legal contracts through a combination of real lawyers and artificial intelligence. Prior to Lawgood, Gina was as a corporate lawyer at large firms in New York and Los Angeles working with Fortune 500 companies. She was also a law professor at Peking University. Gina graduated from Columbia Law School.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Protecting Your Intellectual Property: Copyrights

Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

As a business owner, artist, or creator, you try to do things that set you apart from the competition. Usually, you do not want the competition to know your important business information, and you don’t want them to profit from your creative expressions and original works. In this class, learn how to protect the information and work that gives your business an edge.

Class covers:

  • Copyright: what is protected, and how to make sure no one profits from your original works and expressions
  • Free for the taking: what you can take from others, what others can take from you
  • Clearance required: what you do need permission to use
  • Pitching, idea theft, and implied-in-fact-contracts

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by John L. Geiger with the support of Bixel Exchange:

John L. Geiger is an intellectual property attorney in Los Angeles with over thirty years of litigation and transactional experience.  He has represented a broad variety of entertainment professionals, including screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors, as well as music recording and headline international concert tour artists.  Mr. Geiger is co-author of Creativity and Copyright: Legal Essentials for Screenwriters and Creative Artists (UC Press, 2019).  Currently, as a Principal Deputy County Counsel for the County of Los Angeles, he advises public agencies on complex information technology and intellectual property matters.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.

 

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