Namaste Law, Portland, OR (2026)

08/25/2021

This is sometimes what the life of a looks like. Here’s my setup from our 📍Catskills .

Today’s a work day. After a week+ on the road, and after staying at many Airbnb’s without WiFi (an overlooked detail; my personal hotspot wasn’t working either 🤯), today’s a day that I have to crank out some work. I only have 2 more workdays before I run away to get married.

I also have to make sure my dog gets to run until his heart’s content -- we just did 3, fairly long back-to-back drive days. There’s many wedding details to finalize. Moving my body. Memorizing my vows. The list goes on.

There’s always a list.

08/09/2021

I have been MIA from Instagram because the last month or two have been B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Finishing home remodel projects, losing my engagement ring for a week (🤯>😭>🥳), getting a cold that felt like the plague the week of our move out, WORK, WORK, WORK. Then, last weekend, my fiancé and I moved out of our house so the amazing can learn about the Vancouver life with her partner in crime/daughter. Yesterday, we arrived at the cabin we’ll be perched in for the next 4 nights in White Salmon, WA. Then, it’s on the road we go! We’re driving across the country to get married Labor Day weekend in Vermont. We’re not planning to be back in the PNW until Summer 2022. Let the legal nomad adventures part deux commence!

And what’s new with you?

05/16/2021

Hey there 👋🏻 It has been a minute... I am still here, but taking a more passive role on the Grammy.

Quick life update: In the past 2 months or so, I’ve gotten vaccinated 🦠, hosted my dearest friend who has been living in Berlin and growing a human in her belly 🤰🏻, driven to Palm Springs, CA to spend some much needed QT with my bestie 👯‍♀️🌴 (flying will always be my future choice FYI), been working like a dog (that has 0 negative connotations in this household — has incredible drive and focus ☺️) but with brilliant women doing cool sh*t (in 1 case, literally 💩), and am currently hosting my 14 YO half sister from VT (pictured here) who needs some Loving after a tough quarantine 💕. I know she looks like the older sister 😜...

What about you? I’d love to hear. Really. As much as I love teaching and sharing on this platform, it’s nice to also establish connection and have meaningful conversations with you—even short ones. Passively scrolling doesn’t exactly fill my cup, if you know what I mean. And it makes me think about (i.e. feel guilty about) my screen time usage. You definitely know what I mean there, riiight?!

Catch up soon? XO.

03/30/2021

Choose and move. Most people - including your clients/customers - are not going to interact much with your LLC name apart from signing your contract. **I’ve got another post on that > Signing a Contract As/On Behalf of Your LLC.** You’ll use your LLC name to set up your business bank account, file your taxes, enter into contracts, and not much more than that. Therefore,
⚡️Choose a name.
⚡️Make sure you slap LLC at the end of it.
⚡️Check in your state’s business registry that the name you chose doesn’t already exist.
🔥Get to work!

03/26/2021

Moving: Like? Love? Loathe? (Everyone is in Camp 3, right?! Right?!?!)

If you find yourself moving your business to another location or out of state, here’s a list of things to consider. Translation: things to not overlook or forget to take care of. This list may be helpful to some of you right now. To the rest of you, bookmark this post for later. 🤘🏻📚

If moving out of state:
〰️ A “statutory conversion” is going to be your best friend if your business will no longer have a presence in the state you’re moving from. Phone a business lawyer for help with this.
〰️ If you plan on having a business presence in 2 states (the 1 you’re moving from, and the 1 you’re moving to), register your business as a “foreign” (out of state) business in 1 state and a “domestic” business in the other. There may be strategies to where your business is “domesticated,” so phone a lawyer and/or your accountant to discuss. Realistically, it’ll be tax savings that you’ll be on the lookout for.
〰️ Will any of your employees remain behind? Will you make new employee hires in this new state? Different employment laws may become applicable so phone a lawyer who knows employment law.
〰️ Figure out whether your business lawyer (if you have one) is licensed to practice law in the state you’re moving to.

If you’re staying in state but moving to a different location:
〰️ Change the addresses associated with your business registrations (LLC, DBA, etc.) with your state’s Secretary of State and any other relevant state agencies, like a taxing agency. In WA, this would mean changing your addresses with the WA Dept. of Revenue.
〰️ Notify the IRS. There’s a specific form for this (8822-B), and of course you can’t fax or email it in 🙃. You may need to do this if you undergo a statutory conversion also.

Regardless of whether you move your business out of state:
〰️ City/county business licenses. Do you need a new one? To close an existing account?
〰️ Trademark registrations—got em? Let the USPTO know your new address.
〰 Where else does your business address live? Google My Business page? Website? Instagram? page?
〰 Always helpful to loop your accountant (if you have one) in!

03/02/2021

YOU’RE HIRING! 🎉 Whether or not it’s your first employee hire or your 50th, here are a few of my thoughts regarding job postings and staying out of legal trouble.

