when to consult lawyer for business

During the inception of a business, you will absolutely need the legal counsel of a corporate lawyer as you determine the kind of business you want and why. A new business can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation. Each of these has a unique structure as well as inherent tax implications.

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How do I find a good lawyer to consult?

May 14, 2019 · During the inception of a business, you will absolutely need the legal counsel of a corporate lawyer as you determine the kind of business you want and why. A new business can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation. Each of these has a unique structure as well as inherent tax implications. As a result, it is prudent to have a business lawyer guide you …

How can a small business attorney help you start your business?

Jan 16, 2018 · To prevent unnecessary attorney costs at the inception of your business as well as tremendous costs after a lawsuit has been filed, you might consider a consultation arrangement with an attorney. Such an arrangement would entail you doing most of the legwork of research and the attorney providing legal review or guidance.

When do you need a contract lawyer for your business?

Jan 29, 2019 · 5 Reasons to Consult an Attorney for Your Small Business: 1. You are Determining the Structure of Your Enterprise: The need for a business lawyer starts with something very elementary and essential. This always makes business owners and entrepreneurs ask the question- where to find a business lawyer? This is because a business lawyer can help in …

What happens at an initial consultation with a lawyer?

When do you need a lawyer? There are a number of situations where you may want to consult a lawyer, such as: Choosing a business structure You often start a new business by choosing a legal structure that will suit your business needs. Your options range from sole proprietorships and partnerships to incorporated companies and co-operatives.

Why should an entrepreneur consult with an attorney?

The most common reasons for needing an attorney are: Navigating the many forms and requirements of legal documents, like incorporation documents, that are involved. Assurance the startup is being done right.Dec 6, 2019

When should you consult with legal counsel?

Some of the common reasons to consult legal counsel are: Before entering into any contract for the purchase or sale of real estate, personal property of significant value. All contracts should be in writing and review before formation. For tax planning, and to avoid tax issues.

Why is legal consultation important?

In simple words, just like prevention is better than cure, the legal consultant helps you manage and identify legal risk, be it personal, professional, corporate, HR, labor related. Today's market for legal consultant means the growth in primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sector.

Why should one consult a lawyer when in trouble with the law?

A professional attorney can help challenge evidence and ensure that it does not work against you unduly in your case. This will make sure that you can salvage your case and avoid the repercussions of losing your legal proceedings when evidence is not up to standards.Jan 18, 2017

Issues You Can Handle on Your Own

There are certain matters that are fairly straightforward and/or not unduly difficult to learn and therefore do not require the services of an attorney who charges at least $200 per hour. There are enough expenses associated with running a business, why not save yourself a load of money and do it yourself if you can?

Issues Where You Will Need a Business Lawyer

Most of the issues outlined above can be handled by any intelligent business owner (if you can run a business, you can certainly fill out IRS forms or fill in boilerplate business forms). There are times, however, when a business faces issues that are too complex, too time consuming, or fraught with liability issues.

An Ounce of Prevention

While you certainly need to retain an attorney for the serious issues above, your emphasis should be placed on preventing such occurrences in the first place. Prevention does not necessarily involve hiring an attorney, though consulting with one wouldn't hurt.

Get in Touch with a Business Attorney Before You Need One

You won't need a lawyer for each and every legal issue that comes up in your business. But when you do, it's good to know where to find the right one. And -- more to the point -- you may not know you need legal help until it's too late, as attorneys can help you stay in compliance with the law and spot developing legal issues early.

Why do lawyers offer free consultations?

Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. Going to the first meeting with some simple questions can help you ensure you find the right person for the legal help you need. You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal ...

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting.

What is a meeting with a lawyer?

Meeting with a lawyer for an initial consultation is generally not a chance to ask legal questions that are in depth, but is instead an opportunity to get a sense as to whether this lawyer is the right one to handle your case. Use this meeting to help you decide which lawyer will be the best one for your case.

What to ask a lawyer about a case?

An important question to ask a lawyer is what the strategy for your case will be and the outcome the lawyer expects. You’ll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options. Think about the answers and if you are comfortable with them. Maybe you want to avoid a trial at all costs but your attorney really wants to just go to trial, or perhaps you have no intention of settling and want your day in court. It is important that your lawyer’s strategy lines up with your needs.

