Business lawyers can help with negotiations, represent you in disputes, and fight your battles in court. Here are other reasons why a corporation might need to hire a lawyer.
Legal services go beyond helping the individual avoid court or claim personal injury compensation. In fact, the average business uses a lawyer regularly to consult on all aspects of their business. This article explores some of the more common times when a corporation may hire a lawyer within its lifespan.
The Ten Times Your Business Might Need a Business Lawyer
Businesses require lawyers for many reasons. From product creation to customer interactions, here are ten top reasons why any corporation might require a business lawyer.
1 – Small Claims Court
If you are a small business and you have wronged a former employee, customer, or other stakeholder in the business, then you might have to go to small claims court. Taking the Small Claims Track can allow individuals and small enterprises to sort out small disputes.
Although corporations don’t often deal with smaller claims, even a large corporation has to start somewhere. If you wrong someone on the way up, you will need a lawyer capable of handling small claims to sort it out for you.
2 – Starting Out
From the moment you propose your start-up organisation, you ought to have a lawyer on retainer. Having help on hand should you need questions answered is a big level up when it comes to protecting your business – and your profits – from the get-go. Sure, you might encounter security breaches or massive fraudulent account activity later in the corporation’s development, but if you have consulted with a corporate lawyer from the beginning, then you have covered your assets from day one.
3 – Filing Patents
If your business is the type of establishment where invention is encouraged, then you may wish to keep a patent lawyer close by. These lawyers specialise in crafting the meticulous wording needed to file a patent on your behalf, or to protect your intellectual property. This protects new ideas and inventions from theft, keeping your research and development your own.
4 – Product Design
When you consult a lawyer before the design process begins, they might enlighten you as to things you should avoid. For example, a product liability lawyer can warn you about sharp edges, has experience with lawsuits that may have been filed against similar products in the past, and can advise you of anything to be wary of.
5 – Product Liability
Further along the path of product creation you may encounter issues with your products – especially if you didn’t consult with a lawyer to begin with. Issues could be with durability, fabrics, materials, or safety. If the issue causing liable damages to customers is safety-based, you will need a lawyer to protect your business.
6 – Acquisitions
Whenever a corporation seeks to acquire another business, more land, a new building, or similar items, they ought to go through the retained lawyer to do so. Let the business lawyers handle the paperwork, filing, and deadlines on your behalf while you work out the money side.
7 – Mergers
Similarly, businesses who are going through mergers and who wish their interests to be safely represented, a business lawyer will help. They can represent you in negotiations, help keep your business’s values as an integral part of the merger, and file all your paperwork.
8 – Contracts
You should always get your employee contracts drawn up in the presence of a lawyer. If not, then at least get your lawyer to advise you before you write them. Contracts can get long and detailed, getting it legally correct is an important part of employee law.
9 – Negotiations
There are times when more than one business has a stake in a situation. For example, you may be bidding against another company for land, involved in a lawsuit, or working with similar firms in training or other legal situations. In this case, a lawyer is a professional negotiator capable of operating on your behalf.
10 – Disputes
Just like in a negotiation, you may need a lawyer to represent you in a dispute. Say a disgruntled former employee is chasing you for holiday pay but you lose your temper every time you talk to them. This is when settling disputes using that intermediary comes in handy.
Business Lawyers Protect Your Interests
The upshot of all this is that there are multiple ways in which a corporate lawyer could help your business. Lawyers who specialise in commercial and contractual situations can negotiate on your behalf, settle with disgruntled stakeholders, and even help you gain products which are safer for all involved.