Basecamp Legal

One thing our entire team could agree on after the Outside conference: It was pretty wonderful to see downtown Denver this alive.

The city was full of people exploring, learning, connecting, and spending time outdoors. For a few days, it felt like the entire outdoor community showed up.

We’re grateful to be part of an industry that values adventure, stewardship, innovation, and bringing people together.

Here’s to more events that remind us how much Colorado’s outdoor community has to offer.

You’ve probably seen a lot of trademark conversations online lately. 👀❗️

Most of them focus on one question:
“Can someone really trademark that?”

But business owners should be asking a different question:

“What happens *after* you get the trademark?”

A trademark registration isn’t just a certificate- it’s a business asset.

And with that asset comes responsibility.

You have to:
✔ Use it consistently
✔ Maintain it properly
✔ Monitor the marketplace
✔ Decide how you’ll handle similar uses by others
✔ Think through the business and community impact of enforcement decisions

Getting the registration is often the easy part.

The harder part is deciding what kind of steward you want to be once you own it.

If you’re thinking about filing a trademark, make sure you’re planning for the entire journey, not just the application.



🔎: Trademark lawyer for small businesses, trademark issues, what is a trademark, business law, what can you trademark

This was a nice surprise.
Late last week, I opened my email to learn that I had been named one of Denver Women Leaders’ Top 50 Women in Denver.

Before I accept the recognition, I want to acknowledge something important: there are hundreds of women in Denver doing incredible work every day who aren’t on this list. I have the privilege of working alongside many of them through Basecamp Legal, and I know firsthand how much talent, leadership, and generosity exists in this community.

Awards aren’t why I do this work, but it is meaningful to be recognized by others. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support business owners, entrepreneurs, and our community, and I’m thankful to everyone who has been part of that journey.
If you’d like to see some of the other women recognized this year, you can check out the full list here: https://denverwomenleaders.org/top-50.html

Last week, Julie attended in Denver.

One of the things we love most about working with outdoor businesses is getting out from behind our desks and spending time in the communities we serve.

Events like this are a chance to listen, learn, and connect with the founders, operators, and industry leaders building the future of the outdoor industry.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their stories, challenges, and ideas. We came home with new conversations, new connections, and a renewed appreciation for the people behind the outdoor economy.

A few things business owners tend to put off longer than they should:

Reviewing contracts

Updating operating agreements

Trademark protection

Cleaning up contractor relationships

Unpacking their backpack after an overnight hiking trip

Talking to a lawyer before there’s a problem

We get it. Legal work is rarely the exciting part of running a business. But a little proactive planning now can save a lot of stress later… just like unpacking your backpack now can prevent a lot of smells later.

One thing we’ve learned after years of practicing business law: relationships matter. We actually like our clients. We want to understand what they’re building, what keeps them up at night, and where they want to go next.

Good legal guidance is not just about documents. It’s about having someone in your corner who understands the terrain.

Today, wherever we are, we can take a pause to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend outdoors.

When thinking about an MSA vs. a SOW (Scope of Work), it can help to think about it through an outdoor metaphor.

The MSA is like the basecamp of a group hiking trip with multiple expeditions. The basecamp (MSA) is the stable foundation everyone returns to. It contains the shared rules, supplies, safety systems, communication plans, and expectations.

The Scope of Work (SOW) is each individual hike, climb, or route...a separate adventure with its own details. And there can be multiple SOWs under one MSA.

One important goal is making sure there are no conflicting terms between the MSA and the SOWs.

We generally do not recommend that business owners, CEOs, AI tools, or someone who took one business law class try to draft these entirely on their own. A good lawyer or fractional counsel can help create templates, review documents, and make sure all the pieces are set up to work together properly. If you’d like to work with us, you can book a consult at the link in our profile.

Just finishing teaching a 100 minute lecture on Master Service Agreements for the Colorado Bar Association. Thankful for the opportunity to teach something that I enjoy working on. Remember anyone can draft a contract, but matching the reality of what happens on the ground operationally is very important.