NEWS & INSIGHTS
Perspective from years at the table.
Firm updates, and Ask Ara — plain-language answers to the questions we actually get from founders, owners, and executives.
Ask Ara
A recurring column from founding partner Ara Babaian, answering real questions from the deals we work on — the judgment calls that don't show up in a search result.
ASK ARA · AUG 2026
When does a SAFE make more sense than a convertible note?
A founder's guide to the tradeoff, and why the "standard" answer isn't always right.
FIRM NEWS · JUL 2026
Encore Law Group refocuses on core transactional practices
A narrower focus on the matters where we do our best work for clients.
ASK ARA · JUN 2026
How much equity should a new advisor really get?
The math founders skip, and the vesting terms that protect everyone.
ASK ARA · MAY 2026
What actually kills a real estate syndication deal?
It's rarely the numbers. It's almost always the paperwork nobody read closely.
FIRM NEWS · MAY 2026
Ara Babaian Speaks on Startup Funding and Structure at Glendale Event
A practical discussion on structuring and funding a startup, hosted through the City of Glendale.
FIRM NEWS · APR 2026
Welcoming Danny Avalos to the Firm
Danny joins the firm's corporate and securities practice.
ASK ARA · MAR 2026
Do I need an operating agreement if it's just my co-founder and me?
Yes — and here's the conversation it forces you to have early.
INSIGHT · MAR 2025
BOI Reporting Is Officially Dead for U.S. Companies
FinCEN ends BOI reporting for U.S. companies under the CTA; foreign entities still must file.
INSIGHT · JAN 2020
The New "Silicon Road": Armenia's Emergence as the Silicon Valley of Its Region
A personal essay by founding partner Ara Babaian, originally published in Asbarez Newspaper.
ASK ARA · NOV 2019
Does my business website need to be accessible under the ADA?
For many small businesses, the lawsuit is a click away. Here's who gets sued, and what compliance looks like.
INSIGHT · AUG 2016
Works Made for Hire in California: An Exceptional State, An Exceptional Law
Hiring a freelancer to create your website, logo, or content? California turns the standard playbook on its head.
FIRM NEWS · JUL 2011
Ara Babaian Honored by Armenian Bar Association
Ara is named one of the association's "20 Rising Stars Under 40."
INSIGHT · JAN 2010
Key Issues to Consider in the Operation of Your Business
The legal housekeeping that protects your company between deals.
INSIGHT · DEC 2009
Preparing Your Business for a Major Transaction
The groundwork that decides whether your deal closes smoothly, done before anyone signs a letter of intent.