A business attorney provides legal services and advice that affect almost every aspect of a company. Generally, a business lawyer helps companies of every size ensure that they are in compliance with applicable business regulations and that all business operations are legal.
Further, Washington, D.C. business attorneys most commonly help companies with the following:
Starting a Business
Choosing between an LLC, an S Corp, or another business type? The wrong decision can be incredibly costly to fix and the problems might not be apparent for years.
Intellectual property
Trademarking, copyrighting, or patenting a product or service will help instill confidence in your customer base. Thus, allowing your company to thrive. For example, if you have a registered patent, your customers will know that you invented the product and thus have an unmatched level of expertise. This reputational boost can be critical to the success of small businesses that are just starting to gain recognition in a given industry.
Writing Contracts
What forms do you need when hiring employees or bringing on a new client? Do they need to sign any kind of waiver? What should the forms say? Business lawyers can help draft contracts to meet the unique needs of your business.
Disputed Contracts & Breaches of Contract
What happens when a contract is disputed? A client isn’t paying? Does an employee share secrets? A business lawyer will negotiate and advocate on your behalf, even filing a lawsuit if needed.
conflict resolution
Even the most prepared and well-meaning business owner can run into problems related to disability and sick leave, discrimination, sexual harassment, and workplace safety. A business lawyer educates clients on applicable laws and best practices and represents them when an issue arises.
Business Formation
The business entity you choose for your company impacts every aspect of business operation from the payment of taxes and the ability to obtain capital to personal liability protection and the ability to take the company public. If you do not understand the various pros and cons of each business entity, you could choose an entity that results in costly, and time-consuming legal problems and issues in the future.
Compliance
New and even established businesses benefit from an experienced business lawyer who can advise on compliance issues and develop systems to monitor and minimize risk.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Thinking about buying out a competitor? Being acquired by a bigger company? Finally, looking to join forces with another business? Don’t make the mistake of not having a business lawyer to advise and guide you through the process.
Real Estate and Property Disputes
Whether your business owns property or leases it, you’ll likely need the assistance of a business lawyer. Further, business attorneys negotiate sales and leases, navigating complex and confusing real estate and tenant laws.
Do Business Attorneys Go to Court?
Because there are so many different issues businesses must work through when operating, business attorneys will usually have a general skillset to handle the various types of business-related matters—including litigation. The Antonoplos & Associate Washington, D.C. business lawyers do whatever they can to avoid the costly and time-consuming litigation process. However, if your case requires litigation, our attorneys have over twenty years of business litigation experience.
When Should a Business Consult an Attorney
Even the most simple and trivial transactions can lead to misunderstandings that may cost a company thousands of dollars to fix. In many of these cases, a quick consultation with a Washington, D.C. business attorney could have helped you avoid or severely mitigate the issues you are now facing.
Whether you own a local small business or a national corporation, if you catch yourself pondering whether or not you need an attorney or not, it is vital to speak with a business attorney immediately. Not only is your time better spent running your company than resolving a legal matter, but most business lawyers offer free initial consultations.
Contact Our DC Law Office for More Information
Finally, for more on what does a business attorney do, contact us at 202-803-5676. You can also directly schedule a consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. Additionally, for general information regarding business and tax law, check out our blog.