Business Lawyer in Minnesota: Helping You Protect Your Business Long-Term

Starting a new business or growing an existing one can be exciting. However, while you’re coming up with new product ideas, launching your services, or opening the doors to a new location for your company, legal issues can lurk in the background.

From selecting the right legal structure for your business to creating—and enforcing—contracts that protect your bottom line, it is critical to have a strong legal foundation for your company.

Working with a law firm with business law experience is a great way to protect yourself and your growing company. Reach out to TVA Law Office to find out how we can help you safeguard your ideas and the investment you’ve put into your business.

What Kinds of Issues Fall Under Business Law?

Business law attorneys provide a wide range of services for their clients. Here are just some things you might expect a business lawyer to offer assistance with.

Business Formation

When you start a new business, you must choose a business structure for it. A business lawyer can help you understand your options and what legal structure might be best for your company. They can also handle the paperwork and details required to register or incorporate your business, if applicable.

Creating and Enforcing Contracts

A lawyer provides experienced help drafting contracts for your business. The types of contracts you might need to protect your company include:

• Employment contracts, including non-compete clauses and nondisclosure agreements
• Commercial leases
• Vendor contracts
• Customer or client contracts

Business law experience means a lawyer is able to draft a solid agreement that is harder for the other parties to get out of. An attorney can also work with you to enforce contracts or seek remedies if someone is in breach of a contract with you.

Succession Planning

If family or others are interested in eventually taking over your business, a business attorney can help you set up effective succession planning. For example, you might want to eventually pass the business down to heirs without them having to pay large fees or taxes on the transaction—a lawyer can explain your options and help you put a plan into action.

Protecting Brand and Intellectual Property

Business law attorneys work with their clients to build protections for brand and intellectual property. That might include filing for trademarks, copyrights, or patents on your behalf and then enforcing those protections via lawsuits when necessary.

Reviewing Agreements

Legal professionals don’t just create contracts for you. They can review any contract or agreement you are considering signing. Their legal advice can help you stay ahead of issues and avoid signing a contract that puts you or your business at risk.

Providing General Business Legal Advice

Having a lawyer on retainer for your business ensures you have access to general legal advice as needed. You can call on a business lawyer to answer questions related to human resources and hiring, contracts, payments, lawsuits, and many legal topics relevant to your company.

Who Needs a Business Lawyer for Their Company?

If you’re facing a legal matter involving your business and you’re not sure whether or not you need to get a lawyer involved, it’s often good to go with caution. A lawyer can look at the situation in a way that you may not be able to, often offering advice about solutions you didn’t know was an option.

Some times when you might want to seriously consider contacting an experienced business lawyer include:

• When you’re launching a new business. Lawyers help get businesses off the ground with the right structure and can be instrumental in speeding up the process of incorporating or registering your company.
• When you’re changing or growing your business. You may need legal help to create new contracts to support growth, vet commercial leases for new spaces, or change your business structure to one that supports your evolving goals.
• You’re being sued or suing someone. If you’re going to court on behalf of your business or facing legal issues that might involve settlement negotiations, having an experienced lawyer on your side can make a huge difference to the outcome.
• When you’re leaving or selling your business. If a business is changing hands, either via a planned succession or merger or acquisition activity, getting legal professionals involved on your behalf can be important.

How Can a Business Lawyer Help Me?

In addition to all of the services and assistance discussed above, having a business lawyer in your court can provide a few benefits for you personally. Here are just some ways that an attorney with the right experience can help:

Personal peace of mind. Knowing that an experienced lawyer is handling contracts or providing you with the information you need to make good decisions for your company can offer a lot of peace of mind. You don’t have to stress that you’re making the wrong decisions because you don’t have all the facts or try to teach yourself legal lingo to ensure a contract says what you mean it to.

Helping you separate yourself from your business. A lawyer can provide guidance for setting up your business, writing operating agreements and procedures, and managing day-to-day tasks and finances to ensure you have a limited level of personal liability. This is important, as you may not want your own home or assets on the line if the business gets sued or is unable to cover debt obligations.

Letting you know when you need your own lawyer. Finally, a business lawyer representing your company can let you know proactively when you may need to have an attorney representing you personally in any matter for the utmost protection.

How Do I Find a Good Business Law Firm?

Whether you’re launching a new business or need to protect your company in a current legal matter, finding a good business law firm is an important first step. Start by asking for recommendations from people you trust in your business network. Then do some research online to find a lawyer that has worked with businesses or corporations like yours before.

Entrepreneurs and other business owners who are in need of legal guidance can reach out to the TVA Law Office at 651-571-8547. Contact us today to find out how we can help you protect your company now and in the future.