Royse Law Firm to present “Public Relations Services Agreements” at the 2013 PR Summit 2013.
July 30th 2013
INTERCONTINENTAL SAN FRANCISCO
888 Howard Street
San Francisco,CA 94105
USA
Royse Law Firm to present “Public Relations Services Agreements” at the 2013 PR Summit 2013
1. PR Services Agreements
Roger Royse & Satya Narayan
Royse Law Firm, PC
1717 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
rroyse@rroyselaw.com
snarayan@rroyselaw.com
www.rroyselaw.com
www.rogerroyse.com
Skype: roger.royse
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with the requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any tax advice contained in this communication,
including any attachment to this communication, is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties
under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to any other person any transaction or matter addressed herein.
2. STANDARD SERVICE AGREEMENT?
SOME OBJECTIVES FOR CONSULTANTS
• Scope of Services
• Payment Terms
• Managing Potential Liability
• Publicity
• Dispute Management
3. SCOPE OF SERVICES
• Setting expectations
Reforming specifications
Performance schedule
Ownership of work product
• Ongoing nature of PR services
• Flexibility to change scope
• Client’s cooperation
• Beware of “time is of the essence” clause
4. PAYMENT TERMS
• Retainer, fixed fees, or time and materials?
• Expenses reimbursable?
Need client’s approval?
• Failure to pay?
Escalation?
Suspend performance?
Interest on late payments?
Collection costs?
Termination rights?
Dispute resolution mechanism?
5. MANAGING POTENTIAL LIABILITY
Sources for consultant’s potential liability
Client’s Content
Client’s confidential information
Client’s employee and end user data
Consultant’s personnel's acts or omissions
Consultant’s breach of contract
6. MANAGING POTENTIAL LIABILITY (CONT’D)
• Indemnification, warranties, and liability limitations
• Client will ask for no limits
• Ideally try to limit consultant liability to fees paid:
disclaim consequential damages
• Limit service warranty to performance in professional and
workmanlike manner, with exclusive remedy being
correction of defective services reported within 30 days of
performance
• Any indemnity given should be limited to unaffiliated third
party claims and preferably capped
7. • Infringement indemnity from client
Client content
• Infringement indemnification from consultant
Do fees justify indemnification?
Limit to 3rd parties!
Carry insurance?
MANAGING POTENTIAL LIABILITY (CONT’D)
8. PUBLICITY
• Public reference to the client or use of the
client’s trademarks should be done only with
express consent.
Reference to client relationship maybe easier to get
than rights to client’s trademark
• Client may have a policy against such use
9. DISPUTE MANAGEMENT
• Material breach
• Escalation and mediation
• Litigation vs. Arbitration
• Arbitration
Can be expressly required to be confidential.
Quicker resolution
Less costly
Can be expressly required to be final and binding.
• Choice of Law and Venue
10. ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR CONSULTANTS
• Avoid starting from client’s standard service
agreement.
• Restrictive covenants
Non-competition
Exclusivity
Non-solicitation
• Termination
Does consultant have a right to terminate?
Outstanding fees?
11. RoyseLink: Connecting founders with investors and service
partners.
Royse University: Providing business, tax, and legal
content to founders and executives.
Royse Law Legal Wizard: Offering legal document
templates and more.
www.RoyseUniversity.com
www.RoyseLink.com
www.rroyselaw.com/ijuris_login_jp.html
Additional Resources
Royse Law Incorporator: Designed to help you incorporate
and structure your company in Delaware or California.
www.mobilesense.net/rroyselaw/legalwizard
12. www.rroyselaw.com
@RoyseLaw
PALO ALTO
1717 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
LOS ANGELES
11150 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90025
SAN FRANCISCO
135 Main Street
12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Palo Alto Office: 650-813-9700
Contact Us
13. The discussion of tax consideration was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used,
by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed by the Internal
Revenue Service. Each party should seek advice based on the party’s particular circumstances
from an independent tax advisor.
In accordance with Section 6694 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), we hereby advise you that the positions set forth herein may lack substantial authority
and, therefore, may be subject to penalty under Code section 6662(d) unless adequately
disclosed on IRS Form 8275.
Circular 230 Disclosure
This presentation and its contents are solely for informational purposes and does not
constitute legal advice.