what kind of attorney should i have if i own a business?

by Dr. Vivian Davis V 9 min read

As the name suggests, a general business lawyer can provide legal advice on a wide range of matters. This type of lawyer has a hand in every legal discipline. If your business doesn’t deal with special circumstances, a general business lawyer may be well suited to your purposes.

A good business attorney will provide vital assistance in almost every aspect of your business, from basic zoning compliance and copyright and trademark advice to formal business incorporation and lawsuits and liability. First, some general rules about dealing with lawyers: If you are being sued, it's too late.

Full Answer

What type of lawyer do you need for your business?

Jan 16, 2018 · The above is not an exhaustive list of legal tasks which small business owners can do on their own. It should be stated that if your business is well-funded or you feel that you need the assistance of an attorney, you can always retain a lawyer to help you with everything listed above. Issues Where You Will Need a Business Lawyer

Do I need an attorney to start a sole proprietorship?

May 19, 2021 · General Business Lawyer. As the name suggests, a general business lawyer can provide legal advice on a wide range of matters. This type of lawyer has a hand in every legal discipline. If your business doesn’t deal with special circumstances, a general business lawyer may be well suited to your purposes.

What are the different types of small business lawyers?

Starting a business is simple. First, you need to decide what kind of business you want to start and if you wish to form a legal business entity.Even if you work alone as a sole proprietor or freelancer, there are still benefits to incorporating you business, including liability protection and possible tax advantages.

What does a general business lawyer do?

Sep 11, 2012 · When faced with this challenge, the question often comes up of which business entity makes sense to select. In addition, as a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) and attorney, I have had my share of questions from clients regarding which type of entity a person should set up if they want to start a business.

image

How do I choose the right business lawyer?

How to Find and Pick a Business Attorney in 5 StepsDetermine why you need a business attorney.Source attorneys through your network or legal directories.Compare attorneys by asking the right questions.Work out a fee arrangement that fits your budget.Know when it's okay to skip the small business lawyer.Oct 15, 2020

Why do small businesses need lawyers?

Why do small businesses need a lawyer? ... Ensure compliance: A lawyer can help make sure that your business opens and operates by federal, state and local laws. Reduce risk: Doing business exposes you to risk, but a business attorney can help you establish a set of procedures that will limit your risk.Apr 4, 2019

How can a lawyer help a business?

Consider these four crucial ways commercial lawyers will help your business establish a solid foundation and generate long-term growth.Support Business Operations. ... Reviewing Legal Documents. ... Advice on Legal Matters. ... Settling Disputes.Jan 6, 2021

Does a company need a lawyer?

Lawyers are necessary for a business not only for their primary purposes (take care of company's legalities) but they can also be very helpful in terms of connections (for partnerships and financiers) so choosing the best law yer is something that should be taken seriously and research and inquiries must not be ...

Is LegalShield a good deal?

If you want the security of knowing that you can quickly get a response from a lawyer if you ever need it, LegalShield is a good choice. For a reasonable monthly fee, you can access a lawyer at a leading law firm and get targeted help on specific problem areas for small businesses, such as debt collection.Sep 17, 2020

How do start my own business?

Conduct market research. Market research will tell you if there's an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. ... Write your business plan. ... Fund your business. ... Pick your business location. ... Choose a business structure. ... Choose your business name. ... Register your business. ... Get federal and state tax IDs.More items...

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Medical AttorneysMedical Attorneys Medical lawyers are among the highest paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.Oct 27, 2021

What is the difference between corporate law and business law?

Business Law deals with the elemental legalities which are required for an organisation's foundation whereas Corporate Law lays emphasis on the operations, actions, and validity of an organisation. In simple phrases, Corporate Lawyers write the contracts and business lawyers evaluation these contracts.Oct 24, 2020

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.

The Importance of Lawyers for Small Business Owners

It’s well known that hiring a lawyer can be expensive, making it challenging for some small business owners to retain their services. However, if your business is subject to a lawsuit, you’ll be relieved that you hired a lawyer.