What can a lawyer do for a business?

If you plan on seeking equity financing for your business, a lawyer can help you write the terms of the shareholder agreement and review any legal documents provided by potential investors. Your lawyer can also help you assess how a shareholder agreement will impact other obligations and existing contracts with employees, suppliers or financial institutions.

What are the legal issues in a business?

There may be other issues where you can seek the advice of a lawyer in order to determine the best course of action, including: 1 Environmental complaints or concerns 2 Employee problems or conflicts 3 Disagreements between business partners 4 Closing your business 5 Protecting your intellectual property

What is a buy and sell agreement?

If you buy an existing business, you should have a ‘buy and sell’ agreement signed by both parties that details the demands, obligations of each, and any other terms and conditions of the sale. It could also include a detailed method on how to resolve any disputes concerning the sale.

Can a small business lease space?

Most small businesses lease the space where their business is located . However, leases can be one of your largest expenses. Make sure that your lease has the flexibility you need to expand or change your business. A lawyer can also give you specific advice before you sign a lease.

Why do small businesses need a lawyer?

Small businesses rely on lawyers to provide legal expertise in some areas, which they might not be well-versed. These include the knowledge to:

When do new small businesses typically use a lawyer?

The specific scenarios when start-up small businesses often choose to consult a lawyer include:

Do I need a lawyer to start a small business?

Retaining the services of a lawyer is not required as a condition of starting a business. In fact, many of the steps of starting a business cited above can be performed without a lawyer. This means the decision to hire a lawyer or go the DIY route depends on your business entity.

Do I need a lawyer to start an LLC or corporation?

LLCs can benefit from a lawyer as these entities often require filing articles of organization (or a certificate of formation) with the state, the appointment of a registered agent and adherence to other regulatory requirements. Therefore, consider creating an operating agreement.

What is a Lawyer?

Before we dive deep into business law, let’s answer what might sound like a simple question: what exactly is a lawyer? The truth is there are many, many types of lawyers with different specialties and skills.

What Does a Business Lawyer Do?

To put it simply, Portland business attorneys help business owners solve problems. Perhaps more importantly, business attorneys help business owners understand the problems they’re facing and which problems they might face in the future.

Do Business Lawyers Go to Court?

Yes– but only when we need to. Don’t get us wrong – it’s not that our business attorneys aren’t expert litigators who take great pride in representing our clients in court in Oregon and Washington. But often times there’s a better solution to a dispute and save our clients’ valuable time and money.

How do Business Lawyers Charge for their Services?

At JJH Law (as a small business ourselves) we understand the importance of flexible fee structures that allow growing businesses to manage costs effectively. We offer:

What does a business lawyer do?

A business lawyer can explain how to start a business and answer your business law questions. But more importantly, a lawyer can identify the risks you face and help you minimize them. When you meet with your lawyer for the first time, it’s a good idea to have some questions in mind.

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting. New entrepreneurs have their hands full, making plans, developing products and services, and lining up financing.

How does a contract protect a business?

Contracts protect your business by describing the rights and responsibilities of the parties to the agreement. A well-written contract can reduce the number of disputes that arise, ensure that you get paid for the work you do, and provide a clear remedy if one party doesn’t hold up its end of the deal.

What to do before starting a small business?

Before starting a small business, you must decide how your business will be structured. If you do not form a formal business entity, your business will either be a sole proprietorship (with one owner) or a general partnership (with more than one owner). Legally, you and your business will be the same “person,” so if your business has debts ...

How to start a business off on the right foot?

Always ask your business attorney to assess your risks and identify ways to alleviate them. Getting business advice and legal help from a small business lawyer is a smart way to start a business off on the right foot. But don’t lose touch with your lawyer once your business is up and running. Make it a habit to seek business legal advice regularly ...

Do I need a patent lawyer?

And if you have an invention, you may need to apply for a patent. A business lawyer can help identify your intellectual property, advise you on protecting it, and assist with copyright or trademark registration. For patents, you will need a patent lawyer. 6.

What is a limited partnership?

Other options include a limited partnership, in which some partners are fully liable for business obligations, and others are not, and a nonprofit corporation.