Entreprenuers Must Understand Cash Flows

Thursday, February 17, 2011 by David Castor
I have said it a million times since learning the lesson myself in a failed entrepreneurial effort a couple of years ago, the CEO of any entrepreneurial venture must understand the importance of managing cash flows and how to use cash flow analysis for the strategic growth of the company.

Trust me, I am all into the Six Sigma approach of throwing a couple of innovators together, rolling out a v1 product as quickly as possible, and slowly scaling the company from hobby phase to a successful...Read More »

New York guarantees lawyers to foreclosure debtors

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 by Chris Stephen
 The first caveat is that I'm sorry I haven't posted anything recently.  Work here at Alerding Castor Hewitt has been going like gangbusters and yours truly has been up to his distinguished eyeballs in work.  Trust me, however, I'm now dutifully committing myself to continue providing insight and humor as your Indiana Internet Litigation guru. 

Second caveat is that this post actually has nothing to do with privacy litigation, software litigation or really any other technology law issues. ...Read More »

TECHNOLOGY LAW FIRM – THE SEASON OF CELEBRATION

Monday, December 20, 2010 by Scott Kreider

Your friendly neighborhood litigation attorney at Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP with a final post for the year to all of our business, Indiana internet litigation, and technology law clients.  Saturday, December 25th will no doubt be a date of celebration in many homes.  As you spend time with your family, remember how special the day is and all of the changes that have taken place in the last 20 years.

Some of you might wonder what I mean exactly.  I’m not referring to Christmas.  And for those...

Read More »

Two interesting non-Indiana internet litigation rulings related to 47 USC 230 protection

Monday, November 29, 2010 by Chris Stephen
I hope that you all had a thankful and fulfilling turkey day.  Your friendly neighborhood technology legal counsel stuffed himself horrendously.  But, I digress.  I know that I owe you all part 2 of my discussion of the legal landscape of corporate blogging, and I promise that I will get that posted in the near future, but two recent opinions in some non-Indiana Internet litigation piqued my interest and I had to talk about them.  Both rulings involve application of the liability...Read More »

Funding Law - Know Your IRR

Monday, November 22, 2010 by David Castor
It has been said a million times already on this blog – a CEO, especially one which is seeking funds from private equity investors, needs to understand finance.  Often a basic knowledge of sources and uses and cash flow analysis is enough, but in many early stage investment rounds, savvy investors expect the CEO to know the company's internal rate of return (IRR) - and why it matters. 

I meet many entrepreneurs who have served as VPs or middle managers before embarking on their entrepreneurial...Read More »

Funding Law – TechPoint Innovation Summit

Thursday, October 21, 2010 by David Castor
Next week I am moderating the plenary panel at TechPoint’s Innovation Summit entitled Funding Innovation

Check it out: TechPoint Innovation Summit
 
Also check out the sponsors page.  I counted today, and nine Alerding Castor Hewitt clients are sponsors of the Summit.  That is awesome. 

This year’s panel members represent private equity investors, angel investor groups, successful entrepreneurs and grant funding organizations which look for funding and investment opportunities in Indiana...Read More »

The interesting privacy litigation issues raised by a Duke student's sex-ploitation

Monday, October 11, 2010 by Chris Stephen
Ok, I'll admit it.  I was in a rut.  Although I found numerous interesting tidbits through-out cyberspace, I could not find anything that piqued my interest enough to put aside the billable hours of a technology legal counsel for a few moments to blog about it.  But, lo and behold, a college student with a sense of panache, an aspiration for humor, decent journaling skills, and access to PowerPoint and the Internet has become my muse. 

For those of you that don't know,  2010 Duke graduate...Read More »

INTERNET LITIGATION – WEBSITES AND PERSONAL JURISDICTION

Thursday, October 7, 2010 by Scott Kreider
Your friendly Indianapolis attorney at Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP with a brief overview (not an in-depth analysis of all of the legal issues) of some recent Seventh Circuit decisions involving internet litigation, trademark disputes, and anti-cybersquatting that could affect technology, software, and business clients maintaining websites and engaging in cyber-marketing. 
           
Last Friday, October 1, 2010, the Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of a suit for lack of personal jurisdiction...
Read More »

Entrepreneurial Law - The "Must Haves" of a Good Business Model

Sunday, September 19, 2010 by David Castor
I guest lectured at Purdue’s Entrepreneurship Capstone course again last week.  I love it – for an hour I talked about my experience in entreprenuerial law, business law and funding law to Seniors in Purdue's entreprenuership concentration program on issues consider when structuring a new company.  Honestly, I thought I had them bored out of their minds (yes, there was that one Greek letter wearing frat guy who was asleep about 10 rows back), but I was impressed when we got to the Q&A time...Read More »

Memo from Uncle Sam: Die Hard 4 wasn't all that impossible; let us help you

Monday, August 30, 2010 by Chris Stephen
Another post that doesn't quite fit neatly into Indiana Internet litigation or privacy law, but that intrigues me.  BusinessWeek, passing along a Tim Greene article from NetworkWorld (found here: www.networkworld.com/nwlookup.jsp), is reporting that the U.S. military has issued an essay in which it urges its expertise in defense be put to use in protecting civilian networked infrastructure, such as power grids, financial institutions, etc.  The essay from Foreign Affairs sets out the concept...Read More »

Repost: Internet Rewards Program Class Action Survives Initial Motion to Dismiss -- In re Easysaver Rewards

Sunday, August 29, 2010 by Chris Stephen
I don't often blanket repost other blogs that I see, however, in this instance, I think it is appropriate.  Venkat, writing for Professor Goldman's blog, writes an excellent analysis of the recent ruling in the In re: Easysaver Rewards Litigation(S.D. Cal. August 13, 2010).  This is a very interesting case in that it covers several different, more traditional causes of action and analysis.  I'm interested to see what ramification this case is going to have on SaaS law and privacy litigation....Read More »

FTC settles case with paid reviewer

Sunday, August 29, 2010 by Chris Stephen
Back in October, 2009, I posted about the new endorsement / testimonial rules set out by the Federal Trad Commission (blog.alerdingcastor.com/blog/alerding-castor/0/0/ftc-makes-changes-to-blog-law).  There has been some development since that time, but mostly everyone is still watching and waiting.  The FTC did threaten to pursue Ann Taylor back in April, but otherwise, it has been relatively silent.

