Why Smaller Florida Businesses Need General Counsel
Small business owners have a lot to deal with, and managing expenses is a top priority. This means there is little room for hiring full-time in-house counsel, as that high-cost is simply out of the question for most. However, you can look to retain outside counsel who are just a phone call away when the need arises.
At the Law Offices of Larry E. Bray, P.A., we understand the importance of having access to affordable legal counsel designed to meet the needs of business owners as they arise. We can provide quality legal services without the requirement to pay for full-time in-house counsel that is not needed for your type of business. Our West Palm Beach in-house counsel attorneys have ample experience helping businesses throughout the area.
Legal counsel is not cost prohibitive, despite what many people think. Just because you can’t afford to hire a full-time in-house attorney doesn’t mean you can’t afford — or don’t need — assistance from an attorney. There are numerous important tasks that general counsel can complete for your business. This allows you to utilize the expertise of the same attorney who understands your business but isn’t on your full-time payroll.
Tasks that General Counsel Can Assist With
Business attorneys can help your company in multiple ways. Some of these include:
- Drafting, reviewing, and analyzing contracts
- Provide day-to-day and operational business-related legal advice
- Mergers and acquisitions, including corporate strategy and business valuations
- Business planning, including estate planning and business succession
- Buying and selling properties, closings, and other real estate transactions
- Employment issues, including claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment, and challenges to non-compete agreements
- Complex business litigation
Reasons to Hire General Counsel
One of the main reasons to consider having general counsel on your side is to help you avoid costly mistakes. While it’s commendable that you want to take on everything yourself, you may end up making serious and costly mistakes. It’s cheaper and certainly less stressful to try and prevent problems before they happen.
When you are starting a business, an attorney can help you decide what type of business organization is right for you. Maybe you’ve been contemplating a corporation, but an LLC would better serve your needs. Once your business is established, having an attorney who can draft and review your contracts can help save you time and money as well. It can streamline your business dealings and also reduce the risk of litigation. Are you looking at property for your business? Commercial leases are typically drafted in favor of the landlord and they are almost always complex. Don’t let yourself end up in a one-sided lease for your business location.
Intellectual property is also an important part of your business. Your attorney can help register products and services as well as help you if someone violates your intellectual property and you need to pursue an infringement claim.
If you have questions on how we can assist your business, contact the Law Offices of Larry E. Bray, P.A., today to schedule an initial consultation. Let us look at your business and show you all the ways we can help.
