Welcome to the Blog for Business Law
Where do you go when the law affects your business, and you need some quick information? The Blog for Business Law is just such a place — a quick and dirty resource for information about business and law. The blog is a project of the business lawyers of Evans & Dixon, L.L.C., a law firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The Business Services group at Evans & Dixon is growing and on the move, and we’re excited to launch this new forum of discussion and discovery.
People in businesses of all sizes will find topics of interest on the blog, but we hope small business owners and entrepreneurs will find the Blog for Business Law to be especially helpful. We’ll cover a whole array of areas where the law affects small businesses, including trademarks and patents, human resources issues, real estate, contracts, environmental concerns, and buying and selling businesses.
In addition to writing original articles, we’ll be searching the web for resources, articles, how-to’s, and tips, so you won’t have to. We hope to be a resource for business tips, information, and entertaining thoughts about things that interest you, as a business owner.
The People Behind the Blog for Business Law
Here’s some information about the blog’s contributors:
Jim Borchers
Jim Borchers is an experienced small business and commercial law attorney focusing on start-ups, growing businesses, and SBA financing. In addition, he drafts wills and trusts for small business owners and advises lenders on how various trusts affect commercial loan documentation. With an LL.M in taxation, Jim also works with CPAs in finding sensible tax solutions for small businesses. Jim regularly drafts and reviews commercial leases as well as franchise agreements. As a Certified SBA 504 Closing Attorney, Jim counsels CDCs, borrowers, and lenders on SBA loans, especially for real estate and equipment purchase or expansion.
Jim is especially devoted to writing in “plain english” with the promise that longer does not equal better in legal documents. In fact, Jim’s colleagues often say that he is a writer and teacher in lawyer’s clothing. His articles can be found in the St. Louis Small Business Monthly, and he teaches people how to start a new business at a local community college. Jim focuses on limited liability companies and speaks regularly about the structure and formation of LLCs for small business ventures.
He is licensed to practice in Missouri and is a member of the American Bar Association (Franchise, Real Estate, and Business Sections) and various local bar associations.
Cathy J. Futrowsky
Cathy J. Futrowsky, based in Washington, D.C., is a member in the Business Services group and intellectual property department of Evans & Dixon, L.L.C. Cathy is a registered patent attorney and advises clients on all aspects of intellectual property that impact clients’ day to day operations as well as long term business strategies. Cathy assists clients with issues related to trademarks, domain names, Internet use, copyrights, patents, trade secrets and unfair competition.
Gerry Richardson
Gerry Richardson helps employers to manage their relationships with employees and job applicants. With his advice, employers navigate their way through recruiting and hiring job applicants, managing their workers, and terminating employees without liability. Employers in disputes with employees also retain Gerry to advocate their positions in labor and employment related litigation. Employers have sought his help to manage issues relating to recruiting and hiring, employee misconduct, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour law, union organizing, unfair labor practices, labor contract negotiation, layoffs and plant closings, workplace safety, unfair competition, restrictive covenants, employment related torts, and workplace privacy.
Brian Rogers
Brian Rogers is a corporate lawyer who helps business owners buy and sell businesses, set up new business, and review and draft contracts. He attended the University of Missouri — Columbia School of Law, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Missouri Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. He concentrated his studies in Federal tax and received a Certificate of Taxation along with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Brian is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois and represents entrepreneurs and start-up companies, as well as medium and large corporations. His clients include manufacturers, distributors, retailers, professional services firms, and companies in a variety of other industries.
An admitted contracts aficionado, Brian publishes theContractsGuy — a blog about contracts law — edits the contracts section of the Courts Bulletin, which is published by the Missouri Bar, and frequently gives presentations on contracts and other business law topics. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Missouri Bar’s Business Law Committee.
Gene Schmittgens
Gene Schmittgens concentrates in the area of environmental law. He helps people limit their liabilities for environmental issues arising out of their business operations, the purchase of property, and the acquisition and merger of businesses, and he defends them when the government doesn’t agree with how they comply with the law. He also teaches law students how to help people safely buy businesses or properties that may have some environmental issues. He has been a leader of a number of environmental law groups and frequently lectures and writes about all things environmental.
Gene attended St. Louis University School of Law, where he now teaches. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois, as well as in a number of federal courts. He represents a wide range of businesses from small businesses to multi-national corporations. His clients include manufacturers, chemical distributors, retailers, environmental service firms, and banks, among others.
