Safford & Baker - Legal Advisors to Technology Businesses

Igniting Innovation In Michigan – Entrepreneurs In Action

mbower — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:33:19 +0000

Safford & Baker is a proud sponsor of Igniting Innovation In Michigan – Entrepreneurs In Action, a special one day business conference for entrepreneurs hosted by WWJ Newsradio 950. The event takes place on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn. If you are in business for yourself, or you want to be, this conference is packed with startup resources. Plus, you’ll also have the chance to network with other entrepreneurs…and you can receive free one-on-one business coaching to prepare you to launch your business or to take it to the next level. This event will also mark the initial presentation of the ...read more

What Does That Operating Agreement Mean? A Primer on LLC Capital Accounting for the Non-Specialist

mbower — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:03:27 +0000

Our very own Don Baker has an article on LLC capital accounting in the Summer 2010 edition of the Michigan Business Law Journal. Here's the intro:

With the widespread adoption of the limited liability company as a preferred entity format for non-public entities, business practitioners are forced to grapple with provisions in operating agreements that adopt detailed accounting and tax treatments generally beyond the traditional expertise of non-tax lawyers. These accounting and tax issues are not present in forming a standard corporation, but are thrust on the practitioner anytime even the most basic multi-member LLC is formed. While the “standard” LLC operating agreement approaches to these matters are at this point generally familiar (though perhaps less well understood), ...read more

Safford & Baker: Lawyers Focused on Tech Entrepreneurs

mbower — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:39:18 +0000

Safford & Baker PLLC is today's spotlight in The Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report for Monday, August 30, 2010. Here's the article:

Randy Safford and Don Baker are veteran lawyers, but they're also veteran entrepreneurs, both in their law firm and in other ventures they have helped launch.
And that's why they, joined by their colleague, Matt Bower, have created a law firm focusing on technology entrepreneurs, including startups – offering to technologists services they may not even realize they need, but which can prevent major headaches later. They also offer fixed-price products for startups, and are willing to consider a flexible fee arrangement, deferring some fees until ...read more

Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition

mbower — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:54:22 +0000

Billed as the "World's largest business plan competition," the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan is launching the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition today, offering more than $1 million in cash awards for the best and brightest new business concepts. What does the winner get? How does $500,000 sound? From the press release:

The Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a new region-wide network for building and retaining new business in southeast Michigan, today announces the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity. The New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan has granted Ann Arbor SPARK $750,000 ...read more

Detroit Startup Drinks August Event

mbower — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:28:53 +0000

The next Detroit Startup Drinks event is this Wednesday, August 25, 2010 from 5:30-8 p.m. at The Park Bar Detroit. Come on down and meet like-minded individuals looking to support startup culture, help each other out, and share ideas…over a pint. Join the Facebook Group. Don’t forget to RSVP. About The Park Bar The Park Bar is located at 2040 Park Ave in Detroit (one door down from Cliff Bell's). There's no sign but you won't miss the 17-foot-high windows enclosing the corner location. Food is available from the Bucharest Grill and the bar features an impressive selection Michigan beers on tap. About Startup Drinks A simple concept: startup culture in cities around the world gathers around a ...read more

Mobile Mondays – Michigan

mbower — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:02:29 +0000

The mission of the Mobile Monday Michigan Chapter is to "[e]ncourage innovation within the mobile sector and help Michigan-based companies participate in mobile initiatives through the import and export of visions, concepts, technologies, know-how and best practices, as well as the development of relationships related to the mobile industry." Mobile Monday Michigan is having its first "official" meeting on Monday (of course), July 19, 2010, at 6:30PM in the Celtic Room at Conor O’Neill’s Irish Pub (318 South Main Street - Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104). Xconomy Detroit has an article on the group here. I've been invited to present at this ...read more

Ann Arbor New Tech July Meetup

mbower — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:20:30 +0000

Ann Arbor New Tech, brought to you by a2geeks, is a group of people from various industries and backgrounds (e.g., entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, lawyers, marketers, students, etc.) interested in fostering local technology startups by organizing events, sharing resources, and building a supportive community. Ann Arbor New Tech’s signature event takes place on the third Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m., at Blau Auditorium, UM Ross School of Business, 701 Tappan Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The monthly event features three to five companies who are each given five minutes to demo and five minutes to answer questions. Open announcements and networking follows. This month’s meetup is on Tuesday, July 20th. Hope to see you there. --Matt

IUE2010

mbower — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:36:58 +0000

On Tuesday, July 27th, I will be presenting the program "Copyright, the DMCA, and User-GeneratedContent: protect the user experience...protect yourself" at the IUE2010 conference on the campus of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. IUE2010, in its sixth year, brings together top industry speakers, practitioners, and authors to discuss website design and strategy, including user experience design, graphics, branding, social networking, accessibility, effective web writing, the migration to mobile, and enhancements that drive customers to websites. My inclusion this year is somewhat unique among the other presentations. I'm looking forward to discussing how copyright law is effecting website design and the user experience. --Matt

Movie Making in Michigan: A Lawyer’s Guide

mbower — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:16:03 +0000

I'm speaking today as part of this seminar on movie making in Michigan presented by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and cosponsored by the Arts, Communications, Entertainment & Sports Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Here's a breakdown of the program: Date and Time: 06/03/10, 1:30pm-4:30pm Location: The Inn at St. John's, Plymouth Program:

1:30pm-2:15pm	Negotiating Movie Contracts
	union contracts non-union contracts John M. Kamins, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, Farmington Hills Charles T. Oxender, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone PLC, Detroit Shari Friedman Lesnick, Norman Yatooma & Associates, Birmingham

2:15pm-3:00pm	Serving as General Counsel for a Film Project
	intellectual property issues obtaining permits, closing ...read more Lecture on Copyright Law for Creative Artists in Muskegon mbower — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:33:47 +0000 Yours truly will be presenting a lecture on copyright law for creative artists this Friday, May 21, 2010, from 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m., at the Muskegon Area ISD. The seminar is intended to cover the basics of copyright law for artists, musicians, and writers with some bonus material on First Amendment, trademark, and right of publicity issues. The seminar is $30.00 but includes lunch. Register online at muskegonisd.org/development. If you have questions contact Rochelle Barr Sartorius at (231) 767-7267 or rsartori@muskegonisd.org. --Matt