“Cooper, it’s a job posting.” I. Know. It may not be a job description that lands you in immediate legal trouble, BUT the tighter your job postings, the better protected you will be from things like employee discrimination and wage/hour claims down the road. Legally, that’s what you should be worried about: unknowingly or unintentionally including language in your posting that discriminates against someone and using language that undermines your exempt/nonexempt classification of employees for minimum wage and overtime requirements.

As an example of what NOT to do: “We’re looking for a young and energetic addition to our team.” Can anyone spot the issue with that statement?

In looking for a “young” new hire, you’re indicating that age may be a factor in your hiring decision. Age discrimination is not allowed. ❌ No, not in this house!

In addition to protecting yourselves legally, a well thought out job description is going to attract the right potential hires and ultimately land you the most qualified individual for the job. ✨ Another cause for celebration. 🎉

I say this to my clients always: While your employees may be your biggest asset, they are also the biggest risk to your business. Trust me when I say that you want to have things buttoned up from Day 0.

Hope this gives you something to nibble on. Happy hiring!

02/17/2021

Friends, I need your help. Someone special to me, , had a targeted break in happen yesterday (Monday, 2/15) around 2:30am at her NW PDX studio on 17th and Lovejoy. My engagement ring was made by Anna, and I can only imagine how devastating this is to her and those individuals whose finished pieces were taken; Anna’s process is meticulous and full of love. Beyond special and meaningful.

I’ve seen the power of collective efforts on this platform, and I ask that you take a second and share this post in case anyone happens to recognize the thieves in this security camera footage, spot these pieces online in places like Etsy or Craigslist, have something to contribute to the fundraiser started by (link in Amy’s bio)...

The small ways we can contribute can amount to something big. And, from one female small business owner to another: this kind of support will probably mean the WORLD to Anna.

Thanks, y’all. 💛 @ Portland, Oregon

02/03/2021

It’s 2021, which still feels a lot like 2020. In other words, there are few events that I, Ms. Planner/Controller Extraordinaire, can add to my calendar. Planning more than 2 weeks in advance for anything still feels like I’m putting myself in danger of getting letdown for the nth time. Resonate?

If you are like me and miss adding events to your calendar, AND you have a registration for your business, then do I have a gift for you!!!

ADD YOUR BUSINESS RENEWALS AS AN ANNUAL EVENT ON YOUR CALENDAR. Not only will you get your planning fix in, but you’ll also keep your business organized and your personal liability shield *officially* in tact. If that shield means nada, scroll through my feed and read the posts about how an LLC or corporation can protect YOU as a business owner.

⭐️ Pro tip: Don’t overlook that annual repetition (if your registration renews annually, which should be the case for LLCs and corporations in your state).

02/01/2021

Just finished > just started + 🪴

I’d gotten mixed reviews about Atomic Habits, but I kept on and am glad I did. I think the book’s content is approachable and motivating. Whether you’re trying to instill new habits or shed ones that are no longer serving you, I recommend picking this one up!

Then, in regards to DYL, I’ve heard rave reviews. I barely made a dent yesterday, but stay tuned. Let’s see if I can keep 1 book/month up...

What are you reading? Any historical fiction recommendations out there?

01/29/2021

You earned that testimonial, you sure did. But is it yours to feature wherever and keep forever??? Take a minute and find out what I believe is the best way, legally of course, to get the most out of your clients’ rave reviews. Hint: use permission slips. Also, important disclaimer: This is NOT applicable to influencers in the way that we all think and know influencers.

When you ASK FOR them:
⭐️ Use a release form. It doesn’t have to be long, or fancy.
⭐️ Make sure you remind your clients to keep things TRUTHFUL and NOT MISLEADING, in addition to fabulous.
⭐️ If you plan to use testimonials beyond your Google business page, tell your clients this. For instance, will you feature them on your website? In marketing materials, like IG posts? Paint a realistic and true picture and don’t be shy.

Don’t leave WITHOUT getting:
⭐️ Their permission IN WRITING, INCLUDING their permission to use their name and/or business name.
⭐️ A release of liability,that’s (partially) what it’s all about. CYA and make sure your clients release you of any liability relating to your use of their glowing review.

LASTLY, be sure to SAVE that permission slip in your files. You might need to refer back to it at some point.

If you’re thinking, “Gee Cooper, nothing’s easy with you.” Take a number. 😝

The reason you should care about this is because there are things called rights of publicity and privacy. We, people, have these rights and people and businesses can’t violate them without penalties. Accidental violations of these rights can happen with your use of client testimonials any time.

So. ASK for permission with a release form. RECEIVE written permission and then the review. SAVE that permission slip. SING your clients’ high praises.

Now, go back to doing great things in the world and earning those ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

01/18/2021

I haven’t shared an animal spirit card in some time. However, I found part of today’s reading to be particularly poignant on MLK Day: EMBRACE ALL, EXCLUDE NONE. I’m going to leave it at that today.

Namaste Law

08/25/2021

08/09/2021

05/16/2021

03/30/2021

03/26/2021

03/02/2021

02/17/2021

02/03/2021

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01/29/2021

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