Business Law
Wills & Estate Planning
Texas Probate
Intellectual Property Licensing
Entertainment & Sports Law
Litigation
Business owners face an array of challenging legal decisions that will determine the profit and growth of their business. We can help handle the legal matters that you are likely to encounter while starting and running your business, including:
- Choosing proper business structure
- Forming the business entity
- Balancing and protecting your interests with those of business partners
- Naming and protecting products and services
- Resolving contract disputes
- Creating and adopting employee policies and procedures
- Resolving problems with customers and suppliers
- Buying and selling a business
- Protecting personal assets
- Non-Compete and other Employment Agreements
- Representing the company during all aspects of litigation
Although some business owners see lawyers as impediments to success, we strongly disagree. Prudent business owners reduce or avoid future problems and uncertain liabilities by seeking legal advice when there is still time to plan and prepare for the issue, not when it is too late. Early professional help with your business issues can establish and maintain harmonious relationships with partners, employees, and customers and build a prosperous business.
Unfortunately, tomorrow is not guaranteed. Whether you need a simple will, advance directive, or an estate plan that incorporates tax planning, we can develop a well-structured plan to help you retain your wealth and provide a sense of security for you and your family. We will analyze your estate objectives, counsel you on the available options, and see that the necessary legal documents are property drafted and executed. Your objectives could include any of the following:
- Designating a guardian for your minor children
- Establishing a directive to limit life-support measures
- Avoiding probate or reducing its cost
- Reducing income and estate taxes
- Preserving your separate property when entering a second marriage
- Planning for disability or illness of a family member
- Funding the education of your children or grandchildren
Having a will is important. We also recommend that you consider executing advance directives, which include a durable power of attorney naming an agent to take care of your business affairs in case you become incapacitated, a directive to physicians ("living will"), a healthcare power (medical power of attorney), and a designation of guardian in the event of future incapacity.
If you’ve been telling yourself that you will cross that bridge when you get there,you’re likely there.
We are here to help reduce your fear, uncertainty, and doubt in times of grief and sorrow. If a loved one has passed, we can assist family members in understanding Texas probate and lead them through the process. A probate proceeding is generally required in order to transfer title to real property in Texas. In addition, it may be necessary to probate an estate in order to receive full right and title to intellectual property, such as copyrights or royalties.
The good thing is that probate proceedings in Texas are relatively simple and inexpensive as compared to some other states.We also see many disputes between the beneficiaries of an estate or between an estate and its creditors. This often leads to settlement negotiations or a will contest. Regardless of your particular role in an estate dispute, we can represent your rights and will keep focused on the goal of reaching an efficient and inexpensive resolution.
Central Texas is a hotbed of science, music, culture and creativity. From legends like Willie Nelson and George Strait to shooting stars Kelly Clarkson and Los Lonely Boys, Texas has become the place that entertainers call “home.” In addition to the music industry, visual and graphic artists, authors, screenwriters, animators, and computer programmers have settled themselves, and their ownership rights to intellectual property, in Texas. These exceptional creators of intellectual property must actively protect their ownership rights and know when and how to license their works to those who offer to exploit them.
We assist intellectual property owners in developing, protecting and enforcing their rights. Our services include licensing and assignment of intellectual property rights, drafting of confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements (NDA), and preparing contracts for a variety of start-ups and established companies.
- Copyrights
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Domain Names
- Exclusive Licenses
- Non-Exclusive Licenses
- Unfair Competition
- Music, Film and Multimedia Licenses
Ken Pajak and Jim Bannerot represent clients in a variety of issues involving music, film, multimedia, and gaming.
Music - Our clients include composers, artists, songwriters, musicians, radio personalities, radio stations, managers, booking agencies, talent agent investors, and entertainment industry businesses in a wide variety of matters.
Film – Our film clients include independent filmmakers, screenplay writers, actors, directors, producers, production companies, investors, and talent agents.
Multimedia – Our multimedia clients include Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, software and hardware manufacturers, programmers and developers in various company and intellectual property licensing issues. In addition, we are often faced with legal issues concerning creative artists, such as musicians, animators, and filmmakers, in dealing with the Internet and use of their creations in electronic games.
Gaming – Our firm also represents clients in the Indian, Charitable, and Internet gaming markets.
Sports – Whether you are a sponsor, venue, athlete or other “player” in today’s sports minded world, we can advise you and, if appropriate, put together a team of professionals who can lead you through the contracts and deals in order to protect your investment or secure your future.
What we can do for you…
We assist in creating Texas Limited Liability Companies, Corporations, and Partnerships and can aggressively protect their Copyrights, Trademarks and Trade Secrets.
Furthermore, we can draft, negotiate, and litigate on behalf of music, film and multimedia clients in matters concerning licensing issues, royalties, complex entertainment contracts, contract disputes, and collection issues.
Mediation – Our experience and qualifications make us great candidates to mediate your entertainment law or sports related dispute.
Estate Planning and Probate – We are “in tune” with the special estate planning and probate needs of the entertainment and sports professional.
Sometimes negotiations fail or an immediate harm must be stopped. In these circumstances, you may need to seek a decision from a judge or jury and we will be by your side. Ken and Jim have almost forty years of litigation experience combined.
Personal Injuries - If you are hurt physically, or suffer mental anguish or pain because of the carelessness or wrongful action of another, you may be entitled to a fair and reasonable compensation for your injuries and losses. In our experience, the best way to obtain all of the recovery to which you are entitled is to prepare each case as if it were going to be tried by a jury. By being fully prepared to go to trial, we are able to settle most cases to our client's satisfaction, before suit is filed.
It is best to engage legal help as soon as possible after an accident so that all needed evidence, including photographs and witness statements, can be gathered and preserved. We can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, potential loss of future earnings, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and other losses. In certain situations, we may be able to recover punitive damages.
Business and Commercial Injuries - A simple fact is that sometimes a business needs to assert its rights in court or defend itself in court. Whether a copyright or trademark infringer needs to be stopped, a contract enforced, or a business relationship ended, when you need a courtroom lawyer, we can answer your call.
As with all matters, we will strive for the most efficient and least expensive resolution to your dispute, while maintaining focus on your best interests.
