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November/December 2025
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Finding My Place at Sul Lee
NOTES FROM THE PARALEGAL DESK
Note: Our newsletter’s cover article will spotlight an attorney on our team each month. For this edition, we’re excited to share a few words from one of our paralegals, Jasmine Chowdhury. If you had asked me in high school what I wanted to be when I grew up, I probably would have said an engineer. I was good at math and science, and people always said there were great opportunities in the field. I initially started college on that path, but after about a year, I knew it wasn’t for me. That’s when I started thinking about criminology. It could have been all the “Forensic Files” I watched on TV, but the subject always fascinated me. I saw that the University of Texas at Dallas offered a criminology program, so I switched and pursued that for my bachelor’s degree. After graduating, I went on to law school at Valparaiso University. It was a big change from Texas (mostly because of the snow), but it was a great three years. Working in the domestic violence legal clinic was one of my most meaningful experiences. We got to work with real clients, and I saw firsthand how cases developed and how impactful legal work could be. It showed me it’s not just about rules and procedures. It’s about people. I came back home to Texas after earning my law degree and temped at a few firms while raising my son and building a career as a paralegal. My experience at other firms was great, but Sul Lee has been a fantastic fit for me. I love the culture here. It’s open, collaborative, and genuinely supportive. I also get to do work that feels meaningful every day. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most here is the chance to work closely with clients. Talking to them and seeing how the case is moving forward reminds me why this work matters. What makes it even better is the team around me. Everyone is approachable, smart, and willing to share their knowledge, which makes it easier to keep learning and growing in my role. I never feel like I have to figure things out on my own. The culture at Sul Lee is a huge plus, too. We really do feel like a team. Finding a place where everyone eats lunch together is rare, but that happens here.
Day-to-day, my work includes drafting, reviewing documents, and helping organize discovery. A big part of my job is keeping track of details and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Some weeks, it feels like everything is happening at once, but finishing a project or getting a set of documents out the door is always satisfying. I’ve also learned that I like certain types of cases more than I expected. Partnership disputes are a good example. Watching how each side frames their arguments and how our team responds has been eye-opening. It’s given me a better sense of how all the moving parts come together. Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep growing my paralegal skills and want to take on more drafting work. My long-term goal is still to sit for the bar, but my focus is on gaining as much experience as possible and continuing to learn. Outside of work, life is all about my family, especially my son. When I get a little time to myself, I love to bake from scratch and share photos of my cakes and cookies online. It’s a sweet, creative outlet and a nice balance to the structure of legal work. Between my family at home and my team at Sul Lee, I feel grounded, supported, and ready for whatever comes next.
—Jasmine Chowdhury 469-715-4558 · 1
Is Your Brand Really Yours?
Building a brand takes time, energy, and money. It’s worth all the effort, but if you don’t take steps to protect it legally, all your hard work can be at risk. Even though the name or logo you use might feel like “yours,” it may not be in the eyes of the law if you don’t have proper registration. Many business owners assume that using a brand in public gives them full legal rights. That’s partly true. Like most states, Texas recognizes common-law trademark rights, but those rights are limited. They usually only apply in the local or regional area where the brand is being used and can be difficult to prove or enforce if someone else challenges them. Here’s where things get complicated. If another company registers a similar name or logo at the federal level, they could force you to rebrand or stop selling in certain markets. That means you could potentially lose your website, product packaging, and marketing materials. In the worst case, you could lose all that and be on the receiving end of a lawsuit. Rebranding is expensive, and the longer you’ve been in business, the more it costs to start over. Federal trademark registration through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offers much stronger protection. It gives you a legal presumption of ownership nationwide, helps you enforce your Unregistered Means Unprotected
Over the past few decades, the fear of missing out (FOMO) has become a top sales tactic. When done properly, most people don’t know they’re allowing FOMO to drive their decisions. They think they’re capitalizing on a great promotion while it’s here, but subconsciously, they don’t want to think they missed out on something great or beneficial. Let’s explore three sneaky FOMO strategies that can lead to incredible sales and results. Scarcity You see this often if you try to buy anything in demand from Amazon, Walmart, or other major retailers. They add a running count to the amount of stock left whenever their inventory becomes depleted. You go online to check pricing for something you want, see only three left in stock, and jump on the purchase to ensure you don’t miss out. This works with specific products, availability in workshops, or even a limited number of items you sell at a particular price point. Time-Sensitive Black Friday continues to be a big sales day for big and small retailers, but how do they maintain that consistency? Simply put, people understand that Black Friday is a one-day-only event. They think they won’t get these sales again, even if they aren’t stellar. Mimic this method to get people to act with urgency. Close the Deal When working with a client on the fence, FOMO can be a powerful tactic to help them see clearly why they should make the purchase. Paint a picture of how your product or service could help them. Then, illustrate what could happen if they don’t get the product or service. Could passing on your product now cause future regret? The Wrong Way to Use FOMO FOMO campaigns should be ethical and honest. When done correctly, you remain transparent about sales deadlines, don’t create false scarcity, and provide your customers with value while still hitting your sales goals. However, some business owners use FOMO to pressure buyers into taking action immediately, which is short-sighted. You want your customers to be happy with their purchase instead of wondering why they made it years later. Remember, sales tactics are all about providing continued success, not one-time purchases. When appropriately used, FOMO can help your business reach new levels of success. CREATE THE URGE TO ACT FOMO Tactics That Work
rights in court, and makes it easier to stop copycats before they damage your reputation. You can also use the ® symbol and create a public record that gives you a stronger position for licensing, franchising,
and expanding internationally.
