Lum Law Group

10/13/2026

The rent number is usually the first thing a business owner looks at when reviewing a commercial lease.

It should not be the last thing.

A commercial lease can affect your cash flow, your ability to sell the business, your exposure to repair costs and, in some cases, your personal assets. Many of those consequences live outside the base-rent provision.

So before signing, ask a better question than “Can I afford the rent?”

Ask: “What else am I agreeing to pay, guarantee or give up?”

Book a commercial-lease review with Lum Law Group before signing. We can review the lease from the perspective of the business not just the landlord’s preferred wording. Including occupancy costs, guarantees, repairs, assignment rights, permitted use and exit provisions.

https://www.lumlawgroup.com/commercial-lease-review-checklist-california/

Before signing a California commercial lease, review rent structure, operating expenses, guarantees, repair obligations, assignment rights and exit options

10/13/2026

Here is a question every founder, agency owner and creative director should be able to answer:

Who owns the work after the contractor has been paid?

Many businesses assume the answer is obvious. They paid for the website, the software, the photography, the illustrations or the copy, so surely they own it.

Copyright law does not work that simply.

https://www.lumlawgroup.com/work-for-hire-agreement-california/

Paid a contractor to create code, design or content? Learn why payment alone may not transfer copyright and when work-for-hire rules actually apply.

10/11/2026

Two new immigration developments could change the future of international talent in America.

The administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for schools recommending international students for Occupational Practical Training (OPT) and has suspended certain technology companies from the PERM green card sponsorship programme.

These moves raise serious questions about opportunities for international students, skilled workers and U.S. employers.

For those pursuing a work permit or employment-based Green Card, understanding your options has never been more important.

When immigration rules shift, strategy matters.

I’m Albert Lum, immigration and business attorney. My goal is to help you understand the changes, assess your options and plan your next steps.

Contact Lum Law Group to discuss your immigration options.

10/08/2026

You open the USCIS notice and see the words Request for Evidence.

Your first thought may be: “They are going to deny my case.”

Not necessarily.

An RFE means USCIS is asking for additional evidence or information before it can finish adjudicating the benefit request. It is serious, but it is not the same thing as a denial.

The real mistake is treating the RFE like a routine request for “a few more documents.”

Book an immigration consultation with Lum Law Group if you have received an RFE. We can review the notice, compare it with the original filing and help determine what evidence and legal explanation are needed for the response. The deadline matters, but so does the quality of the answer you submit.

https://www.lumlawgroup.com/uscis-rfe-response-immigration-lawyer/

Received a USCIS Request for Evidence? Learn how to read the notice, organise a complete response and avoid the mistakes that can weaken an immigration case.

10/08/2026

You hire a freelancer, send them a 1099 at the end of the year and keep a signed independent contractor agreement in your files.

That feels like a clean solution.

In California, it may not be.

The central issue under the state’s worker-classification rules is not what the contract calls the person. It is whether the relationship actually satisfies the applicable legal test.

When you work with contractors, do you think most businesses focus too much on the contract and not enough on how the person actually works?

Book a business-law consultation with Lum Law Group if your company relies on freelancers or independent contractors. We can review the structure of those relationships, assess applicable exemptions and identify areas that deserve attention before they become a wage, tax or litigation problem.

Learn more: https://www.lumlawgroup.com/california-ab5-independent-contractor-rules/

#1099

Hiring freelancers in California? Understand the ABC test, exemptions and why a 1099 or independent contractor agreement does not automatically settle worker classification

10/07/2026

Form I-485 is one of those immigration forms that looks straightforward—until you begin assembling the entire filing package.

There is the form itself.

Then come the identity documents, proof of lawful admission or parole, the underlying immigrant petition, financial sponsorship, medical examination records, and, depending on your situation, employment and travel applications.

The real question is not:

“Did I include Form I-485?”

The real question is:

“Does my complete package clearly and consistently demonstrate that I am eligible to adjust status?”

