본문으로 건너뛰기

Legal Processes

The Legal function operates through structured workflows that protect the company's interests while enabling business operations. Our processes manage contracts, protect intellectual property, ensure compliance, and resolve disputes efficiently. This section documents how legal work gets done.

Legal work requires consistency and reliability. Documented processes ensure contract reviews follow the same analytical framework regardless of which attorney handles them. NDA management uses consistent procedures that prevent confidentiality gaps. Compliance monitoring follows systematic approaches that catch issues before they become violations.

Process documentation also supports training and knowledge transfer. New attorneys learn our standard approaches rather than developing their own inconsistent methodologies. When Legal Counsel is unavailable, the GC can step in and execute documented procedures seamlessly.

Risk management depends on documented processes. External auditors and insurance providers assess our legal controls to evaluate risk. Process documentation demonstrates we have systems in place to prevent legal problems.

Efficiency comes from documented workflows. Standardized contract review checklists accelerate reviews without sacrificing thoroughness. Template libraries enable routine agreements without starting from scratch each time. Process efficiency means legal doesn't bottleneck business operations.

Core Process Categories​

Legal processes organize around risk prevention and issue resolution:

Contract Processes manage agreements with clients, vendors, partners, and employees. Contract review evaluates proposed terms for legal risks. Contract negotiation balances legal protection with commercial objectives. Contract administration ensures ongoing compliance with contractual obligations. These processes govern our business relationships.

IP Protection Processes safeguard our intellectual property assets. Design documentation creates records supporting IP claims. Trademark registration establishes formal legal protection. Portfolio usage rights management ensures we can showcase our work. IP processes preserve the creative value we generate.

Compliance Processes ensure adherence to legal requirements. Compliance monitoring tracks regulatory obligations across labor law, data privacy, consumer protection, and other domains. Audit preparation validates our compliance posture. Policy development translates legal requirements into operational practices.

Dispute Resolution Processes address conflicts when they arise. Early dispute response aims to resolve issues before litigation becomes necessary. Litigation management coordinates with outside counsel when lawsuits occur. Settlement negotiation seeks favorable resolution without excessive legal spending.

Administrative Processes maintain legal organization and accessibility. Document management keeps contracts and legal files retrievable. Deadline tracking prevents missing important legal dates. Legal intake routes questions to appropriate resources.

Contract Review Workflow​

Contract review requests come from various sources—sales negotiating client agreements, operations engaging vendors, HR hiring employees. The Legal Coordinator logs incoming contracts and assigns them to Legal Counsel based on complexity and workload.

Turnaround time commitments depend on contract complexity. Standard client service agreements and vendor contracts target 2-business-day turnaround. Complex partnerships, large transactions, or unusual contract structures allow 5-business-day reviews. Rush reviews are available for true business urgencies but shouldn't become the norm.

Initial review by Legal Counsel examines the contract for key legal risks and red flags. Does it include adequate termination rights? Are liability caps appropriate? Are payment terms clear and fair? Is there mandatory arbitration or unfavorable venue selection? The attorney annotates specific concerns requiring revision.

Template comparison for routine contract types involves checking whether the proposed agreement matches our standard template positions. Deviations from our templates get special scrutiny. Are proposed changes acceptable risks or deal-breakers requiring negotiation?

Business context consultation helps legal assess whether concerns are material. Legal Counsel may consult with the relevant business team to understand deal economics, relationship importance, and operational implications. A legal risk that's acceptable for a strategic client might be unacceptable for a small transactional relationship.

Risk assessment categorizes contract issues by severity. Critical issues are deal-breakers requiring resolution before we can sign. Important issues need addressing but might be negotiable. Minor issues are noted but don't prevent execution if other terms are favorable.

Revision recommendations provide specific redlined language changes addressing identified concerns. Rather than just noting problems, Legal Counsel proposes solutions that protect our interests while remaining commercially reasonable.

GC escalation happens for contracts with significant business impact, unusual legal risks, or strategic implications. Legal Counsel escalates rather than independently approving these high-stakes agreements.

Approval communication to the requesting business team includes either approval to proceed, requests for specific revisions, or rejection if risks are unacceptable. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings about contract status.

Negotiation support involves Legal Counsel working with business teams through counterparty negotiations. The attorney advises on which points to defend, where to compromise, and how to structure mutually acceptable terms.

Execution coordination ensures signed contracts get properly filed and relevant parties receive copies. The Legal Coordinator manages signature logistics and documentation.

NDA Management Process​

NDA assessment determines when NDAs are required. Any situation involving sharing confidential information—client project details, unreleased designs, business strategies, celebrity information—requires an NDA before disclosure.

