Running a business can be challenging to say the least. It requires hard work, perseverance, determination, and focus. To be successful, it will require you to invest money, time, attention, and effort. Because of all this, it can be quite easy to forget about the countless legal issues affecting small businesses.
Unfortunately, ignoring the legal pitfalls of business ownership is a luxury you can’t afford. How you deal with particular legal issues (or if you choose to deal with them at all) can make or break your business. That’s where business attorneys can provide priceless counsel. The right business law attorney will help you manage a wide range of issues, such as business formation and operation matters, real estate — where you operate your business and whether you buy or lease, litigation, consumer protection, contracts, and employment matters — how you manage your workforce.
But how exactly do you choose the right attorney? Well, here are a few tips that you might want to consider.
Forget the negative stereotypes about lawyers. There are plenty of negative stereotypes associated with lawyers. The profession is infamous for overcharging their clients, prioritizing their own interests, and more. However, in most cases, these stereotypes are simply not true. Your lawyer has a vested interest in protecting your business and the people involved.
The right business attorney can prove to be one of the most rewarding and supportive business relationships you’ll ever have.
Find a good teacher. What many people seem to forget is that lawyers aren’t just celebrated problem solvers. The right lawyer should also be willing to educate and advise you as to how you can avoid potential legal issues or at least minimize the damage of existing ones. He should be able to effectively explain to you and your team how the law can affect your business transactions.
Don’t underestimate the value of experience. While a fresh law graduate may be good enough for your needs, chances are that you won’t be satisfied with just “good enough.” Instead, you’ll want to hire someone who has extensive experience in business law and related fields. An experienced lawyer can offer you much more than academic prowess and theoretical knowhow, he’ll also be able to provide you with negotiation and litigation skills, industry connections, and more.
Bryan understands business, and as a CPA and an attorney with extensive experience helping form, buy and sell businesses, negotiate and document commercial real estate acquisitions and leases, draft, negotiate and litigate business contracts, and manage workforce issues and disputes, he could be your business’s most valuable asset.