USCIS is not simply reviewing a form. Officers evaluate eligibility, immigration history, admissibility, supporting evidence, financial sponsorship, and whether the information throughout the filing package is accurate and consistent. Even small omissions or inconsistencies can lead to delays, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), or more serious complications.

Before filing, it is critical to ensure that your application tells a complete and legally supportable story—not just that every box has been filled in.

Read the complete Form I-485 Adjustment of Status Checklist from Lum Law Group:

https://www.lumlawgroup.com/form-i-485-adjustment-of-status-checklist/

Preparing Form I-485? Use this practical adjustment of status checklist to organise identity, admission, petition, financial, medical and supporting evidence.

10/06/2026

🗽 Want to immigrate to the United States permanently? The first step is understanding which legal path actually fits your situation.

There is no single route to permanent residence. Depending on your background, family relationships, professional experience, and personal circumstances, several options may be available.

Common paths include:

✓ Family-Based Immigration through certain U.S. citizen or permanent resident relatives
✓ Employment-Based Immigration through employer sponsorship or qualifying professional categories
✓ Investment-Based Immigration for eligible investors
✓ Asylum or Refugee Protection for people who qualify based on persecution or fear of persecution
✓ Other specialized immigration categories depending on the individual case

⚖️ The right strategy depends on much more than simply choosing a category.

Priority dates, visa availability, your immigration history, professional qualifications, family relationships, financial resources, and possible inadmissibility issues can all affect whether and when you may qualify for permanent residence.

One common mistake is starting a lengthy immigration process without first comparing all available options. A person who qualifies through more than one category may have very different timelines, requirements, and risks depending on the path chosen.

With extensive immigration law experience, Attorney Albert Justin Lum and the team at Lum Law Group help individuals and families evaluate their options and develop an immigration strategy based on the specific facts of their case.

💬 Which path are you considering for permanent immigration to the U.S.: family, employment, investment, or another option?

🌐 www.lumlawgroup.com

10/05/2026

You have the name. The logo looks great. The domain is available. Your social handles are reserved. You are ready to launch.

Then someone asks the question that should have been asked first: “Did you actually clear the trademark?”

A trademark clearance search is not simply typing a brand name into Google and looking for an exact match. The real issue is whether another business is already using a mark that is similar enough, in related goods or services, to create a likelihood of confusion.

Learn more: https://www.lumlawgroup.com/trademark-clearance-search-guide-2/

Planning a new brand? Learn what a real trademark clearance search should look for beyond an exact Google or USPTO name match.

10/04/2026

K-1 vs CR-1 Visa Guide | Pasadena Immigration Lawyer

For couples living in different countries, the biggest immigration decision often comes before the paperwork even begins: Do we marry first, or do we apply as fiancés?

That decision matters because the K-1 fiancé visa and the CR-1 spousal visa solve the same family problem in very different ways. One is designed to bring a fiancé to the United States so the couple can marry here. The other is designed for a spouse who is already legally married and entering the United States as an immigrant.

So which one is actually better? The honest answer is: it depends on what matters most to your relationship and your plans after arrival.

Read more:

Comparing a K-1 fiancé visa vs CR-1 spousal visa? Understand the practical trade-offs in timing, cost, work, travel and life after arrival.

10/01/2026

Form I-130 Explained: The Complete Family Immigration Guide

What Form I-130 does, who can file it, how the family immigration process works, what happens after filing, and why an approved petition is only the beginning.

An I-130 is not a Green Card. It is the petition that establishes the family relationship that may make a Green Card possible.

That distinction is one of the most important things a family should understand before beginning the immigration process.

Read more: https://www.lumlawgroup.com/form-i130-explained-the-complete-family-immigration-guide/

What happens after filing Form I-130? Learn who can file, processing times, evidence, RFEs, approval, visa availability, Adjustment of Status, and consular processing.