If your brand matters, registration should be part of your long-term
strategy. The best time to file is before you’ve poured significant resources into building brand recognition. A trademark search and application process can help you avoid conflicts and secure your rights.
At Sul Lee Law Firm, we specialize in helping business owners just like you protect what they’ve built. If you’re unsure where your brand stands or whether you need to register, contact our team today to schedule a consultation. We can run the search, file the paperwork, and make sure your business and brand are covered.
2 · SulLeeLaw.com
SMALL PRINT, BIG BUSINESS RISKS READING BETWEEN THE LEASE LINES
Signing a lease for a new business space might seem like just another step before opening the doors, but it’s much more than that. A commercial lease is a binding contract that can affect operations and costs for years. If you don’t fully understand what you’re agreeing to, you might end up stuck with confusing, restrictive, or unexpectedly expensive terms. Unlike residential leases, commercial leases are not standardized. Each is written differently, and the fine print can shift expenses onto the tenant in surprising ways. Rent might rise automatically based on inflation or “market conditions.” You may also be asked to cover building insurance costs, taxes, or repairs without a clear limit on how much those charges can grow. Those hidden costs can be the difference between a healthy budget and constant financial stress, especially for a small business.
Other lease clauses can affect your operations. Some leases limit what type of services or products you offer, while others may block subleasing if your business outgrows the space or moves in a new direction. And if a personal guarantee is buried somewhere in the document, your own assets could be on the line. That’s why a thorough lease review is a must. Having an attorney review your lease before signing allows you to identify potential issues and push back for more favorable terms. An attorney can flag vague language, suggest ways to cap shared expenses, and ensure the document clearly spells out responsibilities for repairs. Depending on the situation, you may even negotiate an early exit option that gives your business flexibility to adapt to changing needs and circumstances.
The worst time to learn about hidden terms is after you’ve moved in and invested in renovations or buildout. It’s much easier and far less costly to catch problems before you sign. Our attorneys at Sul Lee Law Firm can help you evaluate terms, negotiate from a stronger position, and choose agreements that support business growth instead of holding you back. Call us or reach out online for a personalized consultation.
WORD SEARCH
Apple-Cranberry Salad
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by WanderlustAndWellness.org
• 6 slices of bacon • 1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette • 1/3 cup olive oil • 2 tbsp raw honey • 8 oz fresh baby spinach, rinsed and dried
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries • 1 Honeycrisp apple, peeled and thinly sliced • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced • 1/2 cup feta cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove it from the pan and set on a paper towel-lined plate to cool. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil, and honey. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, add spinach, cranberries, apple slices, red onion, and feta. Crumble bacon pieces over the top. Use salad forks to toss ingredients thoroughly. 4. Add dressing to the salad and toss again until well-coated.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Getting to Know Paralegal Jasmine Chowdhury page 1 Legal Steps to Protect Your Brand page 2 Turn ‘Maybe Later’ Into ‘Buy Now’ With Strategic FOMO page 2 Commercial Lease Review Essentials page 3 Apple-Cranberry Salad page 3 Turn Negative Reviews Into a Positive Business Strategy page 4
Smart Tactics for Managing Bad Reviews Don’t Let the Haters Tank Your Ratings
You can’t make everyone happy; it’s a fact of life we must accept to maintain our happiness and sanity, but when people leave bad reviews about your business, don’t just let it go. Think about what you could have done differently, whether something was wrong with your product or customer service, and how to fix it to ensure you don’t lose a customer. If your negative reviews start to outweigh your positive ones, you must take action immediately, or your customer base will diminish. Business owners need to keep in mind that reviews tend to be negative. Most people only leave reviews to share a bad experience, to warn others, or to receive
compensation for their problem. But once your reviews are overwhelmingly negative on Google or Yelp, new customers go out of their way to avoid your business. You must counter negative reviews with positive ones, which won’t happen without effort. Ideally, you should capture identifying information about your customers, such as their email address or phone number. This allows you to communicate easily with people who have shopped with you. You don’t want to straight-out ask these individuals for reviews. Instead, give them a reason to act. Send a message to your customers, offering a free product or service in exchange for a review. Most
jump right in and give you a good review, but you need to send a follow-up to be sure you capture everyone. If you want to take it to the next level, embed an image of five stars in the email. Those who click on four or five will go straight to your main review page. Everyone else will be directed to an internal feedback form. This strategy eliminates negative reviews from the pool while learning exactly what turned these people away from your business. It’s the ultimate win-win for any business owner!
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