Small Business Lawyers
What Are Small Business Lawyers?
A small business is generally defined as a business that is privately owned, and has less employees as well as less annual revenue than that of a corporation or other sizeable business. This can be a smaller corporation, a partnership, or sole proprietorship. What constitutes small, in terms of applying for government support and qualifying for beneficial tax policies, will largely vary by country as well as industry.
Business lawyers offer legal services concerned with the operations and regulations of businesses, including small businesses. They generally assist with issues such as:
- Business formation;
- Business dispute resolution;
- Corporate laws; and
- The sale and transfer of businesses.
A small business lawyer may also handle other matters such as:
- Corporate compliance;
- Securities and other related topics; and
- Discrimination and hiring disputes.
What Do Small Business Lawyers Focus On?
Simply put, a small business lawyer is tasked with helping small business owners solve whatever business related problems they may be facing. They help small business owners understand those problems, as well as which problems they may face later on.
As previously mentioned, a small business lawyer will generally focus on business disputes and compliance with applicable business regulations and laws. They may also handle international legal issues such as the transportation of goods. They may represent small business owners, employees, and insurance agencies.
In addition to litigating business disputes, a small business lawyer may assist with various tasks unrelated to issues. Some examples would include:
- Helping to negotiate, draft, and review business contracts;
- Helping with business start-up and incorporation filings;
- Addressing business termination or transfer issues; and
- Helping a company shift or change their organizational structure.
In some business disputes that result in a lawsuit, a small business lawyer may play the role of an expert witness. An example of this would be if the court requires some additional information regarding a particular business practice.
What Are Some Unique Issues Small Businesses Face?
Small businesses face some unique issues that larger businesses may not face, or may have already faced and are better prepared to deal with on their own. Some unique issues small businesses face include, but are not limited to:
- Which business structure to choose, such as choosing between an limited liability corporation (“LLC”) or an S Corp;
- Which contracts and business documents will need to be drafted, such as employment agreements and waivers;
- What to do when a contract is disputed or breached;
- How to navigate mergers and acquisitions, such as when being acquired by a larger company;
- How to resolve business issues and other claims, such as establishing best practices for handling workplace sexual harassment, discrimination, etc;
- Managing compliance and risk management, such as developing effective systems for monitoring and minimizing risks that the business will face; and
- Addressing real estate and property disputes, such as negotiating sales and leases.
Should any legal issues arise that result in litigation, it would be best for a small business to be represented by a lawyer. While it is entirely possible to represent yourself as a small business owner, it would be far easier to work with a small business lawyer who has experience addressing the unique issues you may face.
How Can You Benefit from a Small Business Lawyer?
The biggest benefit to hiring a small business lawyer is the representation they provide. Sometimes, small problems grow to become larger and more complex legal issues. Such issues can be expensive to resolve if not done correctly the first time. In comparison, the expenses associated with hiring a small business lawyer could actually result in less money spent in the long run.
Thus, it is in your best interest to hire a small business lawyer as soon as you begin to establish your business. An experienced and local lawyer can help you draft all of the necessary documents and start your business on the right foot. They can also provide you with sound business advice and assist you in avoiding as many legal pitfalls as possible.
In order to find a small business lawyer, you could begin with a search engine and use terms such as “small business lawyer near me”, or “small business lawyer near me.”
A good place to start is LegalMatch.com, which provides free attorney-client matching services, tailored to the individual needs of each client. You can post information related to your business claim using our online form, and once posted, lawyers in your area will be able view what you posted. Next, you should receive a response from a qualified business lawyer within 1-3 business days. You can also view lawyer profiles and their reviews through the LegalMatch website.
