Areas of expertise
Explore our practice areas and discover how The Law Offices of Kevin M. Sheetz, LLC can assist you with your legal needs. We focus on providing expert guidance and representation in key areas of law.
Our practice areas
We offer specialized legal services tailored to address your specific challenges. Our approach is centered on understanding your situation and delivering effective, practical solutions.
Drafting: Business Law
Our business formation attorneys help clients by reviewing their unique needs and goals to determine the type of entity and structure their businesses will benefit from the most. Following are the three main types of business entities in corporate formation practice:
- Corporation – A corporation is legally separate from the owners (shareholders) and has its own tax structure. Typically, a corporate entity will be either a C corporation or S corporation depending on the number and type of shareholders and the owners’ personal tax situation.
- Limited Liability Company (LLC) – LLCs are like corporations in that there is less personal liability for owners when it comes to business debts and other obligations.
- Partnership – A partnership is a type of business entity formed between two or more individuals who typically share management, profits and losses according to the terms of a written agreement. In a general partnership, each partner is liable for the debts, liabilities and actions of other business partners.
Drafting: QDROs and QILDROs
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) and a Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Order (QILDRO) are legal tools used to divide retirement benefits during a divorce. Still, they each carry specific applications and requirements.
Starting with a QDRO, a type of domestic relations order that either creates or recognizes an alternate payee’s right to receive a portion of the benefits payable to a participant under the retirement plan. The order is used to enforce a trial court’s previous judgment entry of divorce or dissolution of marriage and must comply with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. A QIDRO is specific to Illinois and is governed by Illinois state law rather than federal law. An Illinois court order creates or recognizes the alternate payee’s right to receive a portion of a plan member’s accrued benefits. Further, a QILDRO must comply with the Illinois Pension Code and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Drafting: Copyright Registration
Copyright registration is the legal process through which creators secure copyright protection for their original works, such as books, music, art, and software. This process involves filing the necessary documents and fees with a copyright office, which then reviews the submission for compliance with copyright laws. Upon approval, the copyright holder is granted exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display the work, as well as create derivative works. Registering a copyright establishes a public record of the copyright claim, helps in protecting the work from unauthorized use, and may be required to bring a lawsuit for infringement in court. This legal acknowledgment not only reinforces the copyright holder's ownership but also enhances the work's market value and copyright protection.
Drafting: Trademarks
A trademark is essentially a brand. It is a word, logo, slogan, package design, or other source indicator for a particular product or service (in which case it is a service mark). Trademarks and service marks (collectively “Trademarks”) promise a consistent level of quality, whether it be good or bad. Trademarks are essential in today's modern marketplace. How else would consumers tell your product, business, service from another?
We assist in registering all types of marks with the USPTO and state registries. Trademarks distinguish your products or services from others, crucial for commercial success.
Ensuring your mark doesn't infringe on others and is thoughtfully descriptive is key. Involving an intellectual property attorney early can greatly benefit the process.
Without substantive Office Actions from the USPTO, it can take about 18-24 months for a mark to be registered. We guide you through each step of the application process. The sooner you start the process the sooner your mark could be registered.
Trademark Attorney
The Law Offices of Kevin M. Sheetz, LLC has previous experience in drafting and registering Trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), ensuring knowledgeable and effective representation.
Professional services
We offer specialized legal services tailored to address your specific challenges. Our approach is centered on understanding your situation and delivering effective, practical solutions for trademark registration and protection.
Why choose us?
The Law Offices of Kevin M. Sheetz, LLC offers experience and personalized attention. Contact us through the contact page to set up a consultation.
