As a small business owner in LA, a Los Angeles corporate attorney should be an integral part of starting a business. Rather than just seeking legal advice when a legal claim is made, entrepreneurs should be proactive to avoid legal claims in the first place. Nakase Wade California Business Lawyer & Corporate Lawyer has helped many entrepreneurs select the right business lawyer.
In this article, we will tell you how to find a business law attorney in just 5 steps.
- Identify the areas where you need legal help
- Search legal directories to find specialist attorneys
- Interview the business lawyers on your shortlist
- Negotiate fees
- Identify areas where you don’t need legal help
California trusted business lawyers and corporate attorneys.
Identify the areas where you need legal help
Be proactive and protect your business from claims rather than dealing with litigation as they arise. You can do this by hiring a business lawyer from the start to make sure your business is legally sound. Some of the areas a small business attorney can help your startup in are:
- Establishing a company – Your lawyer can help you weigh the pros and cons of different companies.
- Raising venture capital – There are a number of complex securities laws associated with raising venture capital. A business lawyer can make sure you’re getting it right.
- Civil proceedings – There is no doubt that almost all companies have disputes. A civil attorney is required to assist a company in resolving business disputes.
- ADA violations – Even the best-intended entrepreneur can face an ADA lawsuit. An ADA attorney is required to help a company comply with ADA laws.
- Employees – Almost all companies have employees. A labor law attorney is required to ensure compliance with labor laws.
- Founding agreements – Avoid disputes between your business partners by ensuring that the responsibilities of all parties and the sharing of profits are clearly set out in writing.
- Contracts – Strong contracts protect your company and its interests.
- Labor disputes – Regardless of your policies and practices, employers can face labor or employment disputes. A business attorney can prevent many of these disputes and mitigate the disputes that arise.
- Intellectual property – Intellectual property is your competitive advantage and must be protected at all costs.
The examples above show how a business lawyer can proactively protect your business. Don’t wait to be sued.
Search the legal directories to find specialist lawyers
Decide whether you need a general business lawyer or one who specializes in your industry. A generalist can be helpful if you are a startup and need help building your business. A specialist lawyer knows the industry-specific laws and regulations that affect your company.
In an online legal directory, business lawyers are listed according to specialist fields and areas. Make a list of those nearby and specializing in your industry so you can review the reviews to make a pick list. Another way to find candidates to be shortlisted is to ask people in your industry to recommend lawyers they’ve worked with. The California Attorney General’s website provides a list of directories for locating an attorney.
Interview the business lawyers in your shortlist
Most business lawyers offer free consultation so they can meet clients before working with them. Interview each small business attorney on your shortlist to see if they would be a good fit for your business. They need to have the experience your business needs and their personality needs to match yours too. After all, this will be a long-term professional relationship.
Below are some sample questions that can help you determine suitability for your small business.
Have you worked with a lot of small businesses?
While an attorney representing Fortune 500 companies may seem attractive, he’s used to working with clients who have deeper pockets. A lawyer who regularly represents small businesses will have a better fee structure for your needs and a lower cost defense.
What is your experience with this legal problem?
Share your list of areas where you need legal assistance and ask the business attorney about their experience with these questions.
Do you have a network that you can refer to if I need specific assistance?
Business lawyers have areas of expertise and may not be experts on all issues that arise. It’s important to have an attorney who is happy to refer a peer-to-peer if a legal issue is beyond their expertise.
It’s important to have an attorney who is happy to refer a peer-to-peer if a legal issue is beyond their expertise.
Will other people in your company work on my business?
Business lawyers have a number of cases en route at the same time. That’s why they have a team of paralegal, clerks and staff to help them manage and research cases. Supporting these people in your company is beneficial as their time is less expensive than that of a lawyer and your company will receive more time and attention.
Are there any conflicts of interest if you take over my business?
Business lawyers who specialize in certain industries can represent a competitor. Therefore, if you argue with them, there may be a conflict of interest. Your business lawyer cannot represent you if he is representing an existing client.
What is your preferred method of communication?
Lawyers have their own way of communicating with clients, but you may also have preferred methods of communication. If efficiency is your priority, emails and casual calls might be your best. If you need further clarification, you may prefer face-to-face meetings with your business lawyer.
What are your fees?
Don’t be afraid to talk about money. You need to make sure that you can afford your lawyer.
Negotiate fees
Discuss the corporate attorney fee structure and its amount. This is an integral part of finding the lawyer who is best for your company. Here are some of the fee structures lawyers can use:
Flat fee
Flat fees are fixed fees for specific tasks. Even if the task takes longer than expected or is more complex, there are no additional fees or hidden costs. This fee structure is often used for basic services and you may be able to negotiate package discounts for a startup.
Conditional fee
Conditional fees are often used when a company takes legal action to recover compensation or damage. Rather than getting prepaid or using billable hours, the business attorney is only paid if he wins the case. They will collect your fee as a percentage of the compensation claimed. An attorney may be reluctant to offer a contingent fee if they haven’t worked with you before or thinks you might be firing them in the middle of the case. This is because they don’t get paid until they win the case.
Business capital
It is extremely rare for a small business attorney to offer corporate capital as a payment option. However, it can do so if you have a good business plan.
Retention Agreement
A retention agreement allows you to purchase a set amount of business attorney’s time each month. This means that asking for advice will give you quicker answers. Any work that the lawyer does above your retention quota will be performed on a flat-rate basis according to your agreement.
Identify areas where you don’t need legal help
While starting a business can seem complex, there are many things that are simple and don’t require the assistance of a lawyer. By identifying things that you can do yourself or with the help of a professional such as an accountant, you can keep costs down. Here are some common business tasks that do not require legal assistance:
- Write a business plan
- Choosing a domain or company name
- Submit formation papers
- Applying for business licenses
- Apply for EIN
- Applying for a business loan
- Hiring independent contractors or employees
- Everything that has to do with taxes
- Payroll
Finally
Hiring a business lawyer right from the start will save you money in the long run. You can ensure that your company is protected from costly and time-consuming legal claims and that your contracts protect your business interests.
Take the time to research and interview small business lawyers so you can find the right solution for your business. You want to stay with a business attorney for as long as possible to make sure they have an in-depth knowledge of your company.
Nakase Wade business attorneys and corporate attorneys act as strategic partners for companies of all sizes – from startups to medium-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies – across the country and around the world. Our attorneys strive to advance our clients’ business goals, achieve exceptional results, and realize new opportunities as we work to deliver an unparalleled experience. Our corporate and corporate attorneys serve companies in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside County, or San Bernardino County.
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