Business Law 101

What happens if you replace someone on an existing contract entirely? That’s called novation. For more on what that means and how it works, tune into episode 174 of Business Law 101!      Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written...

So, what happens if someone does assign you their contractual rights and duties? Well, it depends. Listen in as we get into it on episode 173 of Business Law 101!      Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written several non-fiction...

Fun fact: at a certain point, a debt becomes “untimely,” and you can no longer be legally compelled to pay. Find out more on episode 172 of Business Law 101!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written several non-fiction politic...

Sometimes you can put a clause in contract to prevent the other party from assigning their rights and duties. Sometimes, you can’t – it just depends. Tune into episode 171 of Business Law 101 to learn which situations are which!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the...

Though usually not required, in some cases you need consent of all parties in order to assign contract rights. Check out episode 170 of Business Law 101 to learn more about this unusual situation!     Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve...

SCOTUS reports the gap in their ethics rules that allowed Clarence Thomas and others to not report certain gifts has been self-resolved. If Congress isn’t prepared to police its own ethics, why should we allow them to create a judicial code of conduct?   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a t...

What does it mean to assign a contract – and how does that even work? Tune into episode 168 of Business Law 101 to find out! Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written several non-fiction political commentary books: Bad Deal for A...

A vested interest is a personal interest, usually for financial gain. That can get complicated for 3rd parties in legal disputes. Get the details on episode 167 of Business Law 101!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written sev...

How do community property laws impact life insurance policy benefits? Find out on Episode 166 of Business Law 101!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written several non-fiction political commentary books: Bad Deal for America (...

How do 3rd party rights work for the beneficiary on a life insurance policy? Find out in Episode 165 of Business Law 101!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written several non-fiction political commentary books: Bad Deal for Am...

The U.S. Congress has enacted something that could be a game-changer for employees with student debt and a company savings plan (like a 401(k)). For more on what the SECURE Act 2.0 means for you and your business, check out Business Law 101 episode 164.   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a...

Sometimes, you even have rights as a 3rd party when other people have signed a contract – such as being a passenger in a car that is in an accident. For an overview of 3rd party rights, check out episode 163 of Business Law 101! Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the Un...

As if the tight labor market wasn’t hard enough on businesses, the Department of Labor is cracking down on misclassifying employees as 1099 contractors – even if the workers are hired through a staffing agency. For more on what joint employment means for you, tune into Business Law 101 episode 162! Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company...

And of course, the Uniform Commercial Code has its own exceptions to what needs to be in writing the Statute of Frauds. Check out episode 161 of Business Law 101 for the details!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written severa...

As if it needed to be more complicated, the Statute of Frauds is picky about how you write your contract – and there are some exceptions to it already in common law. Tune into Episode 160 of Business Law 101 to learn more! Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group and am a tenured professor at the Universit...

Contracts for anything intangible – or for goods worth $500+ in Code contracts – must be in writing. Don’t know what that means? No worries – episode 159 of Business Law 101 has you covered!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also wr...

Did you know that if your contract can’t – or probably can’t – be completely completed within a year, it must be in writing under the Statute of Frauds? Don’t fall victim – check out episode 158 of Business Law 101 for all the details!      Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured profess...

Under the Statute of Frauds, any contract related to paying someone else’s debt or selling land must be in writing – which has some interesting implications for real estate. Check out episode 157 of Business Law 101 to learn more!     Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at...

Any contract related to preparing for marriage, from dowries to pre-nups, must be in writing according to the Statute of Frauds. Tune in to episode 156 of Business Law 101 for more info!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also writte...

The Statute of Frauds is a critical part of Business Law, intended to prevent fraud by determining which agreements must be in writing. I give an overview on Episode 155 od Business Law 101!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also wr...

Of course, like with anything else in the legal system, there are exceptions to the Parol Evidence rule. I get into exceptions to rule, both for Code and non-Code contracts, on Episode 1854 of Business Law 101!   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St....

Do yourself a favor and always put your contracts in writing! On Business Law 101 episode 153, I cover the Parol Evidence Rule (a/k/a “the document speaks for itself”).   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written several non-fict...

There are a bunch of ways to get into trouble when trying to disclaim liability. On Business Law 101 episode 152, we talk about unconscionability, exculpatory clauses, and tickets.   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also written seve...

Non-compete agreements can be very tricky to enforce! On Business Law 101 episode 151, I get into how they’re different when you sell your business as opposed to in employee contracts.     Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I’ve also writte...

If you illegally hinder trade, you have whole new world of problems called the Sherman Antitrust Act. On Business Law 101 episode 150, we talk about price fixing, price discrimination, and dividing territories.   Thanks for joining me for this episode! I’m a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St....