Employment law
- (Includes discrimination and labor law) - Your employees are the
hands and feet of your business. As federal and state regulations
become more complex, many business owners are turning to their
attorneys to keep them on course with what the government requires, and
to help them develop policies that are fair to employees, but leave
employers appropriately in control of the workplace. And sometimes,
even employers who are enlightened and completely compliant with
government regulations will still find themselves faced with legal
action from an unhappy employee.
International trade and transportation
- International transactions in goods and services with parties
overseas implicate a different set of laws and a different set of
problems than do domestic sales. Importers and exporters, as well as
customs brokers, freight forwarders, ocean transportation
intermediaries, and others who do business beyond our borders face
problems that are unknown in strictly domestic businesses. With legal
changes brought about by the Department of Homeland Security and
particularly Customs and Border Protection, it is important to work
with an attorney who understands the unique legal challenges facing
clients who ply this trade.
Entity formation
- Even the most modest business venture will benefit from seeking legal
advice at startup. The decision about whether to incorporate, form an
LLC, act as a sole proprietor or form some other entity, will deeply
affect many aspects of the business's future throughout its life.
Proper structuring can result in significant tax savings, more
harmonious interaction between business owners, protection of the
owners' private assets, and a smoother exit strategy, to name just a
few benefits. Restructuring later in the company's life can sometimes
also correct problems with minimal complications.
Contracts and disputes
- At the heart of every business transaction, from selling a
corporation to buying a latte, there is a contract, whether written or
unwritten, whether spelled out or implied. If your business is active,
from time to time, you will have a disagreement with a customer or
vendor, whether about warranties, about what payment is due, or about
whether there was a deal at all. It's reassuring to have reliable legal
counsel to turn to when the problem cannot be resolved by the parties
and too much is at stake to write off. An effective attorney can also
sometimes help you develop strategies to prevent some of these disputes
from arising.