UCC Agricultural Lien: What Farmers and Lenders Need to Know
A UCC agricultural lien gives suppliers, landlords, and service providers a statutory right to payment from farm products — even ahead of other secured creditors in many cases. Understanding how a UCC agricultural lien works is essential for anyone involved in agricultural lending, farm supply sales, or land leasing arrangements. Howard East’s business attorneys help […]
Agriculture Bankruptcy: Marshalling of Assets
When multiple creditors compete for the same farm assets, agriculture bankruptcy marshalling becomes a critical legal doctrine. Agricultural bankruptcy cases present unique challenges — from seasonal cash flows and commodity price volatility to specialized rules under Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code. Understanding agriculture bankruptcy marshalling principles can mean the difference between preserving your collateral […]
How Do You Perfect a Security Interest in Agriculture?
Understanding security interest agriculture law is essential for lenders, farmers, and agribusinesses that rely on farm products as collateral. Agricultural lending involves specialized UCC rules that differ significantly from standard commercial financing. Perfecting a security interest in farm products, crops, livestock, and agricultural equipment requires understanding both Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and […]
Membership Interest as Collateral: What You Need to Know
Membership interest as collateral is an increasingly common financing technique for LLC owners seeking loans, but it presents unique legal challenges under the Uniform Commercial Code and state LLC statutes. Lenders and borrowers alike must understand how security interests in membership interests are created, perfected, and enforced. Howard East’s corporate attorneys structure secured transactions involving […]
Who Owns the IP an LLM Creates? Understanding the Complexities
AI intellectual property ownership is one of the most pressing legal questions facing businesses today. As large language models and generative AI tools become integral to business operations, determining who owns the content, code, and creative works that AI produces has become a critical concern. The answer is more complicated than most business owners realize, […]
Intellectual Property 101: Protecting Your Business Assets
Intellectual property — patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets — can be the most valuable asset a business owns. Yet many business owners fail to identify, register, and protect their IP until it is too late. Understanding the basics of IP law helps you build a portfolio of protected assets that strengthens your competitive position […]
How to Trademark a Name: A Complete Guide
If you want to trademark a name for your business, understanding the process is essential. Your business name is one of your most valuable assets, and trademarking it prevents competitors from using a confusingly similar name and gives you the legal tools to enforce your brand identity nationwide. While the process to trademark a name […]
Subscription Agreements: What Business Owners Need to Know
Subscription agreements are the legal framework for investment transactions where an investor commits capital to a company in exchange for equity. These agreements are common in private placements, fund investments, and direct equity purchases. Getting the terms right protects both the company and the investor. Howard East’s corporate attorneys draft and negotiate subscription agreements across […]
Contracts Your Startup Needs for Success
Having the right startup contracts in place from day one is non-negotiable. Startups operate on contracts — with co-founders, employees, customers, vendors, and investors. Having the right contracts in place from the beginning protects your company, prevents disputes, and demonstrates the legal maturity that investors and partners expect. Here are the contracts every startup needs […]
SAFE Offerings for Startups: What You Need to Know
Understanding SAFE offerings startups use for fundraising is essential for founders. Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) have become the dominant instrument for early-stage startup fundraising. Created by Y Combinator, SAFEs allow startups to raise capital quickly without the complexity and expense of a priced equity round. But “simple” does not mean “risk-free” — the […]