Standard NDA template selection depends on the relationship type. We use different templates for clients, vendors, employees, and partners. Templates include appropriate confidentiality scope, duration, and exclusions for each relationship category.

Custom NDA drafting happens for situations our templates don't fit. High-profile client relationships may require bespoke confidentiality terms. Partnership NDAs often need reciprocal obligations that standard templates don't include.

Mutual vs. unilateral NDA decision depends on whether both parties will share confidential information. Client relationships typically use unilateral NDAs protecting client information. Partnership discussions usually require mutual NDAs since both parties share sensitive details.

Review and execution follows streamlined workflow for standard NDAs. Legal Counsel or even the Legal Coordinator can handle routine NDAs without GC involvement. Unusual NDA terms escalate to Legal Counsel or GC depending on significance.

Database entry captures NDA details including parties, execution date, expiration date, confidentiality scope, and any special provisions. Complete database records enable answering questions like "Do we have an NDA with this company?" instantly.

Compliance monitoring includes periodic reviews of ongoing projects to verify required NDAs are in place. Client projects involving unreleased material get NDA verification before work begins. New vendor relationships trigger NDA requirements assessment.

Expiration tracking alerts relevant parties when NDAs are approaching expiration dates. If the business relationship continues, we arrange NDA renewal before the existing one lapses.

Violation response procedures activate when potential confidentiality breaches occur. Legal investigates the incident, assesses severity, and determines appropriate response—ranging from internal corrective action to formal legal action depending on violation materiality.

IP Protection Workflow​

Design documentation involves systematically recording our design process and outputs. We maintain design files, sketch archives, material specifications, and production records that demonstrate our design ownership and development timeline. Good documentation supports IP claims if ever needed.

Trademark registration for our brand name, logo, and any signature design elements requires working with external IP counsel. Legal Counsel coordinates the registration process while specialized trademark attorneys handle formal filings.

Portfolio rights negotiation happens during client contract discussions. We negotiate rights to photograph finished costumes, showcase them in our portfolio (with appropriate approvals), and use project images in marketing materials. Clear portfolio rights prevent disputes when we want to publicize our work.

Copyright notices on original designs and marketing materials put others on notice of our IP ownership. Legal Counsel advises on proper copyright notice placement and registration for particularly valuable works.

IP infringement monitoring involves keeping watch for unauthorized use of our designs or trademarks. While systematic monitoring is impractical, we investigate suspected infringements when they come to our attention.

Cease and desist letters respond to clear IP infringement. Legal Counsel prepares initial cease and desist correspondence demanding infringers stop unauthorized use. Most infringement situations resolve at this stage without litigation.

Licensing agreements structure situations where others want to use our designs or brand. Legal negotiates license terms covering scope, duration, royalties, and quality standards. These agreements generate revenue while maintaining IP control.

IP portfolio reviews happen annually to assess our trademark and IP assets. Are there new protectable elements we should register? Are existing registrations properly maintained? Portfolio reviews ensure we're maximizing IP protection.

Compliance Monitoring Process​

Regulatory landscape tracking involves staying current on legal requirements applicable to our business. Labor law changes, new data privacy rules, consumer protection updates—Legal Counsel monitors legal developments that affect Kyndof.

Compliance calendar maintenance lists all regulatory deadlines and recurring compliance obligations. Tax filing deadlines, labor law posting updates, annual report requirements—everything gets calendared to prevent missing deadlines.

Internal policy development translates legal requirements into operational procedures. When regulations require specific practices, Legal works with relevant departments to implement compliant processes. Legal provides the compliance requirements; operations figures out practical implementation.

Compliance audits periodically verify we're meeting legal obligations. Legal Counsel samples transactions, reviews records, and interviews employees to assess compliance health. Audit findings drive corrective actions and process improvements.

Training delivery helps employees understand compliance obligations. Legal provides training on key topics like sexual harassment prevention (legally required), confidentiality rules, IP protection, and contract authority. Better employee understanding reduces compliance violations.

Government filing coordination ensures required submissions happen correctly and on time. Legal coordinates with finance on tax filings, with HR on employment-related filings, and with operations on industry-specific reports. Filing responsibility often sits with other departments, but legal oversight ensures compliance.

Violation response procedures activate when compliance breaches occur. Legal investigates, assesses severity, determines required disclosures to authorities, and implements corrective measures. Serious violations may require GC and CEO involvement.

