Last week, we posted the first entry in the Slinde Nelson primer on trust dispute litigation. Trusts are a powerful tool for estate planning, but they can be confusing not only to the settlor (the person who creates the trust) but to the beneficiaries of the trust. Some of that confusions is unavoidable for more complicated financial trusts. But, as a Portland trust dispute attorney, I can tell you that much of the confusion can be avoided through a very rudimentary understanding of how trusts work.
Trust Dispute Litigation 101: The Basics of a Trust Dispute
To some, trust are exotic legal instruments that carry with them little or no meaning. As Portland trust dispute attorney, I certainly see some complex trust instruments. Some are much more simple. But the concept itself doesn't have to be complicated at all.
Smart and Proactive Brand Protection is Critical for Oregon and Washington Businesses
It is astonishing how many trademarks you come across in the course of a day. Just start counting each trademark you see or hear when you leave the house and feel free to stop when you hit 1000 (which most will get to by the time they arrive at work). As a Portland trademark lawyer, I find it equally astonishing how few business have taken steps to protect their trademark, service mark, name or brand. Business owners are often under the misconception that filing for a business registration or an assumed business name is all they need to do. Unfortunately, sometimes they learn the hard way that is not true when they want to stop a competitor from using the same or similar mark. Or worse yet, when they are on the receiving end of a cease and desist letter. Either way, federal trademark litigation is no fun. It's costly and it carries with it risk that your brand is damaged. Most of all, it can distract you from your core business.The good news is that it is not too late to take steps to protect your trademark. At Slinde Nelson we can help with the trademark application filing, the trademark registration process, enforcement of you IP rights, protection of the company's goodwill, or responding to cease and desist letters. If things go wrong, our staff of federal trademark litigation attorneys can help you protect your brand in court. But, if you're careful, it hopefully won't have to come to that.
