Wednesday, December 23, 2015

How to get good Legal Advice for Business Start-ups

Opening a startup business can be exciting, but many entrepreneurs underestimate how much legal help they will need. Qualified business lawyers who are experienced in dealing with startups can advise you about the laws and regulations that pertain to your business and advise you on a variety of issues that may come to light as you’re setting up your business.



Determine your company’s needs. There are many legal considerations that need to be taken into account when starting a company. As soon as you have an idea, you may have intellectual property to protect. Experienced business lawyers can help you protect it with trademarks, patents or copyrights.

It’s also important to figure out ownership entity, whether it’s a sole proprietorship, limited partnership, general partnership, corporation or LLC. This determination can depend on the type of business, how many people are involved, tax issues, and potential liability issues. It is essential to enlist the help of skilled business lawyers for this step. A poor choice can have major financial repercussions.

There are also a variety of human resources issues that may come up. Attorneys with experience in employment law can help you make sure your company has the correct employment policies in place to comply with labor laws.

Find the right fit with good business lawyers who understand exactly what you want

Find business lawyers who possess solid knowledge about the industry in which you work. If your attorneys understand your business and industry, they can help guide you through some of the major obstacles you may face, and help you make informed business decisions. Ask for referrals from other people in your industry. Ask them who they're using or have worked with in the past, who is good and why.

Hire lawyers who are responsive. Lawyers who have your best interest at heart will be there when you need them, especially when it comes to urgent matters. If you send a note to a firm saying you're interested in working with them and you don't hear back promptly, cross them off your list.

Set ground rules and discuss billing and fees. Once you have selected business lawyers to work with, part of establishing a positive working relationship is setting clear operating guidelines. These guidelines should help set pricing and billing expectations between your company and the firm. Discussing these expectations as part of your vetting process can also shed light on whether a particular team will be right for you.

Create a strategic plan. Think about when you will need legal support over the course of the foreseeable future and what it will cost in terms of both time and money. Make sure expenses for each category of legal work are within expected margins. This will help to control your budget, and provide early indicators of where your business is headed.


Once you have narrowed down a list of lawyers, choose someone with solid knowledge and experience of corporate law, contracts, intellectual property, and tax and employment law. If you select the right team of competent business lawyers like Carosella & Associates, P. C. and focus on getting the best value from their services, your startup will be on the road to success in no time.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Why do you need a Business Lawyer for drafting Business Contracts?

If you do not know an estoppel from an easement, you need a competent attorney to help you draft business contracts. Even if you can separate an exemption clause from an exclusion clause, having an attorney with you to create a business contract adds an extra layer of protection and confidence that your business will not suffer from a costly legal oversight. In today’s competitive market, contract lawyers are essential in drafting business contracts. 

Just for Contracts?

You need not hire an attorney only to help with your business’s contracts. Indeed, by retaining a law firm to assist your company in all areas, you increase the efficiency and security of your day-to-day operations. Ideally, one firm should be able to provide your business with: 
  • Entity formation
  • By-laws
  • Patent applications and intellectual property rights
  • Stockholder agreements
  • Personnel issues 
A sufficiently large, multi-faceted law firm with a deep bench of talent can help your business when unexpected opportunities or emergencies arise. 

Especially for Contracts!

Drafting contracts favorable to your business while maintaining ethics and fairness for the other party is complex. You can be assured the employee, vendor or client has their own lawyers checking the contract you offer; make certain it is on solid legal footing before presenting it to the other party. Make certain your own contract lawyers have examined the contract. 

Many business contracts today depend on so-called “boilerplate” clauses and sections that have been slightly modified from the expected wording to benefit one party. A typical issue is the pervasive, subtle shift to arbitration, often at the cost of preserving a company’s right to sue. Only business contract lawyers will take the time and perform the due diligence needed to check every paragraph, sentence, clause and word of that “boilerplate” to protect your company's rights. 

Remember your business is not exclusively creating contracts for employees, suppliers and clients to sign; you often have to respond to contracts created by others. Getting these contracts reviewed by experienced attorneys greatly simplifies your decision-making. 

Available to Help

Hiring contract lawyers should be convenient to you. Are their offices nearby? Do they answer or return your telephone calls promptly? Do you have sufficient resources to devote to your needs? 

Contracts can mean success or bankruptcy to your business, so lawyers you engage should convey a sense of the grave responsibility they bear. If you do not personally connect with the team, you will not feel well served. A successful relationship depends on the law firm valuing you and the business you own and doing all it can to protect that business. 

Specialization

A business contract can be many things to many companies. A good team of contract lawyers has experience across the wide range of contract law: 
  • Intellectual property
  • Buying and selling
  • Construction bids and contracts
  • Letters of intent
  • Non-compete agreements for valued employees

Your goal in hiring lawyers for your business is to anticipate the many varieties of contracts your business may need as it grows and prospers. Leaving business contracts to do-it-your-selfers is a sure way to leave your business vulnerable to gaps in contracts that could spell disaster for your dreams. 

Friday, September 25, 2015

Finding Quality Business Lawyers for Business Legal Advice


If you own or operate a business, you know it is critical as well as difficult to find and retain a qualified attorney who has vast business, commercial and litigation experience.
Many business lawyers focus on particular aspects of business law, making them experts in certain areas, but the downside is that their collective experience may not be comprehensive enough to suit all of your business needs.
Other firms fall into a "jack of all trades" category, but may not have business lawyers who have the experience to handle all of your business needs.
There are several key factors you should consider when searching for business lawyers:

Structure

The firm should be large enough to handle complex cases, but also small enough to offer you personal attention. Ideally, their business lawyers should be experienced in all critical business areas including:
  • General Corporate matters
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Zoning Issues
  • Commercial and Real Estate
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Immigration
  • Bankruptcy Litigation

They should offer a team of business lawyers that are experienced in each and who are committed to combining their skills and experience to best serve their clients.

Communication

It is equally important to ascertain how accessible their business lawyers are. Will they be there for you when you really need them? In times of urgency it is important that you are able to connect with your lawyers and that they return your communications promptly.
Look for a firm where you will be able to reach your business lawyer during evenings, including weekends, if necessary. Business decisions sometimes need to be made during off-hours, so you need a firm that is committed to keeping in touch with you whenever you need help.

Philosophy

Find out what a particular firm's business philosophy is. Are their business lawyers committed to providing both competent and professional services, counseling and advice to you? 

Legal Affiliations

Find out what legal affiliations your chosen firm has. By having membership in these various organizations, they are always expanding their knowledge and advancing their experience by engaging with other law professionals.
Are they a member of their local bar associations or other societies specific to your business needs?
Check to see if the firm or their lawyers are a member of the following associations:
  • Local County Bar Association
  • City Bar Association
  • State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

References

Lastly, but equally important, ask for references. Check with others who might have worked with the same business lawyers that you are considering and read any testimonials or reviews that you can find on the internet. Other clients have nothing to gain by sharing their experiences, so you should receive an honest and accurate portrayal of the service they received.

Located in West Chester, PA, Carosella and Associates P. C. is a team of business lawyers with vast experience in business law.