Dispute Resolution Process​

Early dispute identification aims to spot problems before they escalate. When client complaints, vendor disagreements, or employee issues arise, early legal involvement improves resolution prospects. Business teams alert Legal Counsel to emerging disputes rather than trying to handle everything independently.

Fact investigation involves gathering information about the dispute. What happened? What do contracts or policies say? What are the parties' positions? Legal Counsel investigates thoroughly before recommending response strategies.

Legal merits assessment evaluates the strength of each party's legal position. Do we have strong legal grounds? Are we exposed to significant liability? Does the counterparty have valid claims? Honest assessment guides response decisions.

Business impact evaluation considers commercial implications beyond just legal outcomes. Even if we'd likely win litigation, does maintaining the client relationship matter more than litigating the dispute? Business context shapes legal strategy.

Settlement negotiation pursues resolution without litigation when feasible. Legal Counsel engages counterparties to find mutually acceptable outcomes. Most disputes settle when both parties assess litigation risks and costs soberly.

Alternative dispute resolution like mediation or arbitration provides structured settlement discussions with neutral third-party facilitators. Many contracts require mediation before litigation. Even without contractual requirements, mediation often resolves disputes more efficiently than court.

Litigation preparation happens when settlement fails and we need to pursue or defend lawsuits. Legal Counsel works with outside litigation counsel on case strategy, document production, and legal tactics. The GC oversees litigation while delegating day-to-day management to specialists.

Settlement approval for significant amounts requires GC or CEO authorization depending on settlement size. Legal Counsel handles small settlements independently but escalates material exposure situations.

Lessons learned capture insights from disputes for process improvement. What caused this dispute? How could it have been prevented? These lessons inform contract improvements, policy changes, and operational adjustments.

Legal question submission happens through multiple channels—email, Slack, drop-in questions. The Legal Coordinator triages incoming requests based on urgency and complexity.

Self-service resources for common questions include FAQ documents, template libraries, and policy guides. Many routine legal questions can be answered with existing resources without requiring attorney time.

Coordinator screening determines which requests need attorney attention versus those the Coordinator can handle or route to self-service resources. "Where's our contract with Vendor X?" requires database lookup, not legal analysis. "Can we use this client's logo in our marketing?" requires legal assessment.

Legal Counsel assignment for matters requiring attorney review considers complexity, subject matter expertise, and workload. Standard contracts go to whoever has capacity. IP questions route to the Legal Counsel with IP expertise. Complex matters may go directly to the GC.

Turnaround communication sets expectations on response timing. Urgent questions with business deadlines get prioritized. Routine questions receive responses within one business day. Research-intensive questions may require longer timelines.

Response delivery includes not just answers but context and reasoning. Rather than just "yes" or "no," legal responses explain the legal basis and any risk factors to consider. This educational approach improves organizational legal literacy.

Follow-up tracking ensures questions don't fall through the cracks. The Legal Coordinator maintains a log of pending legal questions and follows up on overdue responses.

Document Management​

Document organization follows consistent filing structures for easy retrieval. Contracts are filed by counterparty name and type. Employment agreements are organized by employee and role. Legal memoranda are categorized by subject matter.

Version control ensures we're working with current documents. Executed contracts get clearly distinguished from drafts. Template updates generate new versions with change documentation.

Retention policy compliance means keeping documents for required periods but not indefinitely. Certain documents have legal retention requirements. Others can be purged after defined periods. Legal oversees retention policy compliance.

Access controls limit who can view or modify sensitive legal documents. Employment agreements, litigation files, and confidential communications have restricted access. Public contracts and templates are broadly accessible.

Digital and physical file coordination maintains parallel systems. Scanned copies of signed contracts get filed digitally. Hard copy originals get stored securely. Both systems are cross-referenced for redundancy.

Disaster recovery ensures legal files survive catastrophic events. Critical documents get backed up off-site. Secure cloud storage provides redundancy for digital files.

New legal team members should focus on mastering processes most relevant to their roles. Legal Counsel needs deep expertise in contract review and compliance monitoring. Legal Coordinators need document management and NDA tracking excellence.

Learn our templates and standard positions thoroughly. Understanding our contract baseline accelerates reviews. Ask why we include specific provisions and where we're typically flexible versus firm.

Shadow experienced attorneys executing processes before independent work. Documentation shows mechanics but watching skilled practitioners reveals the judgment that makes legal work effective.

Understand business context behind legal work. Contracts aren't just legal documents—they govern real business relationships. Compliance isn't just rule-following—it prevents problems that could damage our business. Better business understanding produces better legal judgment.

Ask about past disputes and issues. Learning from historical problems helps you spot similar risks in new situations and implement preventive measures.