Amanda Hayes

Attorney · University of North Carolina School of Law

Amanda Hayes is a practicing attorney serving clients in the U.S. and abroad on business and trademark matters. She also works as a freelance writer, contributing articles on small business law for Nolo.com.

Legal career. Amanda has founded two firms, located in North Carolina and Massachusetts. At her firms, she has worked on a range of cases, including in the areas of business formation, licensing, trademark and intellectual property, nonprofit, and real estate.

Credentials. Amanda is a double Tar Heel, earning her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She has passed the bar exams in North Carolina and Massachusetts, and currently practices in both states.

Business law. Amanda has served and collaborated with many companies, from small businesses to large enterprises, in a variety of industries. She considers the best part of writing about small business topics to be helping the people behind the company—often entrepreneurs pursuing a lifelong dream—set up a strong operating foundation so they can focus on what they love most. You can learn more about Amanda's law practice at ideasPLUS LLC. 

Articles By Amanda Hayes

How to Start an LLC in New Jersey
Here are the steps you need to take to form an LLC in New Jersey.
What Is a Contract?
Contracts are legally binding agreements, and they pervade almost every aspect of our personal and business lives.
Breach of Contract: Material Breach
In contract law, a "material" breach of contract is a breach (a failure to perform the contract) that strikes so deeply at the heart of the contract that it renders the agreement "irreparably broken" and defeats the purpose of making the contract in the first place. The breach must go to the very root
LLC Articles of Organization
If you want to form your own limited liability company (LLC), one of the first formal steps you’ll need to take is to file a special document with a particular state office.
Time Is of the Essence Clause in Contracts
Parties to a contract often include a statement that says "time is of the essence." What does this provision mean, and will a court always enforce a "time is of the essence" clause if something goes wrong under the contract? Read on to learn more. (For a look at other kinds of clauses that show up often
What Should I Include in My Corporation’s Bylaws?
Your corporation needs bylaws. Here's what you should include and leave out.
Closing Your Business: What You Need to Do
Whatever your reasons for closing your business, there are a few legal tasks you need to undertake to protect yourself, your credit, and your reputation in the community, especially if you ever want to go into business again.
Can an NDA With a Foreign Company Prevent Trade Secret Theft?
Agreements don't prevent wrongdoing, they merely establish the rules in the event wrongdoing occurs.
Sample Confidentiality Agreement (NDA)
A confidentiality agreement (also called a nondisclosure agreement or NDA) is a legally binding contract in which a person or business promises to treat
LLC Protection for Members' Personal Debt in Nevada
In Nevada, like in most states, the general rule is that the money or property of an Nevada limited liability company (“LLC”) cannot be taken by creditors to pay off the personal debts or liabiliti