26 | Good Fences, Better Businesses: A Conversation on Legal Foundations with Anna Cook

Contracts, corporations, and co-founders — oh my! In this episode, Jess sits down with Anna Cook, Partner at Cox & Palmer, for a practical, plain-language look at the legal side of running a business. From when to incorporate, to why every partnership needs a “business prenup,” Anna breaks down what small business owners really need to know — including how to avoid common legal pitfalls as you grow. Plus, Jess tackles a viral workplace scandal in the Just Ask Jess segment: when the CEO and HR lead make headlines for all the wrong reasons, what can small organizations learn about managing relationships at work? ✉️ Get in touch at: [email protected] Follow us: Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting Website: https://www.ethree.ca HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/   Chapters (00:00:00) - Unlock Your People: Small Business Owners(00:00:48) - Meet Anna Cook(00:02:12) - Why Law School Is For Real(00:03:42) - Do You Incorporate or Not?(00:06:56) - Other Things to Consider When Starting a Business With Family(00:13:08) - What are some of the things that you regularly see organizations doing that(00:18:22) - Small Business Owners: Stock Options and Remuneration(00:22:55) - Should You Give Stock Options to Family or Friends?(00:26:48) - Incorporation: The Cast of Characters(00:29:22) - Do Shareowners Have a Right to Vote?(00:33:12) - Confirmations and Documents for Business Owners(00:39:18) - Have You Got a Vision to Sell Your Company?(00:40:09) - Ontario vs Nova Scotia & Quebec: What's the Difference?(00:45:16) - Covid HR: Remote Work and the Law(00:48:54) - Commercial Law(00:50:28) - The Coldplay Kiss Cam(00:54:42) - Are Personal Relationships Bad for the Workplace?(00:56:27) - Questions for Work