Tolstoy said, “All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Since families and estates are so intertwined, Tolstoy’s maxim holds true in some degree for estate planning purposes. Many clients require customized estate planning – and clients with warring families have their own special needs and considerations.

Choosing when and how to grow a team is a critical business decision for legal entrepreneurs expanding an estate planning practice. Team members are typically the highest budget line item and the biggest investment attorneys make in their practice. They are also the biggest risk, often resulting in lost of time, prospects, and business growth if not selected and nurtured positively.

Aggrieved parties have long been able to sue in federal court for copyright, patent, and trademark violations. Surprisingly, no corresponding private cause of action has existed for trade secret theft. Instead, trade secret cases were the domain of state courts.