Diplomacy is a big theme in Natly Torres Alvarado's life. 作为一个孩子, the 满帆大学 course director thrived as an Army brat and loved connecting with people from different backgrounds. She helped communicate with other countries as a US Foreign Affairs Officer after college, then worked with plaintiffs and defendants to find common ground as a Florida Supreme Court Civil 媒体tor. Now she's using her diplomatic approach to help future entrepreneurs avoid common legal pitfalls as she teaches the Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs course, part of 满帆's 创新 and 创业 master's program.

Natly's focus on effective communication between parties at odds makes her an ideal instructor for Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs. She teaches entrepreneurs how to set up their businesses to avoid costly (and potentially ineffective) trials. "Everybody has this idea of, 'I want my day in court.“当你上法庭的时候, 你说的是, 我放弃了, let somebody else make the decision for me,’”她说。. "If you're able to find a solution before you go to trial, you're ahead."

Establishing strong communication with business partners, particularly about contracts, can help new business owners avoid major conflicts. Natly continues to practice law as she teaches for 满帆, so she's got a front-row seat to the personal and professional havoc that a nonexistent contract can wreak.

"I represent a lot of small to mid-sized companies. The stories are always the same," she says. "'I started a business with my dad, 我最好的朋友, 我的哥哥, 也没有, we don't have anything in writing.' There's a common thread, things that you don't think about but happen very frequently. I think that's probably the best way I'm able to use what I gain in my lawyer world to inform students here at 满帆."

In addition to dispute resolution, the day-to-day management of a business also has its legal pitfalls. 例如, misclassifying a business can snowball from a professional mistake into a personal disaster. New entrepreneurs should resist the urge to label themselves as sole proprietors and call it a day — learning how to set up a Corporation or Limited Liability Corporation in Natly's class can protect a business owner's personal assets.

"It doesn't matter how good you are: Things happen," she says. "If you end up getting sued, and you're a sole proprietor, guess what? People are going to be dipping into your personal bank accounts to get money from you. But if you run your company correctly and do all the formalities, all that's at risk is the company's assets."

Natly's commitment to connection also makes her a great resource for curious students looking to succeed her in course. "Whatever questions might come up, just ask them. 不要害怕."

She's also more than willing to hear students' business ideas as part of her curriculum. "Sometimes I give a generalized assignment pertaining to business re搜索. If you have a business idea, why wouldn't you take that assignment and see how it can better your business venture?"