A SAFETY NET FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL NEEDS
Most businesses think of attorneys as a last line of defense after a lawsuit arises. They approach attorneys after they have been sued or need to file a lawsuit and face uncertainty and the possibility of unbudgeted costs. This mentality is not only wrong, but inevitably leads to higher risk and higher costs in the long term.Almost all large companies have a chief legal officer and teams of in-house attorneys working for them on a daily basis. For the average small to medium size company, this is neither economically feasible nor necessary. However, all small and medium sized businesses can benefit from the assistance of an attorney before problems arise.
Every business needs a lawyer during each step along the process, from purchase or inception, through growth, to sale or winding down. When used properly, an attorney is an effective and economical tool that can set up a series of one-time procedures to effectively and efficiently manage risk, deter litigation, and increase revenue.
WHAT EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS ON DAY ONE
Remembering to check your tire pressure before a long road-trip is an easy, but often overlooked, way to avoid a blowout or flat tire. Learning to change a flat tire for the first time on the side of the road is bad policy. In a perfect world, every driver should either learn how to change a tire in a safe environment and with the assistance of a skilled individual or have a road side service to do the task for you. Litigation is the same way. There are steps you can take now that can either deter or drastically limit your future liability.
Right or wrong, lawsuits happen all the time to undeserving businesses. The unfortunate truth is that your business will be sued at some point. How you react to a lawsuit is drastically different depending on whether you have already laid down the proper asset protection or are reacting to a crisis
At a minimum, every business should maintain the proper corporation formation and formalities, trademark and service mark registration, operating agreement, and financial separation between your business and personal finances. These basic procedures protect your proprietary information and sever your own individual liability. Most businesses can also benefit from a host of other on-time legal services, including non-compete or non-disclosure agreements, terms and conditions, contracts, lease review and modification, and employment agreements, just to name a few.
Industry-Specific Solutions
Beyond basic protection, each industry has its own industry-specific solutions; many of which only require a one-time setup. The following is a short list of the many services we provide that will inevitably save you time and money:
Do you have a unique logo, fictitious name, slogan, or trade secret?
If your business utilizes any of the above-or an A/K/A, D/B/A, expression, or product line with specific branding-each must be registered to protect your ownership.
Do your employees use or rent company equipment, machinery, or vehicles?
Disclaimers, releases, and specifically tailored guidelines may deter lawsuits stemming from accidents or employee misconduct.
Do you use salespersons to sell, or broker the sale of, products or goods?
Whether sales are conducted in-person or over the telephone, non-compete and confidentiality agreements may prevent your salespersons from stealing your clients and potential sales.
Do you sell goods or services to individuals or businesses?
A well-constructed ‘Terms and Conditions’ page can be added to your contracts to prevent lawsuits, limit liability, and help increase collection on delinquent accounts.
Does your company perform multiple unrelated services or tasks?
If your business has more than one division or area of specialty you should consider splitting your company into two or more separate entities to manage risk and limit your liability.
Is your place of service open to the general public?
You must make sure that you are in ADA compliance or risk “slap-suits” by predatory attorneys and scam artists.