Risk & Compliance

Problems We Solve

• —Employment practices that haven't kept pace with California's evolving labor law
• —ABC license conditions being violated without awareness
• —IP being used without proper license or ownership documentation
• —Business contracts that expose the company to unlimited liability
• —Regulatory requirements in new markets or new business lines being missed

Employment compliance audits for California employers

ABC license condition review and compliance programs

IP ownership and license audits

Commercial contract review and risk assessment

Regulatory compliance mapping for new markets and business lines

Privacy policy, terms of service, and consumer-facing compliance

Governance review for companies approaching institutional investment

Q.What is an employment compliance audit?

An employment compliance audit is a systematic review of your employment practices against applicable federal, state, and local law. For California employers, this typically covers wage and hour compliance (minimum wage, overtime, meal periods, rest breaks), classification of employees versus independent contractors, required notices and postings, leave policies, and termination practices. We identify exposure before regulators or plaintiffs do.

Q.How do I know if my independent contractors should actually be employees?

California applies the ABC test under AB5 to determine worker classification. A worker is presumed to be an employee unless the hiring business can establish all three prongs: (A) the worker is free from control, (B) the work is outside the usual course of the business, and (C) the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade. Misclassification carries significant wage, tax, and penalty exposure.

Q.What are the risks of not having written contracts with vendors?

Without written contracts, disputes about price, scope, deadlines, and ownership of work product are resolved by default rules of law that may not reflect what the parties intended. Written contracts allow you to limit liability, specify governing law and dispute resolution, protect confidential information, and ensure you own the work product you paid for.

Q.What compliance obligations apply to my website and mobile app?

California businesses must comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), which requires a privacy policy, opt-out rights for data sales, and data subject request procedures. Websites accessible to people with disabilities may also have ADA compliance obligations. E-commerce businesses have additional requirements around online contract formation and consumer disclosures.

Q.What is a governance review and when do I need one?

A governance review examines your corporate records, capitalization, and internal governance documents to ensure they are in order. This is typically done in preparation for a financing round, acquisition, or other transaction where a buyer or investor will conduct due diligence. Gaps discovered during due diligence can delay or derail transactions — we find and fix them before they matter.