Small Business Law

Planning for and minimizing risk is essential to every business. For small businesses with tight margins, what might seem like a minor misstep could have severe consequences. By retaining our small business attorneys early on, our team can provide a forward-thinking, cost-effective strategy that protects your business from start-up to exit planning.

Our team of lawyers can help you address a wide range of matters from corporate to real estate, employment to intellectual property, contracts to litigation.

A new business should start on the right foot. We organize and form new companies for prospective business owners, which includes choosing an appropriate legal structure (e.g., LLC, C-Corporation, S-Corporation, partnership) and drafting internal governing documents such as Shareholder Agreements, Partnership Contracts, Operating Agreements, and By-laws to govern the company’s day-to-day operation. A properly set-up and well-maintained company can shield its owners from personal liability for corporate actions, minimize the tax impact on company revenue, and provide flexibility in soliciting investment to raise capital and grow your business.

Additional corporate issues will arise as your business expands. We help you prepare and negotiate agreements with potential business partners, vendors, service providers, and independent contractors. When you need capital, we can provide guidance on various funding options, such as venture capital, debt, stock purchase agreements, convertible notes, and financing contracts. If you decide to expand or exit your business, we can organize and facilitate a merger, acquisition or sale.

Once you have employees, there are numerous federal, state, and local employment laws your business must comply with, or risk facing additional liability. We advise you of your legal obligations to employees and prepare and maintain Employee Handbooks, Offer Letters, Employment Agreements, and other documentation necessary for hiring and managing employees. In addition, we help businesses protect their confidential business information from misuse by existing and former employees through Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and Confidentiality Agreements, Non-Competition, Non-Circumvention, and Non-Solicitation Contracts. When it comes time to terminate an employee, we can draft a Separation Agreement to protect your business’s intellectual property, and lead Severance Negotiations when they arise.

Whether you are leasing space for the first time, renewing your lease, or upgrading to a new retail or office space, it is important to consult an attorney to evaluate and negotiate commercial leases. Tenants may have more leverage than they realize, and our lawyers can help you evaluate a prospective lease completely.

Registering copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property is essential to protecting a business’s brand and trade secrets. Our intellectual property attorneys both safeguard your business’s intellectual property and ensure that you monetize it effectively.

Every good business needs a good website. We keep you up to date on internet-specific regulatory compliance, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and newly passed state data privacy laws. In addition, we draft Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policies to comply with consumer protection laws.

Disputes of any kind can be very costly. We counsel clients regarding their legal rights and help them resolve disputes efficiently through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. If litigation becomes necessary, our litigation team is prepared to aggressively and appropriately represent your interests.

Our client base covers an extensive range of industries, including:

• Technology
• E-Commerce
• Medical
• Food and Beverage
• Fashion
• Branding and Marketing
• eSports
• Biotechnology
• Manufacturing
• Distribution
• Cosmetics
• Advertising

Small businesses cannot afford expensive mistakes. Experienced legal representation can help you protect your business and plan your way around those mistakes to keep your business growing and thriving.

Choosing a business structure affects how your company operates, pays taxes, raises capital, and handles risk. We review your goals, ownership plans, and growth strategy to recommend the entity that offers the right combination of flexibility and protection, helping you make practical decisions that support both your business and personal assets.

Establishing a business legally typically starts with completing state registration, obtaining any required permits, obtaining a tax ID and business bank account, and preparing corporate governance agreements that define how the business will function. Taking care of these steps properly helps avoid future compliance problems and lays a foundation for stable operations.

Raising capital can expose your business to legal and financial risks if not handled carefully. We help you navigate investor agreements, offering statements (if applicable), structure financing, update your corporate governance documents, and comply with regulations so you can secure funds while protecting ownership and minimizing liability.

Disagreements can happen in every business. Addressing conflicts early through conversation or mediation often prevents escalation. When resolution fails, formal legal steps may be necessary, and having well-crafted partnership/shareholders agreements can protect both your interests and the business’s continuity and reduce uncertainty.

Compliance evolves as your business changes. Regularly making corporate maintenance filings, ensuring appropriate tax reporting, reviewing employment and company policies, and staying on top of industry regulations helps you avoid fines or legal problems. Staying proactive ensures operations run smoothly and allows you to focus on growth without surprises disrupting your business.