What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “corporate lawyer?” Is it a man or woman in a nice suit, carrying a briefcase, walking briskly up the stairs of a grand government or company’s office?
Although some of us can accurately cook up an image of what we think a corporate lawyer should look like, few can accurately figure out what a corporate lawyer does. Many business owners decide not to hire a corporate attorney to avoid extra financial burdens, but others simply don’t know they need to have a strong and healthy relationship with a lawyer at all.
However, one should know, in lacking an experienced corporate counsel, a company becomes vulnerable on all fronts.
Who is a Corporate Lawyer?
In this context, “corporate” is synonymous with “business.” Thus, typically a Corporate Lawyer means a lawyer that works on business-related transactions and can include – forming companies, helping them raise capital, merging businesses or breaking businesses apart, creating joint ventures, and other things that involve contracts and that happen outside the courtroom.
Corporate attorneys and commercial litigation lawyers are a distinctive group in legal practice and very crucial in the business world. The practice of corporate law includes all the legal and general corporate or business matters, which may include the incorporation of companies, directors’ and shareholders’ rights, articles and memorandum of association, board meetings, and secretarial matters, and the public listing or delisting of companies.
Seasoned corporate lawyers at Alvin Legal have made it known that the issues taken care of by corporate lawyers are many because corporations are subject to complex state and federal regulations.
Most states require corporations to hold regular meetings, such as annual shareholder meetings that can be done with the aid of a venue finding agency, along with many other requirements. These lawyers, therefore, make sure corporations comply with these rules while taking on other types of work.
What Is the Role of a Corporate Lawyer?
A lot of companies believe they only need to hire a lawyer when they have a lawsuit to deal with. Apart from the fact that this is a very risky mindset, this belief couldn’t be any farther from the truth. The reason for hiring a business attorney may however not be so apparent.
A good business attorney would be able to provide crucial help in almost every individual aspect of your business, from basic compliance advice to copyright and trademark advice and definitely to formal business incorporation, lawsuits, and liability. A corporate lawyer is expected to advise clients and businesses of their rights, responsibilities, and duties under the law.
When you, as a business, hire a corporate lawyer, the lawyer represents the corporate entity, not its shareholders or employees. This is because a business entity as a corporation itself is treated a lot like a person under the law. As under state law, a corporation is a legal entity created usually to conduct business.
A corporation is thus seen and handled as a unique entity or “person” under the law, a separate identity from its owners or shareholders.
When and why should you hire a business lawyer?
In the course of the day-to-day running of your business, apart from legal issues, your organization is bound to face many challenges. It is best to use your business lawyer’s guidance, expertise, and experience to the best advantage of your company. Below, are a few instances that your organization could enjoy the benefits of having an attorney:
- Engage a corporate lawyer when planning and forming an organization, it saves time and unnecessary troubles along the line to involve a lawyer from the onset.
- Think about hiring a lawyer, like Solicitors in Billericay, when making critical business decisions, their counsel will be helpful at such times.
- When buying a new business or selling your business
- For employee-related issues so that you do not get sued in the future by an employee.
- Real estate transactions
- Handling contracts
- Adherence to state laws
- Development of good faith relationship with investors
- Tax-related issues
Your corporate attorney not only makes your organization an efficient one and takes it to the next level, they understand how things work.
Perhaps you own a business or you’re starting a new business, there are a lot of small legal details associated with running a business that might end up haunting you if you’re not careful.
Starting and running your company with a strong legal foundation can protect you in the long run. Getting a startup lawyer now is a sure way to potentially save yourself money in years to come.