by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmCasey Martens admitted to NC Bar and GA Bar
Congratulations to Kim, Lahey & Killough attorney Casey Martens, who has recently been admitted to both the North Carolina and Georgia Bars. Casey heads up our Brevard, NC office and serves clients in GA, NC and SC in the areas of employment law counseling and compliance, employee investigations, wage and hour disputes, business disputes and litigation, contracts, and trademark analysis and registration.
A graduate of the University of Colorado and the Charleston School of Law, Casey has regularly been named as a Legal Elite of the Upstate by Greenville Business Magazine and a South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star as a Top Rated Employment and Labor Attorney.
With offices in Greenville and Charleston, SC and Brevard, NC, the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is devoted to helping clients establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights from the Upstate, to the Lowcountry to across the globe.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmContingency Planning and Disruptions: Preparing for a Typhoon
At the recent NEXT Upstate’s Founders Forum, our firm’s founder Attorney Doug Kim spoke to business owners about contingency planning and the crucial steps they should take to prepare for disruptions. He speaks from personal experience. In May 2023, during a diving expedition to Truk Lagoon Micronesia, unexpected challenges unfolded, leading to an extended stay due to flight delays caused by Typhoon Mawar.
Before the one-in-a-lifetime journey began, Doug and the rest of the firm prepared meticulously, including informing clients, designating a point of contact, and addressing administrative tasks. Despite facing unexpected delays and limited communication options during the trip that Mother Nature extended by two weeks, the firm’s established policies and procedures allowed for effective management of the disruption. We didn’t miss a beat!
The resilience of our firm’s operations, enabled by our SaaS tech stack, cloud storage, and VPN, allowed for continuous communication and work progress. The ability to triage and prioritize tasks ensured that essential work continued, even in the face of uncertainties. The experience highlighted the importance of having contingency plans in place, especially when unforeseen circumstances lead to an unexpectedly prolonged absence.
While the incident tested the firm’s resilience, it also provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of remote work capabilities. It underscores the need for businesses to not only anticipate disruptions but also to implement robust contingency plans that encompass various scenarios, ensuring continued functionality and adaptability in the face of the unexpected.
Key Takeaways:
Complete a Comprehensive Business Analysis Impact Report:
Doug emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough business analysis impact report. Scrutinize all business functions, applications, and services to identify vulnerabilities and potential areas of risk. By understanding how disruptions might impact different facets of the business, owners can proactively implement measures to mitigate risks.
Protect the Essentials for Revenue Generation:
Protecting what’s vital to revenue is paramount. Doug advised business owners to identify and secure the critical components that drive revenue. This includes safeguarding key assets, client relationships, and proprietary technologies. By prioritizing these elements, businesses can enhance their resilience against disruptions that may threaten their financial stability.
Cross-Train Teams and Establish Succession Plans:
Cross-training teams is a strategic move to ensure that no single person holds exclusive knowledge or skills critical to business operations. For solopreneurs, Doug recommended finding a trusted friend who can serve as a backup and hold a spare set of keys to the castle. This not only mitigates risks associated with personnel dependencies but also ensures a smoother transition in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Develop a Comprehensive Communications Plan:
Effective communication is key during times of disruption. Doug suggested creating both internal and external communications plans. Internally, it’s crucial to designate a person in charge and establish clear communication channels. Externally, keeping clients and vendors informed is essential for maintaining trust. Additionally, evaluating the need for public relations (PR) during crises ensures that the business’s image is carefully managed.
Data Recovery Strategies:
Doug outlined a robust data recovery strategy involving the maintenance of three copies, two backups, and one offsite storage. This ensures data redundancy and protection against data loss. Incorporating third-party solutions that are geographically untethered adds an extra layer of security.
Measures to Safeguard Property and Funds:
To protect property and funds, Doug recommended internal agreements such as employment and independent contractor agreements. Safeguarding intellectual capital (IP), having duplicate vendors, and establishing an incident response team, both internally and externally, further fortify the business against unforeseen events.
Insurance and Contract Clauses:
The importance of insurance in contingency planning cannot be overstated. Doug suggested considering insurance coverage tailored to the specific risks faced by the business. Additionally, including contract clauses that outline provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment helps manage expectations in case of equipment failures.
By incorporating contingency planning strategies, entrepreneurs can build resilient businesses capable of withstanding disruptions and adapting to changing circumstances. As Judson L Moore aptly stated, “A bad plan is better than no plan,” emphasizing the significance of flexibility in adapting and refining strategies as circumstances evolve.
- Check out local news coverage of “Stuck in Truk”
- Learn more about NEXT Upstate’s Founders Forum series.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmUsing A.I. to Slash Shipping Costs | 2019 Supply Chain Innovation Award Winner
You’ve heard of SEO. How about SCO? It stands for Shipping Cost Optimization, a patent pending method of using artificial intelligence to slash shipping costs. This homegrown innovation, called IntelliPack, has thrust local entrepreneur, John Peck, CEO, President, & Co-Founder of FastFetch Corporation into the national spotlight.
Peck joined Katie Neau, RCI Supervisor of Snap-on Tools at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) EDGE 2019 Conference on September 18, 2019, in Anaheim, California, for their presentation about “Using Artificial Intelligence to Slash Shipping Costs.” They beat out Silicon Valley giant Intel Corporation, as the winners of the 2019 Supply Chain Innovation Award (SCIA) .
Snap-on Tools is saving 11% annually on total shipping costs at its distribution center in Crystal Lake, IL. The initiative employs artificial intelligence to minimize wasted space in shipping cartons as well as new logistical processes to cut corrugated material costs by 20%, dunnage costs by 27% and packing labor costs by 30%. Peck says companies like Snap-on Tools often save an average of $18,000 per month on small parcel carrier shipping costs using his patent pending packing process.
It took Peck about six months to develop the new method. He says, “You have to be able to calculate the best box size for shipping an unpredictable collection of items of given sizes in less than a second. When someone orders online, that one order may have eight to 10 things in it. Each comes in different shapes and sizes and there are more than 100 boxes to choose from. Using the right size box is important.”
Doug Kim represents FastFetch. He says, “Because it’s our job to help with intellectual property protection, we get to see these inventions very early on. It’s exciting to see our clients be successful, to see an idea go from conception to commercialization.”
Peck’s method of using A.I. to slash shipping costs can virtually figure out how to place the items in the best sized box. “It’s going to make e-commerce affordable,” says Peck. “Consumers want free shipping, but someone has to pay for it. Our method ensures there is minimal wasted space. Smaller boxes means more packages can fit in each shipment. Instead of needing multiple trips, using multiple trucks or airplanes, now more can fit into each trip and that will help shipping companies become more efficient too.”
Congratulations to the entire FastFetch team! Watch the video below to see SCO in action.