Level up on how different Virginia laws affect your business, and learn how we are continually improving our general counsel services to meet our clients’ needs
What to Do If Your Business Has Been Sued
Thursday, 03 April 2025
Running a business comes with its fair share of challenges, but one of the most stressful situations you may face is receiving notice that your business is being sued. Whether the lawsuit is frivolous or serious, how you respond in the early stages can significantly impact the outcome. Here’s what you need to know if
- Published in Business
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What Employers Need to Know About the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Monday, 10 March 2025
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical needs. Compliance is crucial for avoiding disputes and maintaining workplace trust. General Counsel, P.C. assists businesses in understanding and implementing FMLA policies. Understanding FMLA: Who Qualifies: Employees with 12 months of service and
- Published in Business
The Importance of Succession Planning for Business Owners
Monday, 03 March 2025
Succession planning is critical for ensuring business continuity and protecting your legacy. Without a clear plan, leadership changes can cause disruption, financial instability, and internal conflict. At General Counsel, P.C., we guide business owners through the succession planning process to safeguard their hard work and secure their company’s future. Why Succession Planning is Essential: Ensures
- Published in Business
Piercing the corporate veil is an exceptional remedy
Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Virginia has a strong policy in favor of recognizing the corporate entity as separate and distinct from its members. The corporate form protects the owners of a corporation from liability in a lawsuit against the corporation. “Piercing the corporate veil” is a phrase that describes a situation in which the corporation’s limited liability protections are
- Published in Business, Corporate & Tax, Litigation
Liberty Mutual v. Copart of Connecticut: Understanding the Difference Between Duty to Defend and Duty to Indemnify.
Monday, 28 August 2023
A recent Fifth Circuit decision highlights the difference between an insurer’s duty to defend and a duty to indemnify and emphasizes that business owners should fully understand their insurance policies to ensure they will receive the benefits they expect under such policies. Duty to Defend vs. Duty to Indemnify An insurer’s duty to defend means
- Published in Business, Litigation
Ask General Counsel: Can a contract be formed through email communications?
Monday, 30 January 2023
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 1/27/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, the attorneys at General Counsel, P.C., discuss whether a contract can be formed simply through email communications (spoiler, the answer is yes). Parties often believe that to have a valid contract, it is necessary to have
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business, Corporate & Tax
Ask General Counsel: Why your business or nonprofit needs a contract management solution
Thursday, 29 December 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 12/29/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, General Counsel, PC, a law firm in McLean that since 2004 has been representing businesses, nonprofit entities and individuals throughout the Washington area, discusses the importance of having a contract management solution – and offers its
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business
Ask General Counsel: Use care (and caution) in drafting contracts
Monday, 19 December 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 12/15/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, the attorneys of General Counsel, P.C. discuss what many may believe a boring subject – the importance of clear and concise language in contracts. However, if you have ever been involved in a contract dispute, perhaps
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business
Ask General Counsel: What to do if you (or your business) has been sued
Thursday, 24 November 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 11/23/2022 Image from Inside Nova Regardless of the success of a business, business owners run the risk of being sued. Litigation and lawsuits can be stressful, costly and time-consuming. However, there are steps business owners can take to help better protect their businesses and put them in the best position
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business
Use Care (and Caution) in Drafting Contracts
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Contracts are critical in the business world. Employment agreements, purchase contracts, and non-disclosure agreements are only a few examples of the various contracts that play a large role in the success of a business. However, not all contracts are created equal. Each agreement should be drafted specifically to address the specific parties to a matter
- Published in Business, Corporate & Tax
Protecting Your Business in a Divorce Webinar
Wednesday, 09 November 2022
- Published in Business, Family Law
Ask General Counsel: Can federal or government contractor employees use marijuana?
Thursday, 08 September 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 9/08/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, we discuss whether federal or government contractor employees can use marijuana. Located in McLean, the attorneys of General Counsel, P.C. have been representing employers, non-profit entities, and individuals since 2004. While many states have enacted legislation
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business
Who Breached First? Virginia Court Offers Guidance on Breach of Contract Claims
Wednesday, 24 August 2022
In a recent case, the Western District of Virginia provided guidance on breach of contract claims. Here, the court made clear that if one party to a contract materially breaches the contract, subsequent breaches by the other party cannot be the basis for a breach of contract claim. Under the first material breach doctrine, if
- Published in Business, Litigation
Ask General Counsel: What should I consider during a business divorce?
Tuesday, 19 July 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 7/19/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, the attorneys of General Counsel P.C., based in McLean, discuss what a business owner should consider when their business relationship fails. Business relationships fail for many different reasons: Business partners may have long-term disagreements, a change
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business, Business Breakups
Businesses May Now Need To Plan Against Successor Liability After Asset Sales: What To Know
Tuesday, 15 March 2022
As businesses grow, business owners may start to think about further expansion and even consider acquiring another company’s operations. Typically, these acquisitions can be structured in a way that limits the potential liabilities for the purchaser company based on obligations on the seller company and the assets being acquired. However, even if a business owner
- Published in Business
Ask General Counsel: Top 10 issues that should be addressed in a services agreement
Monday, 14 March 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 3/8/2022 Image from Inside Nova Just like the expression “good fences make good neighbors,” you can say that “good contracts make good business partners.” Time after time clients come to General Counsel P.C. with a business dispute. We ask to see their contact and they either don’t have
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business, Government Bid Protest, Government Contract Law
Ask General Counsel: What to Know About Bid Protests
Monday, 28 February 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 2/24/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, we pay homage to the Washington area’s number one business – the federal government. Specifically, we will discuss what you need to know about bid protests. General Counsel, P.C.’s Government Contracts Practice Group, led by Craig Lawless, has represented
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business, Government Bid Protest, Government Contract Law
Ask General Counsel: How to get government contracts with small business certification
Thursday, 17 February 2022
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 2/11/2022 Image from Inside Nova Craig Lawless, who leads General Counsel PC’s Government Contracts Practice and is editor of the Bid Protest Weekly, provides an overview of SBA Contracting Programs. Question: How can small businesses leverage assistance from the federal government? The federal government wants to help
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business, Government Contract Law
Eastern District of Virginia Finds in Favor of Employer After Employees Acquired and Disclosed Confidential Information to Competitor
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
In a recent case, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia sided with the employer seeking injunctive relief after employees acquired confidential information and disclosed that information to a competitor, causing irreparable harm to the employer. This case should serve as a warning to employees, as well as guidance for employers who
- Published in Business, Labor & Employment
Ask General Counsel: Overview of Vaccine Mandates
Friday, 29 October 2021
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 10/27/02021 Image from Inside Nova Vaccine mandates are impacting hundreds of thousands of employees in the Washington region and across the country. Here is a summary of the coverage, legal exemptions, and accommodations for the pending vaccine mandates. For more information or legal assistance, contact Merritt Green, who
- Published in Ask General Counsel, Business