Business Law

Owners first choose a structure — sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation — which decides personal liability, taxes and how decisions are made; formation is governed by the state where the business registers. After that, most legal work is contracts: with customers, suppliers, landlords, lenders, investors and co-owners. Business lawyers also handle employment matters, licensing and regulatory compliance, intellectual property, mergers and sales, and disputes that end in negotiation, arbitration or court.

Many owners form a simple LLC on their own. A business lawyer pays for itself when you take on partners or investors, sign a lease or a large contract, buy or sell a business, hire your first employees, or receive a demand letter. An operating or shareholder agreement written at the start prevents the most expensive disputes later.

Business attorneys bill hourly, charge flat fees for defined tasks such as formation or a contract review, or work on a monthly retainer as outside general counsel. Ask which model fits the work you expect in the next year.