This interview is with Cameron Dugger, Partner at Dugger & Key PLLC.

Cameron Dugger, Partner, Dugger & Key PLLC

Cameron, can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to specialize in business law?

I’ve been practicing business law for over twelve years now. What drew me to this field is the dynamic nature of the work and its wide-ranging impact. On any given day, I might be helping a South African company navigate U.S. market entry or structuring a seven-figure transaction. This variety keeps me engaged and allows me to continually expand my knowledge and experience across different sectors and legal frameworks.

What were some of the pivotal moments in your career that solidified your expertise in areas like compliance, international business, and transactional law?

While there were certainly important milestones, my experience in compliance, international business, and transactional law has been built through cumulative practice rather than singular pivotal moments.

I still encounter ‘firsts’ in my practice, which serve as stepping stones for expanding my capabilities. This ongoing learning process is what makes business law both challenging and rewarding. It’s the ability to apply lessons from past experiences to new, often unprecedented situations that really defines proficiency in this field.

You’ve mentioned representing engineering firms and the importance of protecting intellectual property. Can you share a particularly challenging case involving IP rights and the lessons you learned from it?

At times, I have handled situations where the intellectual property of another business could cause confusion with my client. The good news is we were able to handle this situation in a way that allowed an amicable resolution for all the involved parties.

Your advice on due diligence for business partnerships is spot-on. Could you elaborate on the common pitfalls businesses should watch out for during this process and offer any tips for mitigating those risks?

There’s a common saying: “Fools rush in.”

In business, the clock is often ticking. There is always going to be some element of risk, but there are steps that a business can take to mitigate that risk. Some of these steps include things like:

1. Getting assurances from a potential partner about who they are and what they can do, in writing;

2. Asking partners to disclose financial and legal issues which could affect the partnership;

3. Having an exit plan if things go wrong.

There are no guarantees in life, but understanding risk and planning around it can go a long way to protect a business.

You emphasize the importance of NDAs and contract review when outsourcing. What are some often-overlooked clauses in outsourcing agreements that businesses should pay close attention to?

I am surprised at the amount of contracts I am asked to review that lack basic terms such as:

1. Term and termination (i.e., when will the contract end?);

2. Jurisdiction and venue (if there is a dispute, what law controls, and where will the case be filed?);

3. What happens if the product or service is not satisfactory to the other party?

Think about the disputes you may have had with customers and vendors in the past. Does the contract cover those points?

In your experience, what are some key legal and compliance considerations for businesses expanding internationally, particularly in navigating different legal systems and regulations?

It is crucial that any business expanding overseas understands the local laws and regulations (including local content requirements, when applicable), whether the new office creates a “permanent establishment” in the country for tax or liability purposes, and whether any of their international activities could potentially run afoul of the FCPA or other compliance regulations.

You’ve successfully navigated the legal complexities of starting and running your own business. What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking legal counsel for the first time?

I would say it’s important to understand what sort of business you want to start and who you want to start it with. Those are two of the most crucial pieces of information a business attorney will need when helping a client create their entity and getting it up and running.

How has the legal landscape for businesses, particularly in terms of compliance and international regulations, evolved throughout your career, and what are your predictions for the future?

Data privacy has really started to become a factor. It’s important for a company to understand what sort of customer information they are storing and how that information is used. I believe this issue will continue to become more complex as companies begin integrating AI into their businesses.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self entering the field of business law, based on your years of experience and the insights you’ve gained?

I would have told myself to really take my time and ask questions about the work I was doing. The best resources a younger attorney has are the older attorneys who can help them. Talk to those attorneys and ask them questions, even if it feels silly. Most experienced attorneys enjoy mentoring, and it really helps the younger attorney find their path.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I would just say that as someone who has worked with everything from small ‘mom-and-pop’ businesses to international conglomerates, don’t be afraid to talk to an attorney. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and too many small businesses find themselves only talking to an attorney when a major dispute arises.