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2 weeks ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleRussia Non-Use Cancellation Actions Signal Risk for Foreign Trademark Holders in ChinaSince Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, foreign trademark owners have faced an increasingly volatile and unpredictable intellectual property environment. Forced to navigate a spider’s web of sanctions, corporate exits, and deteriorating diplomatic relations, many international brands scaled back or fully withdrew from the Russian market.
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3 weeks ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Jason Adelstone |Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleExpanding Your Restaurant Internationally: Intellectual Property ConsiderationsIt’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new markets and emerging culinary scenes, but international expansion requires far more than translating your brand or replicating your menu abroad. It demands that you navigate unfamiliar legal systems, mitigate new risks, structure smartly, and ensure your intellectual property makes the journey intact.
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3 weeks ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleNavigating Trademark “Use” in China: Your Essential GuideThe Cornerstone of Chinese IP Law: Understanding Trademark “Use”First-to-File vs.
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1 month ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleFrisby Trademark Fight Highlights Key Risks for Global BrandsA European trademark dispute is heating up over the use of the Frisby name, pitting a well-known Colombian fast-food chain against a Spanish company that successfully registered the Frisby trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
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1 month ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleFlorida’s CHOICE Act Poised to Expand Noncompete EnforcementOn April 24, 2025, the Florida Legislature approved the Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth Act, which now awaits the Governor’s signature.
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1 month ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Matt Goldberg
Hardly a week goes by without a client asking us: Can we sue the owners of a cannabis company personally for the company’s failure to pay our invoice / transfer us the license / sell us the land? In other words, they are asking, “Can we pierce the corporate veil and access the owner’s individually owned assets to satisfy debts of the business?”The short answer is no, usually not.
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1 month ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleTransferring Your China Trademarks: How to Move Them Safely and StrategicallyIf your China trademarks are still owned by your China entity or by one of your companies that does business with China, you are sitting on a serious risk. These trademarks are valuable IP assets—but if they’re registered inside China, they can be frozen, seized, or lost in an instant due to local legal action, government interference, or creditor claims.
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1 month ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleLos acuerdos operativos (operating agreements) de las LLC (limited liability companies o sociedades de responsabilidad limitada) establecen cómo se gestionará dicha entidad y son equivalentes a los estatutos de una sociedad anónima. En la mayoría de los estados de EE. UU., incluidos algunos muy populares para la constitución de LLC, como Florida, Nevada y Wyoming, no se exige por ley que las LLC cuenten con un acuerdo operativo.
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1 month ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleUnderstanding Trademark StrengthWe frequently discuss the cannabis-specific challenges that brands face when seeking trademark protection. But it’s just as important not to lose sight of the core trademark principles that apply to all businesses—especially the need for a . Clients often approach us with catchy, creative names that, unfortunately, are (or are likely to be) ineligible for trademark protection. That’s because not all trademarks are created equal.
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2 months ago | 
harris-sliwoski.com | Fred Rocafort
Table of ContentsToggleCannabis businesses are usually structured as limited liability companies (LLCs)—and for good reason. LLCs offer far more flexibility than corporations, which are bound by rigid governance rules. To take advantage of this flexibility (and for many other reasons), LLC owners—called members—need a well-drafted operating agreement. Below, we look at a few critical reasons why cannabis LLCs shouldn’t operate without one.