Starting a business is exhilarating. Founders are fueled by ideas, adrenaline, and the vision of what could be. But in that rush, it's easy to misallocate time, money, and energy—often focusing on the wrong things too early. At Business Law Group, we see this pattern again and again: well-meaning...
Business Law Blog
Using a 1031 Exchange With the New Accelerated Depreciation Rules: A High-Impact Strategy for Real Estate Investors
Real estate investors have long relied on §1031 like-kind exchanges to defer capital gains taxes when selling investment property. With the advent of new accelerated depreciation rules—including expanded opportunities for bonus depreciation and faster cost-segregation classifications—investors no...
Can Managers Share Tips in a Tip Pool? What Employers and Employees Need to Know
Tip pooling is common in restaurants, bars, salons, and other service-driven industries. But one question regularly causes confusion—and legal trouble: Can managers or supervisors participate in a tip pool? The short answer is almost always no. But like most wage-and-hour rules, the details matt...
Can I Gift My Employee Ownership in My Company?
Business owners often ask us: “Can I give my employee an ownership interest in my company for free?” It's a great question — and one that comes up often when employers want to reward loyalty or incentivize key team members. The short answer is: you can, but it's not truly “free.” Giving an emplo...
What Hospitality Operators Need to Know about the IRS’s New Information-Reporting Guidance on Tips & Overtime
If you run a restaurant, hotel, resort or other hospitality business, the recent release of Public Law 119‑21 (the “OBBBA”) and the resulting IRS guidance in Notice 2025-62 mark important new compliance developments around reporting of tips and overtime pay. While many of the changes will not ful...
2025 Louisiana Successions Update: What Families Need to Know
Louisiana's 2025 legislative session brought important updates to succession and estate law. These changes affect how wills are executed, how probate proceedings unfold, and how heirs can protect their rights. At Business Law Group, we stay on top of these developments so you can plan with confid...
ADA Website Lawsuits Are Spiking Again—Here’s How to Stay Out of the Crosshairs
Businesses are getting sued because their websites are hard for people with disabilities—especially blind customers using screen readers—to use. The fixes are usually simple. The legal costs aren't. Here's how to stay out of trouble. Why are businesses being sued? Think of your website like you...
It's Almost Q4: Why you Need a Legal Audit
The more you know about your company, your competition and your customers, the faster you can adapt to marketplace changes and capitalize on opportunities. If you aren't regularly looking at the key operational areas of your business from a legal perspective, you're exposing yourself to unnecessa...
The Hidden Advantage of an Employee Handbook: Clarity on Employer Obligations
Most business owners think of an employee handbook as a tool for communicating company policies to employees: dress codes, vacation policies, disciplinary procedures, and other HR essentials. While that's true, one of the most valuable—and often overlooked—benefits of creating an employee handboo...
How Doctors Save Thousands by Electing S-Corp Status (Part 2 of 3)
If you're a physician earning significant 1099 income, chances are you've already felt the sting of self-employment taxes. In Part 1 of this series, we explained how the default LLC leaves every dollar exposed to a 15.3% tax bite. The good news? You don't have to settle for that. By electing S-C...
Entity Selection for Physicians – Building Smarter Practices (Part 1 of 3)
Why Most Physicians Start With an LLC – and Why That Might Be Costing You When you step into the world of independent contracting as a physician—whether taking 1099 income from a hospital or running a side practice—the first legal question you face is usually: “What entity should I form?” For m...
LLC vs. Living Trust: How Unmarried Couples in Louisiana Can Protect Their Shared Property
For one Louisiana couple we recently met, the scenario was familiar: they purchased land together, are building a home, and plan to live there someday. Their goal? Put a legal structure in place now so that, if they split up or one passes away, the process for handling the house is clear and conf...
Do I have to pay capital gains tax when I sell my home?
The $250,000 capital gains tax exclusion lets you avoid paying tax on up to $250k of profit when selling your primary home ($500k if married filing jointly). Requirements: Own the home 2 of the last 5 years Live in it as your primary residence for 2 of the last 5 years Can only us...
What is the role of a business lawyer versus a CPA (Certified Public Accountant)?
At first many of our clients think a CPA and a lawyer are interchangeable advisors to their business. Especially if they have developed a good relationship with one or the other. But we have found this practice to be especially problematic. In this article we examine the role of a business law...
Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Business Attorney
Choosing the right business attorney can save you time, money, and stress. Here are 10 key questions to ask before you decide what lawyer to hire: 1. What type of business entity is best for me? LLC, S Corporation, C Corporation, or Partnership — each has different liability protections and t...
Understanding UCC Filings and Security Interests in Movable Property and How UCC liens are different than Statutory Liens
When businesses and lenders enter into financing arrangements involving movable property—such as equipment, inventory, or accounts receivable—it's crucial to understand the role of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) in protecting those interests. Many clients are surprised to learn that filing a U...
Help! A Judgment Was Entered Against My Company and I Just Found Out
Imagine this: You're going about your day when a legal document shows up — a judgment against your business. You've never even heard of the lawsuit. Panic sets in. Is this real? Can they do that? Yes, they can. But that doesn't mean all hope is lost. 📜 What Is a Default Judgment? A default j...
What’s All This Fuss About a Cost Segregation Study?
If you've been hearing a lot about “cost segregation” lately—especially in the context of bonus depreciation and the 2025 tax law changes—you're not alone. For many real estate investors and business owners, this tax tool is becoming a game-changer for accelerating deductions and unlocking upfron...
Real Estate Investors Alert: 100% Bonus Depreciation Is Back!
Understanding Accelerated Depreciation A newly passed federal tax law has reinstated 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property—offering a huge incentive for real estate developers and small business owners. But here's the key: The property must be placed in service on or after January 1...
Is Your Personal Residence Exempt from Medicaid Eligibility in Louisiana?
Absolutely! Here is a Louisiana-specific version of your blog post, tailored to your audience and clients: When planning for long-term care—particularly nursing home care—many Louisiana families face a tough question: “Will Medicaid count my home when determining my eligibility?” The answ...
The Hidden Dangers of Using a One-Size-Fits-All Operating Agreement and Why That Free Template (or ChatGPT Draft) Could Cost You Thousands
In today's fast-paced digital world, it's tempting to cut corners on legal documents—especially when websites and AI platforms offer “free” or “instant” operating agreements. A quick Google search might lead you to a generic template or even a ChatGPT-generated draft. While the promise of conveni...
Who Owns the IP in Your Multi-Member LLC? (Hint: Not Always the LLC)
When you form a multi-member LLC to build a business—especially in creative, tech, or innovation-heavy industries—there's often an assumption that everything created under the LLC umbrella is owned by the company. But that's not always true. In fact, when it comes to intellectual property (IP) li...
Will a Louisiana Court Enforce Your Spousal Buy-Sell Agreement? Not Always.
If you own a business in Louisiana and are married—or planning to marry—you may assume a buy-sell agreement will protect your company from disruption in the event of divorce. But in a community property state like Louisiana, that assumption may be risky. Even the most carefully drafted agreement...
Protecting Your Louisiana Law Practice From Divorce: What Every Attorney Must Know
If you're a Louisiana attorney and the sole owner of your law practice, you may assume your license shields your business from the reach of community property laws. Unfortunately, that assumption is wrong. If your law practice was formed during your marriage, the business itself is considered a ...
How to Liquidate a Louisiana LLC: A Step-by-Step Legal Guide
When it's time to bring a Louisiana limited liability company (LLC) to an end—whether due to strategic shifts, member decisions, or unforeseen events—business owners must follow a legally compliant process to dissolve and liquidate the company. This blog post walks you through the critical steps ...