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This page describes the default jurisdiction, venue, and dispute-resolution posture that applies to our Terms of Service and to a signed MSA that does not specify otherwise. The MSA / SoW can vary these by mutual agreement; where it does, the MSA / SoW controls.
Last updated: August 16, 2026
1. Our entity and principal place of business
empowered.guru, LLC is a California limited liability company formed under the California Corporations Code (the Beverly-Killea Limited Liability Company Act, as amended). Our principal place of business is in the State of California, United States. We are not a foreign entity registered to do business in any other U.S. state; we register as a foreign LLC where required by a client's procurement rules and the engagement is material.
2. Governing law
Unless a signed MSA specifies otherwise, our Terms of Service and this notice are governed by the laws of the State of California, U.S.A., without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.
3. Venue
Subject to the dispute-resolution provisions below, the state and federal courts located in California have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or relating to our Terms of Service or to any engagement that does not have a signed MSA. Each party consents to personal jurisdiction in those courts.
4. Informal resolution
Before initiating arbitration or a court proceeding, the complaining party will send the other a written notice describing the dispute and the desired relief, and the parties will attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute within 60 days. For notices to us, email legal@empowered.guru; for notices to you, we use the email you have on file.
5. Arbitration
Disputes not resolved informally will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules (in effect on the date the arbitration is commenced), by a single arbitrator. The arbitration will be held in California. The arbitrator may award any relief a court could, including injunctive relief, but may not award punitive damages or damages excluded by our liability limitations. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
The Commercial Arbitration Rules and fee schedules are available at adr.org.
6. Small claims and injunctive relief
Either party may bring a claim in small-claims court for matters within its jurisdiction. Either party may also seek injunctive or other equitable relief in court to protect its intellectual property or confidential information, without first proceeding through informal resolution or arbitration.
7. Class waiver
To the extent permitted by law, all disputes will be brought on an individual basis and not as a class action, consolidated action, or representative action. If this class waiver is held unenforceable, the arbitration agreement will not apply and the dispute will be heard in court under Section 3.
8. Opting out of arbitration
You may opt out of arbitration by sending written notice to legal@empowered.guru within 30 days of first accepting our Terms of Service. The notice must include your name and the email you used to accept, and must state that you opt out of arbitration. If you opt out, disputes will be heard in court under Section 3.
9. Service of process
Service of process on empowered.guru, LLC may be made on our registered agent in California. The current registered agent and address are available from the California Secretary of State (bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov). Service by email is not effective unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing.
10. Foreign judgments
A judgment or arbitral award obtained in a jurisdiction other than California may be enforced in California under the California Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 1713-1724) for court judgments, or under the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards for arbitral awards. We will cooperate in good faith with the recognition of valid foreign judgments.
11. Changes
We may update this notice. Material changes that narrow your dispute-resolution rights apply prospectively only; disputes that accrued before the change are governed by the notice in effect at the time the dispute accrued.
12. Contact
Legal: legal@empowered.guru.