Business lawyers possess extensive legal expertise, from drafting contracts and resolving disputes to negotiating agreements and understanding ethical considerations.
Arizona business lawyers can be invaluable resources for avoiding costly errors and legal risks. When selecting your ideal attorney, consider experience, expertise, reputation in the legal community, communication style, and more.
Business entity formation
Formation of a business entity is one of the critical steps in turning an idea for a new enterprise into a legal, profitable entity. An attorney can assist with this process by assessing your needs and suggesting the optimal structure for your business – this could save money over time! In addition, attorneys can help acquire any necessary licenses, permits, or zoning approvals required to launch it while filing trademark applications to protect your brand name or service marks.
An LLC is an attractive option for small businesses as it combines the flexibility and tax benefits of partnerships with additional corporate protection. The first step to creating an LLC in Arizona is filing articles of organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission at a highly reasonable $50 filing fee – one of the lowest across all 50 states! Arizona does not mandate annual reports.
Within 60 days after state approval of your LLC Articles of Organization, you must publish them in a newspaper with general circulation in the county where your known place of business exists. Cost varies per county but can reach $300 to print. Failure to publish may result in administrative dissolution.
Before filing your Articles of Organization, it is necessary to select an easily distinguishable name for your business. Your chosen name must contain “Limited Liability Company,” L.L.C., LLC or LC as appropriate (for Professional LLCs, it should also include PLC/PLLC as applicable), along with nominating a statutory agent with a physical presence in Arizona.
A statutory agent must be available during regular business hours to receive legal documents on behalf of an LLC, listing authorized shares and par value in its Articles of Organization. Once approved, you must apply to the Internal Revenue Service for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which will be used on all tax returns and paperwork related to employment-related paperwork and tax returns. You must also comply with state and local regulations regarding licensing taxes and zoning workplace safety.
Business contract drafting
Business contracts are essential to any successful company and should be carefully drafted. A solid agreement can protect you from unexpected issues that might surface later while helping prevent breach-of-contract lawsuits that could become expensive.
Business lawyers offer assistance for various forms of contracts, such as IP agreements and employment agreements. An attorney will review and draft these documents to meet all necessary criteria; furthermore, they provide essential support during a complicated negotiation process.
Contract drafting begins by identifying all parties involved and their roles within an agreement to enable a legal document that accurately represents both parties’ intentions. For best results in this complex process, hire a business law specialist.
Once all parties and their roles have been established, it’s essential that their contract clearly outlines its subject matter, including terms for any promises made, rights and obligations of each party, rights/obligations of both parties, as well as potential future disputes that could result from unclear details. Any inconsistency could cause unnecessary miscommunication down the road.
An attorney can handle more than just business contracts when running a company; their services may include entity selection, planning, trademark registration, and employment disputes. An experienced legal advisor will help you navigate complex business transactions and conflicts so you can focus on growing your company instead of worrying about legalities.
Ryan Rapp Underwood & Pacheco PLC’s experienced attorneys have abundant business law experience in various areas such as entity selection/formation, dispute resolution, intellectual property management, and corporate governance. Our lawyers possess significant expertise in commercial transactional matters as well as litigation. Contact us now to set up a consultation appointment!
Business Litigation
Business law attorneys provide numerous benefits to companies. This may include drafting contracts, protecting intellectual property rights, and mediating commercial disputes. Furthermore, lawyers can assist companies with administrative proceedings and regulatory compliance. Finally, real estate and tax law services may also be offered by lawyers.
Legal disputes can arise between any entity, regardless of industry or size. They could involve employees, suppliers, clients, competitors, or regulators and can be challenging to resolve without lasting damage to a business’s reputation and financial losses. Consulting a lawyer early can prevent costly litigation by helping prevent conflicts before they occur.
One way to avoid business disputes is through carefully written contracts that comply with all legal requirements and avoid any ambiguities that might lead to future litigation. Furthermore, experienced lawyers can help businesses understand their tax obligations and devise strategies to minimize liabilities.
If a dispute does arise, an experienced Phoenix business lawyer is there to help. They can represent their company in court or arbitration to settle it quickly, help navigate administrative matters with state agencies like the Arizona Corporation Commission and Registrar of Contractors, and assist with licensing/permit applications and requests involving land use/right-of-way matters.
An experienced business lawyer can prevent a class action lawsuit from proceeding to trial by arguing that its complaint doesn’t meet the legal standards required for it to go forward. They can also assist with appeals of decisions from state and federal courts.
May Potenza Baran & Gillespie of Mesa offers legal representation in business and corporate law matters, such as entity formation and business purchases. Their attorneys also guide them with employment contracts and power of attorney agreements. Furthermore, May Potenza Baran & Gillespie can assist clients with tax law concerns and cannabis business challenges.
Business purchase
Your Phoenix-area small business attorney will assist in protecting your interests and meeting your goals, whether you’re buying an existing business or starting one from scratch. They can help with federal trademark registration, real estate matters, and employment disputes; additionally, if purchasing, their due diligence investigation process ensures all legal requirements have been fulfilled, and any purchase is sound; this involves an in-depth examination of financial performance, industry reputation, and community goodwill of any prospective companies as part of this due diligence investigation process which can be complex and lengthy; your lawyer can guide you through it successfully.
When selling a business, all necessary documents must be prepared and signed correctly to prevent future litigation or issues with intellectual property assets like patents and trademarks. Furthermore, all taxes and liabilities owed must be settled before closing; these include transaction privilege tax and employer withholding tax administered by the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Appointing a business law attorney as soon as possible is highly recommended, as they will guide you through the process and identify any red flags or issues that could lead to problems in the future. They can also help negotiate the optimal deal for your company.
Once your due diligence process is completed, it is time to submit a letter of intent to the seller. This non-binding agreement serves to demonstrate your interest and state what terms and prices you can accept – your Phoenix-area business lawyer can draft this document for you.
Although drafting a letter of intent isn’t legally binding, it can help you negotiate purchase price and other terms more efficiently. Sometimes, the letter of purpose leads to legally binding contracts. If earnest money payments are required of you, try eliminating or negotiating this requirement by writing the letter of intent beforehand.