6 Types Of Lawyers For Businesses

People sometimes wonder what types of lawyers are available to them. Lawyers often specialize in either business law or personal law. For this reason, you should search for lawyers who have business law experience.

Attorneys You May Face Litigation From In Business

The information in this article can help you when you face a legal situation. When you learn about the case details, you’ll know which type of lawyer you’ll be up against. You can then work with a business attorney to determine the best plan to handle it.

Resting Our Case

After reading this article, you should understand the benefits of hiring the right business lawyer. By hiring the right lawyer, you can protect your business in the long run and have peace of mind.

Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident—for example, a car accident—the type of lawyer you’ll want to see is a personal injury lawyer. These types of attorneys specialize in obtaining compensation in the form of damages for injuries caused by other parties.

Estate Planning Lawyer

The estate planning lawyer specializes in wills and trusts, and can help you to draw up a will to pass on your assets. Among other estate planning legal services, this type of lawyer can help you set up a trust which will help take care of your children’s financial needs.

Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you’re having financial difficulties and are contemplating bankruptcy proceedings, you’ll want to consult with a bankruptcy attorney.

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Also known as an IP attorney, an intellectual property lawyer can advise you with regard to issues relating to intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design and trade secrets.

Employment Lawyer

Whether you’re a company that’s having a problem with an employee, or an individual who’s having problems with the company you work for, an employment lawyer can generally provide advice about legal issues which arise from an employment contract or within an employment relationship.

Corporate Lawyer

If you own a corporation, you’ll likely find yourself consulting with a corporate attorney on many different occasions. A corporate lawyer will be able to help you with issues related to the formation of your corporation, general corporate governance issues and corporate compliance issues.

Immigration Lawyer

When you’re dealing with immigration issues, you’ll want to consult with an immigration lawyer. This type of lawyer should be well versed in dealing with immigration issues such as visas, citizenship, refugee or asylum and green cards.

1. Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyers

Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected from copycats and duplicates. If you've created an art design, a unique product, a novel, a song or a computer program, you can consult with an intellectual property lawyer for securing copyright, patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements.

2. Family Lawyers

These are lawyers who handle all kinds of domestic cases, such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, adoption, paternity, alimony, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and emancipation. But family attorneys may also handle reproductive rights cases, and their work may intersect with other areas of the law.

3. Estate Planning Lawyers

Though no one likes to prepare for their death, there’s always one certain and inevitable end for everyone. Estate planning lawyers are there to help clients properly sort out the assets and properties they would like to leave with their children and loved ones, should that time come.

4. Personal Injury Lawyers

Cases which involve a person who accuses another individual, company, government entity or organization of physical or psychological injuries will need the expertise of a personal injury lawyer. This lawyer is an expert in tort law, which deals with civil legal liabilities and damages.

5. Malpractice Lawyers

Malpractice lawyers may be needed in cases where a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or government official is being sued for violating their duties. Since these are professions that ascribe to a set of standards, they have greater professional responsibilities that may be challenged in the courtroom or in litigation.

6. Business Lawyers

Also known as corporate lawyers, business lawyers are legal eagles who cover a more full range of expertise in building, managing, maintaining, transferring and dissolving a business. Lawyers in this area of practice deal with the formation of the company, employment contracts, tax compliance, acquisitions, and mergers.

7. Labor Lawyers

Labor lawyers specialize in handling unlawful lay-offs and workplace discriminations. They also negotiate their clients' severance pay. These attorneys usually work with unions, but they are most helpful for non-unionized employees because these are the workers who do not have anyone advocating for their cause.

Get Ready for 2019: New California Labor Laws That Will Impact Your Business

California Gov. Jerry Brown recently completed acting on the 1,217 bills that came across his desk this year. He has signed 1,016 of them into law, with the majority taking effect...

