What Exactly Do Business Lawyers Do?

What Exactly Do Business Lawyers Do?

During the course of doing business, legal issues often arise. In most cases, resolving these issues requires the assistance of a qualified lawyer.

Whether you have a small business that you operate by yourself or own a large corporation that employs thousands of people, it is important to establish a good relationship with a lawyer who specializes in business law. The list below outlines some of the most common issues that business lawyers handle for their clients:

1. Dealing with trademarks, copyrights, and other issues involving intellectual property. A lawyer can help you trademark your business name, obtain copyright protection, or file for a patent. They can also go after people who are infringing on your rights by using your company’s image, name, or other protected IP assets without your permission.

2. Writing contracts. Business contracts are common in just about every industry. From employment contracts to nondisclosure agreements, partnership agreements, and non-compete agreements, it is important to make sure that all of your contracts are written in a way that is legally binding and that protects your rights.

3. Dealing with taxes. When you run a business, there are countless tax-related issues that need to be dealt with in accordance with the law. This includes taxes at both the federal and state level. Depending on where your business is located, you may need to deal with issues like sales tax. If you have employees, your tax obligations can quickly become extremely complex. A good lawyer can help ensure that your business stays on top of any taxes that it owes so that you don’t face any unexpected surprises at the end of the year.

4. Dealing with employment-related issues. A ton of legal issues can come up when you have employees. For instance, what should you do if one of your employees complains that they are being sexually harassed? How can you fire an employee without violating their rights? How many breaks do you have to provide for your employees? Are you required to offer benefits like health insurance to full-time workers? What steps do you need to take to make your workplace accessible? Questions like these can be challenging to deal with if you aren’t familiar with the law. When you hire a good lawyer, however, you can be sure that you are dealing with any issues related to your employees in accordance with the laws of your state.

5. Selling your business or buying another business. If you decide to sell your business, it is important to have a lawyer on hand to help you handle the transaction. Similarly, if you plan on acquiring another business or going through a merger, qualified legal advice is absolutely essential.

These are just a handful of the things that business lawyers do. They can handle most legal issues that arise that are related to the operation of your business. Establishing a good relationship with a lawyer early on in your business is important. That way, you can be sure that your company is always in compliance with the law, helping to avoid potentially costly situations.