A business attorney can help you with legal issues as well as make sure your business is operating in a safe and compliant manner. If you need to open a business account or register a corporation in your state, a business lawyer can guide you through the process.
There are a lot of things that a business owner needs to take into account when choosing an attorney. Some attorneys specialize in one area, such as intellectual property, while others offer a broader range of legal services, including commercial litigation, real estate, tax, and more.
The choice of attorney can be difficult for any business owner, particularly if they don’t know much about them. Understanding what different types of attorneys can offer and how each can benefit your business is important. Here are some common types of business law issues and tips for finding the right attorney to address them.
When it comes to legal matters, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This is because what works for your personal needs may not work for your business. So, before you hire an attorney to deal with legal matters for your business, you need to do your homework first. You also need to do your homework before deciding on the type of attorney you want to hire.
What is a business attorney?
A business attorney is a lawyer who specializes in helping businesses navigate their legal affairs, whether they are small or large. Most business attorneys work for law firms, but there are also solo practices that operate out of a home office.
Business attorneys often handle a variety of different issues, including:
* Intellectual property matters, including copyright, trademark, patent, trade secrets, and other IP law
* Corporate formation, including entity selection, formation, and dissolution
* Securities, including stock options, 401Ks, and employee stock purchase plans
* Contractual and contractual disputes, including contracts of adhesion and employment agreements
* Business strategy, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and franchising
* Business formation, including limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations
* Employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement savings, and more
* Tax, including taxes owed on profit, income, and payroll
* Litigation, including defamation, business torts, personal injury, and other civil matters
* Real estate, including commercial real estate
* Banking and finance, including banking compliance, loan documents, and more
How to find the right business attorney
It’s very important to choose an attorney who understands your business. Several attorneys can help you with your business, but you’ll want to work with someone familiar with your industry and with experience working with companies like yours.
Consider asking other business owners in your field for recommendations when looking for an attorney. While they might not have worked directly with an attorney, they may have heard of an attorney good at helping companies of a certain size and complexity.
Another way to identify attorneys is to do research. Review the attorney’s website, talk to their existing clients, and even speak to their past clients. You’ll know you’ve found a good fit if they have a solid reputation.
What is an intellectual property lawyer?
Intellectual property is a broad term that includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other forms of intellectual property.
A good attorney specializing in intellectual property can help you develop your business plan, patent your inventions, protect your trademarks, and create a strong copyright. They can also advise you on how to handle intellectual property disputes.
While intellectual property is not specifically mentioned in your business plan, it is vital to any business. It is also vital to any business owner’s personal life, so they should learn about it.
A patent attorney can help you with the following:
Patenting your invention
Protecting your trademark
Creating a patent application
Preparing an inventor statement for a patent application
Advising on patent infringement
Preparing a patent brief
Drafting a patent disclaimer
Drafting a patent grant
Drafting a patent amendment
What kind of attorney do you need?
Most business owners don’t think about hiring a lawyer until they’re in trouble, which can lead to a long, drawn-out situation. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until you need a lawyer.
There are a variety of different types of lawyers that you can hire to help you protect and grow your business. Some focus on intellectual property, some on general business law, and others specialize in specific areas such as corporate law, employment law, tax law, and more.
If you’re not sure which type of lawyer you need, you can start by asking yourself these questions:
- Are you seeking a firm specializing in commercial litigation, tax law, or something else?
- Are you looking for an attorney who is located near your business?
- Are you looking for a specific practice area such as trademark, copyright, or employment law?
- Do you need an attorney with a particular specialty?
- Do you need a lawyer to advise you on various topics or just a few?
Frequently Asked Questions Attorney for Your Business
Q: What do you look for in an attorney?
A: We’re looking for someone experienced with business matters, has solid law knowledge, and is well-connected in the legal community.
Q: What do you want to know about me?
A: Who are you, where are you from, what’s your education, and how did you get into law? We want to know how you can help us.
Q: Can you give me some advice on finding the right attorney?
A: We recommend going online if we don’t know anyone in your area. Tons of online directories and services list attorneys by specialty or location.
Top Myths About Attorneys for Your Business
- You have to be a lawyer yourself to hire a lawyer.
- Hiring an attorney is expensive.
- It’s expensive to have an attorney represent you.
Conclusion
Before finding an attorney, you need to consider what type of business you are in. The type of business you run will impact how you structure your legal needs. For example, if you are running a company selling goods and services, you must deal with sales taxes. If you are running a service-based business, you must deal with contracts, licensing, and other things. An attorney can help you determine what you need to know and when to hire them.