Regulatory Compliance for Cryptocurrency Businesses

Certain aspects of cryptocurrency may trigger money service business regulations, securities law, and some state level specific rules. If your business revolves around...

Beware of DIY Sites When Setting Up Your Business

Using DIY sites to incorporate your business can be tempting, but it’s best to go with a qualified attorney to avoid hidden costs and problems down the road.

Five Examples How GDPR Affects US Small Businesses

Size has no bearing on an organization’s GDPR compliance obligations. GDPR requires process and technology changes across many functional areas. UpCounsel attorney Michael Witt...

Keeping Data Safe On Your Website

More than ever, protecting the data you collect from your website and services is critical to your business.

7 Dangers to Look Out for in Commercial Leases

A commercial lease for office or retail space is a serious commitment for your business. Companies make mistakes all the time, and these 7 as the most common.

How do I start a business?

Starting a business is simple. First, you need to decide what kind of business you want to start and if you wish to form a legal business entity. Even if you work alone as a sole proprietor or freelancer, there are still benefits to incorporating you business, including liability protection and possible tax advantages.

Should I start a business?

No one can answer that question for you. Running a business is both challenging and rewarding, but not everyone succeeds. If you have a good business idea or have already started your business as a sole proprietor, it makes sense to form a business entity. There are many advantages including funding options, tax advantages and liability protection.

How do I fund my new business?

It is best to start off with some money in the bank. Many financial advisors also recommend that you "keep your day job" for a while if you can, so you do not have to depend on the business to pay your personal expenses. You may also be able to qualify for a small business loan to help you with start up costs.

How can I make my business successful?

That is the golden question. While a one-size-fits-all answer doesn't exist, there are a few common traits that can help your business succeed. Major topics of consideration include:

image

Expertise – Navigating The Sea of Options

  • The modern world is a specialized one. That business you’re starting? It probably isn’t aimed at being a multinational conglomerate (at least, not from the start). Instead, chances are you’ve decided to start a business because you’ve identified a hole in the market or an underserved customer base; a place where your specialized knowledge or skill will help differentiate your bra…
See more on upcounsel.com

Experience – They’Ve Seen It Before

  • You probably didn’t get your great business idea just from reading books about great business ideas, and attorneys didn’t get where they are solely by reading statutes, case studies, and bar review articles. Depending on the attorney, chances are they have worked on dozens if not hundreds of company formations. There is significant value in that experience, in knowing how t…
See more on upcounsel.com

Cost – Saving More Than You Spend

  • No one wants to spend money on things they don’t need, especially a brand new start-up paying every single cost out of pocket. But while it is easy to approach legal fees as a “cost center”, especially in the early days, for the most part it is anything but. Consider the average company. Your company. Consider the time and expense needed to (i) ship a product or service exactly as …
See more on upcounsel.com

Consigliere – A Sounding Board

  • Whether you are starting your first company or your fiftieth, early days generally bring long hours, hard work, and a multitude of questions both legal and not, often in what amounts to a vacuum for the new founders. Having a good attorney on call can be useful for more than just asking questions about the Delaware General Corporation Law. Your attorney will have seen many busi…
See more on upcounsel.com

Networking – The First Professional

  • Running a business (and funding one), is not an easy task. In the course of a given year, the average small business might need: (i) general company counsel, (ii) accounting services, (iii) banking services, (iv) payroll services, (v) labor counsel, (vi) IP counsel, (vii) real estate services (or counsel), (viii) funding sources(angel, institutional, or otherwise), etc. For the same reasons t…
See more on upcounsel.com

Limited Liability – The Reason For All This

  • Though last on this last, the concept of “limited liability” is perhaps the most important one to discuss. In general, you are putting yourself through all the effort, expense, and time commitment of creating a separate legal entity because you don’t want your new business’s liabilities to be your own. The entire purpose of the corporate (or LLC) structure is to limit an investor’s exposur…
See more on upcounsel.com