Jim Boness

I earned my law degree from Southern Illinois University in 2002, and have 2 decades of experience practicing law. For the first 14 years, I practiced criminal law, growing a very successful solo-attorney practice and gaining extensive courtroom and trial experience. However, as I grew as an attorney, I realized that my interests drew me to a different type of practice. This is where the idea for INTELLEQUITY® was born.

Based on this new interest, I took a few advanced law courses in intellectual property at John Marshall University Law School in Chicago, Illinois. Upon relocating to Portland, Oregon in 2017, I earned my MBA at Portland State University to better help me to understand and assist my clients’ with their business needs.

My recent experience includes trademark, copyright and other intellectual property-related services, business formation and business law. I am licensed to practice in state and federal court in Oregon as well as federal court in the Northern District of Illinois.

Portland State University

MBA (2020) | Business

2018 - 2020

The John Marshall Law School

Advanced law classes in intellectual property

2016 - 2017

Southern Illinois University School of Law

J.D. (2002) | Law

1999 - 2002

Honors: Max and Irene D'el Era Academic Scholarship Richard E. Richman Ethics Scholarship

Activities: President of SIU Sports Law Society (2000 - 2002)

Owner/Attorney

INTELLEQUITY Legal Services, LLC

2016 - Current

Started INTELLEQUITY in 2016, and have been providing personal, comprehensive and easy to understand business and intellectual property advice and services to all Oregonians. Areas of concentration include business formation, trademark registration, contracts, copyright and business law.

Owner/Attorney

Law Office of Jim Boness

2004 - 2016

Operated a single-attorney criminal law practice in Joliet, IL for 12 years. Experience in pre-trial litigation, hearings and trials, discovery and Client satisfaction.

So you want to be a business owner? Watch out for the legal bumps you may face.

Self

July 19, 2022

Hard Skill Bias Could Be Hurting Your Company's Profitability

Self

May 28, 2020

How to obtain an immigrant and non-immigrant visa, Lagos, Nigeria

December 11, 2007

First American Immigration Consultation Services

1 day seminar providing immigration information to Nigerian citizens who wished to come to the United States.

Licensed A&P Mechanic

FAA

1995

Max and Irene D'el Era Academic Scholarship

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

1999

Oregon State Bar  # 140617

2014 - Current

Illinois State Bar  # 6278820

Attorney

2002 - 2017

Activities: Criminal and Business Law Attorney

Oregon

Oregon State Bar

ID Number: 140617

Since 2014

• Credit Cards Accepted

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Formation, Franchising, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

Trademarks

Trademark Litigation, Trademark Registration

Entertainment & Sports Law

Intellectual Property

Q. If you quit without notice in Oregon are they required to pay your acquired vacation time?

August 12, 2022

A: Payout of vacation time will be dictated by your employment agreement and the company policies regarding that payment. If the company has a pto benefit and you have accrued PTO that has gone unused, you should be entitled to that unused time as pay. Most employment contracts are at-will contracts which means that either you or the company can terminate the employment without notice. Leaving employment in this situation should have no effect on what benefits you have already accrued. However, if your employment contract says something different, that will control.

Q. Does a lawyer have to draw up the sale agreement in the sale of a sole proprietorship?

April 15, 2022

A: To answer your question, yes, you certainly can draft your own sales agreement. However, it would be more advisable to have counsel prepare one if you can. The money spent on counsel may be tax deductible. Notwithstanding, as you indicate you have a sole proprietorship, what you are selling is not the business, but its' assets. You cannot sell a sole proprietorship, because it is not separate from its' owner. I wish you the best of luck! The above information is intended for general informational purposes and is in no way intended to be legal advice. In addition, the above information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship and none should be assumed.

Q. if a trademark has been abandoned or canceled can you print clothing with it on without getting in legal trouble

March 1, 2022

A: I agree with my colleague's previous answer and would just add for some background that one obtains trademark rights through use of a mark on goods or services. Registration of a mark is not required for protection but is most definitely helpful. It puts others' on notice that the mark is being used, it confers upon the owner of the mark special benefits including being able to file suit in a federal court, conclusive proof as to the right to use the mark on the registered goods and services and the ability to obtain statutory damages. which negates the need to show actual damages. In addition, even if a mark is not registered federally, it may still be registered under a state registration. Check your state's database for that information. Finally, as already stated, even if not registered, a mark nonetheless can be protected by trademark law and an infringer of that mark could face consequences for the unauthorized use of it. More investigation as to the status of a mark and your proposed use of it would be wise. There may still be other options for you. If the mark is still being used, perhaps a license of the mark might work. In any case, consultation with an attorney well-versed in trademark law would be the safest route to go for you. This is not legal advice, and is for informational purposes only. We have not entered into an attorney-client relationship.