If you need an attorney for your business, you are going to want someone who can address your specific needs. While the Pennsylvania bar doesn’t require someone to have expertise in business law, the fact is you are not going to want to trust your livelihood to a general practitioner. This is why it is crucial to understand what you should be looking for when you hire a business law attorney to represent you and your company. Here are some of the factors you should take into consideration when selecting an attorney to retain for your business law needs.
Find an Attorney Who Specializes in Business Law
As stated above, any attorney admitted to practice in Pennsylvania can handle a matter for your business. But do you want someone who does all kinds of things unrelated to business law, or would you prefer an experienced attorney who has spent most of his or her career focused on representing businesses? Clearly, you will be better served with the latter. This is someone who has confronted the same situation your business is now facing and has the experience you need to guide you through the process in the best way possible.
Look for One Who Has Represented Others in Your Industry
Many business situations are industry-specific. If you are running a dental practice, your business needs may be very different from those of a restaurant, product manufacturer, or plumbing business. While there are some similarities among all businesses, such as choice of entity, the reality is that your business may face challenges and legal matters to consider that do not affect other industries. You should find a business law attorney who has represented others who work in the same field as you.
Find Out the Reputation of the Firm
For the most part, businesses find attorneys through referrals and word of mouth. If you have a specific need, you may know someone who has used an attorney in the past for the same thing and had a good experience. Alternatively, with the growth of the internet, you are able to use search engines to find business law attorneys. There are even websites where clients post reviews of attorneys that can assist you as well.
Identify Your Specific Needs
Not all business attorneys handle every aspect of the law. Some may deal with startups and raising capital, while others are transactional, focusing on things like mergers and acquisitions. There are also business law attorneys who focus on publicly traded companies and securities law. If you are retaining an attorney to represent your business in commercial litigation, then you are going to want one who has experience trying cases. Not every business law attorney handles litigation and dispute resolution.
Check for Conflicts of Interest
Before you retain an attorney, you are going to want him or her to make sure that he or she, as well as their law firm, does not currently represent a competitor, or has represented one in the past. This may come up if you are hiring a business law attorney who has done extensive work in your industry. This is a two-way street, as the prospective attorney does not want to have a conflict of interest either.
Find out the Firm’s Track Record
Just as sports teams have records of success, so do many business law attorneys. If you are hiring one to represent you in a dispute, then you are going to want to know if they have tried a case to verdict. If so, you should find out how many litigations ended successfully for their other clients. When looking for assistance with a transactional or general business matter, you will want to know if the firm has handled deals of your size and scope.
Check on the Fee Structure
Depending on the type of legal work your company needs, you should make sure that the prospective fees are clearly stated. Some firms will charge a flat fee for certain matters, such as forming a business entity or completing a transaction. While litigation does not lend itself to such fee structures, you should still find out how billing is handled if your attorney will be representing your company in a lawsuit.
Jones Gregg Creehan & Gerace, LLP Can Assist You With All of Your Company’s Business Law Needs
If your company is in need of legal representation, the experienced business law attorneys at Jones Gregg Creehan & Gerace, LLP are here to assist you. Our team has the expertise necessary to help you grow your company, avoid disputes, and successfully represent you in the event you encounter business litigation. Contact us for an initial consultation.