When Do You Need a Business Lawyer?
You might need a business lawyer to advise and assist you in knowing which laws and regulations your specific business will need to adhere to. For new and startup businesses, a business lawyer can help you ensure a legal start and provide you with advice on how to use the law to protect your new business. If your business is already established, the lawyer can ensure that any mergers or acquisitions go smoothly and with limited complications. A business lawyer can also navigate any complicated compliance issues you may be facing.
A business lawyer can establish a firm legal foundation for your business. An experienced business lawyer will protect your rights and ensure you adhere to all applicable laws while assisting in more complex matters as your business grows. LegalMatch can assist you in locating local, affordable commercial lawyers.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Business Lawyer in Canada?
Business lawyers in Canada have varying fee schedules for their work. Business lawyers may charge an hourly rate for issues that cannot be offered as a flat fee. The average price of a lawyer with ten years of experience might cost around $300/hr.
Business lawyers in Canada typically charge around $300-$700/hr but can be more or less expensive depending on the case. A standard lawyer fee arrangement may require you to fill the lawyer’s retainer, which provides a set amount to the lawyer that they may draw from for their first amount of work.
What to Look For in a Business Lawyer
While Canada business lawyers handle various legal matters, find a business lawyer experienced in:
- Buying and selling a business;
- Filing incorporation documents;
- Drafting and reviewing business contracts;
- Business formation;
- Business disputes;
- Conflicts that involve the sale and purchase of stocks and other securities;
- Compliance with business regulations and laws;
- Responding to the improper use of protected business information, such as copyrighted and trademarked materials; and
- Interstate and international legal issues, such as the transportation of goods.
Besides litigating business disputes, a business lawyer in Canada should be able to assist with various tasks, such as:
- Negotiating, drafting, and reviewing business contracts;
- Assisting with business start-up and incorporation filings;
- Addressing business termination or transfer issues; and
- Assisting the business in their shift or change in organizational structure.
Business lawyers may be consulted for a wide range of legal issues. In some lawsuits, a business lawyer may play the role of an expert witness. An example of this will be if the court needs additional information regarding a particular business practice.
How to Prepare for Your Consultation With a Business Lawyer in Canada
Always know exactly why a lawyer is being hired. This can help focus on the issues in your case, which will narrow down your search and may also reveal how long the professional relationship should last. For example, a startup may want to hire a lawyer who will manage everything from its filing status to raising money to future employment issues. In contrast, a small business owner may only need to hire a lawyer for a short amount of time, such as when they need quick advice on taxes or one-time assistance with filing their business’s trademark application.
Sometimes, a prospective lawyer may check all of these boxes, but a client may not feel comfortable working with them for whatever reason. If nothing else, a client must be able to work with the lawyer they hire and trust that they will help them make the right decisions. While it may not be an exact science, there are some instances where a client may be better off trusting their intuition above all else.
Where to Find the Best Business Lawyers in Canada
There are specific issues where it may be in your best interest to use LegalMatch to hire a local business lawyer for further legal advice. For instance, you may need help with starting or selling a business. Filing the paperwork to form a company may seem straightforward and uncomplicated. Still, you may want to speak to a lawyer before they can provide valuable guidance on the relationship between taxes and specific business structures.
You can find further legal services through the Canadian Bar Association here or see a list of law societies in your jurisdiction here.