That is, however, until now.  On August 26, 2010, the FTC reached a settlement with Reverb...Read More »

Business Law - Hire Good, Smart People To Ask Good Questions

Sunday, August 29, 2010 by David Castor
I was reminded today of something told to me by a friend last year:

Good people who are smart ask good questions

Bad people who are smart ask bad questions

Good people who are not smart ask bad questions

 
In business we are always looking for answers – but what we really want are good answers.  Today the issue is never whether we have enough data (we arguably have too much), it is whether we can properly utilize that data to make better decisions.  I see this especially in my Internet Law /...
Read More »

Never underestimate your staff, but rather, allow them to envision and strive for excellence

Sunday, August 22, 2010 by Chris Stephen
The ACH litigation team had its first ever (as far as I'm aware) litigation retreat this weekend, and as I reminisce on our time, I am struck by the realization that to be a successful business, you have to allow your team to envision and strive for excellence with you.  This weekend we had some great discussion and "vision-casting" on the areas of privacy litigation, Indiana probate litigation, business law, Internet litigation, banking law, SaaS litigation, and several other areas where we are...Read More »

Firm Joins Innovation Summit as a Sponsor

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by Lainey Scheetz

FIRM JOINS INNOVATION SUMMIT AS SPONSOR

 

For the second year in a row, the firm committed to this year’s Innovation Summit as the Plenary Panel Sponsor. 

 

This annual event brings together entrepreneurs, executives and policymakers for learning, dialogue and debate on the central challenge of today’s economy – turning today’s ideas into tomorrow’s business breakthroughs. The Summit includes keynote speakers, breakout sessions on a variety of innovation related topics, and dozens of trade and...

Read More »

INDIANAPOLIS LITIGATION--AN ETHICS LESSON FOR BUSINESSES AND LAWYERS

Thursday, August 5, 2010 by Scott Kreider

Your friendly Indianapolis attorney and Partner In Success at Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP here with another post, this time for both business entities and lawyers who find themselves in the trenches of business law, SaaS law, internet laws, and privacy litigation and probate litigation.  Partner and fellow blogger Dave Castor sort of beat me to the bunch by pointing out a great blog post by Michael P. Alerding (ACH’s Mike Alerding’s father) at Alerding & Co., LLC, which Dave re-posted below.  I...

Read More »

Business Law - What Happened to Business Ethics?

Monday, August 2, 2010 by David Castor
The post below is fantastic.  It is by Michael P. Alerding, CPA (my business partner's father) at his accounting firm's new blog site.  He gave me permission to re-post it here (thank you Alerding & Co.).  Check it out:  Alerding & Co. Blog


What Happened to Business Ethics?
By: Michael P. Alerding, CPA

Every time I get a contract to sign, I find it almost impossible to spend the time reading the fine print and trying to understand all of the future implications of the agreement.  As my son,...
Read More »

Business Law - Why Is Profit A Negative Thing?

Friday, July 30, 2010 by David Castor
One of my favorite movie scenes is from The Jerk.  Navin Johnson is working at a carnival guessing peoples weight.  He is talking to Frosty, his boss:

Navin R. Johnson: [bleakly] I've already given away eight pencils, two hoola dolls, and an ashtray, and I've only taken in fifteen dollars.

Frosty: Navin, you have taken in fifteen dollars and given away fifty cents worth of crap, which gives us a net profit of fourteen dollars and fifty cents.

Navin R. Johnson: Ah... It's a profit deal. Takes the...
Read More »

ALERDING CASTOR HEWITT, LLP CLIENT NAMED 10TH FASTEST GROWING PRIVATE COMPANY IN INDIANA FOR THIRD TIME

Friday, July 23, 2010 by Lainey Scheetz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2010
Contact: Lainey Scheetz
317.403.9012
lscheetz@alerdingcastor.com

ALERDING CASTOR HEWITT, LLP CLIENT NAMED 10TH FASTEST GROWING PRIVATE COMPANY IN INDIANA FOR THIRD TIME

Indianapolis, IN – Iasta, the leading provider of eSourcing software and solutions, was titled as the 10th Fastest Growing Private Company in Indiana for 2010 by the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ).  A third time honoree, Iasta boosted its three-year growth rate at 134 percent.

The report...

Read More »

Business Law - Morning People

Monday, July 19, 2010 by David Castor
There is a great article in the July-August edition of the Harvard Business Review entitled The Early Bird Really Does Get the Worm.  The article summarizes a study which found a correlation between  "morning people" and career success.  This is based on a number of traits which are commonly found in morning people.  

Traits
Agreeable
Optimistic
Stable
Proactive
Conscientious
Satisfied with Life

Being a morning person, of course I loved this!  Most days I am the first in the office.  I love getting...Read More »