Houston Real Estate Attorneys & Lawyers

Updated August 14, 2020:

What Is an Exclusivity Clause?

An exclusivity clause is part of a bigger legal document that restricts the signer from buying, selling, or promoting any goods or services from any person or company other than the issuing company associated with the contract. In other words, the company or individual works exclusively with the issuer of the contract. Many company owners who are excited and eager to get started in business may overlook the clause. It may also be included as part of another legal document or contract.

However, an agreement of this nature should be taken seriously. Make sure you understand the terms and potential risks involved before you sign. Violating an exclusivity clause can come with stiff penalties and fines. It is also very difficult to break this clause of a contract without being held responsible for the penalties listed. The clause is also referred to

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Updated October 26, 2020

What Is a Contract?

A contract is a legal agreement between two or more parties. A business contract includes the following:

• Names of all parties
• Contract beginning and end dates
• Payment amounts and schedule
• Steps to take when a party breaks the contract
• Signature with date

Business Contracts: What Are They?

Also known as a contractual business relationship or an agreement, a contract describes expectations for an interaction. It ensures all parties agree to the terms of their relationship.

A contract should include:

• Offer: One party makes the offer, and the other accepts it.
• Exchange: This includes money, goods, and services.

Why Are Contracts

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What is a Trade Secret?

A trade secret is any information about a business that could give a competitive advantage to another person or business. It is something that is not generally known or easily obtainable by others which can include confidential manufacturing, industrial, or commercial information.

A trade secret can also be described as valuable and exclusive knowledge that created by the work of a person or a company that has an economic interest in keeping it. This is usually because the owner gains a competitive advantage in the marketplace as a result of the trade secret.

A trade secret is defined very broadly and can include any of the following:

• formulas
• practices
• processes
• designs
• instruments
• patterns
• algorithms
• commercial methods, such as distribution or sales methods
• advertising strategies
• lists of suppliers or

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Updated July 20, 2020: 

What Is Preferred Return?

A preferred return—simply called pref—describes the claim on profits given to preferred investors in a project. The preferred investors will be the first to receive returns up to a certain percentage, generally 8 to 10 percent. Once you reach this profit percentage, the excess profits are split among the rest of the investors as agreed upon in negotiations. This type of return is most commonly used in real estate investment.

How Is the Preferred Return Calculated?

There are three main questions when it comes to calculating the preferred return:

• Is it compounded or non-compounded? Compounded means that the calculation of a preferred return periodic growth amount comes from the amount of invested capital plus all previously earned but unpaid amounts.

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Updated October 8,2020:

What Is Internet Law?

Internet law refers to how legal principles and legislation govern the use of the internet in all its forms. Another term for internet law is cyberlaw. Unlike other areas of the law, internet law cannot be identified as one solid, stable, and specific field of practice. Rather, it incorporates and applies principles from several traditional fields, such as privacy law or contract law, that predate the internet.

Internet law can include the following:

• Laws related to the creation of websites
• Laws governing Internet Service Providers
• Laws related to how trademarks are used online

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