Top Reasons Why Every Business Needs a Business Attorney
Running a business is always risky, and many legal issues could arise. A savvy business attorney will help shield your company from lawsuits and other problems that could harm it.
They can also assist with contract drafting so that you can produce an airtight document for each transaction between your company and an employee, vendor, or customer.
Representation in Litigation
Many business owners only consider hiring a lawyer once involved in a legal dispute. However, the primary role of a business attorney is protection – to prevent conflicts and lawsuits from happening in the first place. Involving a company attorney early on might help you avoid making costly mistakes.
Based on your company’s short- and long-term objectives, present financial state, desire to hire staff, and immigration status, a business attorney may assist you in choosing the best business entity type. Your business attorney can also advise you on your obligations, tax laws, third-party contracts and liability protection.
A business attorney like those Underhill Law Denver Business Attorney can draft or examine standard contracts for real estate, services, supplies, employment and financing to ensure that they provide you with adequate protection and indemnification in case of a breach. This prevents you from getting taken advantage of in a legal dispute.
Defending Your Company in Court
A savvy business attorney can level the playing field in a legal dispute with your competitor, an aggrieved employee, or a lawsuit against you by a third party. He can also protect your assets by ensuring all contracts and legal agreements are airtight. He can even advise you on the best business structure for your company, thereby preserving assets and limiting tax liability.
A good business lawyer will help you obtain all the required permits and licenses to conduct your business. He will draft the standard contracts you must enter into with clients, vendors, and employees and review any agreement that other parties want you to sign.
Many small businesses are only willing to hire a business lawyer once a problem arises. However, consulting a business lawyer early can prevent problems and save your company money in the long run. You should carefully select an attorney based on his experience, expertise, and reputation.
Preparing Contracts for Your Company
Whether hiring employees, drafting an independent contractor agreement or creating contracts for vendors, clients or suppliers, business attorneys can help you produce airtight, bulletproof documents that will protect your company from being taken advantage of by anyone with whom you work.
You may pick the appropriate entity type for your business with the assistance of a business lawyer. This choice may have far-reaching effects on your capacity to pay taxes, safeguard your assets from liabilities, and go public with your business. This proactive action upfront might save your company a ton of money and hassles later.
A business lawyer may also help you get the necessary licenses and permissions so that you can run your firm. This covers everything, including registering your company name and obtaining the required health and safety certificates. Cutting corners with these rules might lead to excessive fines later on. A company attorney will guarantee the appropriate and timely completion of the necessary papers.
Preparing Employee Handbooks
Employee handbooks provide a roadmap of the company’s expectations and procedures. They include must-have policies such as at-will employment statements and anti-harassment/discrimination laws. They also address legal requirements of wages, work scheduling/attendance and company property. Additionally, employee benefit policies, termination of employment policies and complaint procedures should be included.
A business attorney can ensure that all of the company’s safety policies are addressed in the employee handbook. This will protect the company from lawsuits related to workplace injury.
In addition, a lawyer can ensure that the employee handbook does not contain any potentially illegal provisions. For example, a policy that requires a doctor’s note for every sick day could violate federal and state laws. Similarly, a strict disciplinary policy could be inflexible and cause employee frustration. A lawyer can help ensure that the employee handbook is drafted following the law and the company’s goals and culture.