Minnesota Business, Tax, and Litigation Attorney
My role as a business attorney changes during the life-cycle of a business. During its infancy, a business has vastly different legal needs from when the business has matured.
Business Formation & Startup Stage
A new business may start out as a home-based business. The main employee is often the owner. For a new business, the concerns are (1) planning and (2) establishing the best structure from a tax and liability perspective, and (3) simplicity.
As a business attorney, I talk with small business owners about the product or service they plan to offer, other people or companies involved with their business operations, the financial goals of the business, risks to the business, the business owner’s financial situation, and other factors that may affect how the business should be structured. We discuss Minnesota and federal tax law, Minnesota laws and regulations affecting the business, and find the best option for each particular business owner.
Each small business is different. For some, an LLC is best, while others would benefit from the tax treatment of an S Corp or another entity. Some Minnesota businesses should consider liability insurance to reduce their risk while others have very little risk.
Business Funding Stage
A developing business may improve its position in the market by the addition of a partner or funds from another source such as an angel investor or venture capitalist.
As a Minnesota business attorney, I explain to the business owner the options for setting up the financial arrangement. The arrangement may be in the form of a loan, a transfer of ownership in part of the business, or a hybrid. I ensure that the business owner’s rights and relationship are clearly delineated in the contract to minimize the possibility of hard feelings, disputes, and litigation.
Business Growth
As a business grows, the business may encounter legal questions, want legal advice, or seek to minimize its tax burden. For example, the legal issue might include intellectual property (copyright, trademark, patent, etc.) related to a website, logo, or business name. The issue might involve tax strategies or planning expenses to reduce tax liability. The issue might include drafting a contract to help the business grow.
As a business attorney, I often answer questions from business owners who need to make decisions and want to understand the legal ramifications of their options. I draft contracts, negotiate deals, and help my clients grow their business without unnecessary exposure to legal liability.
Business Disputes
Businesses naturally encounter disputes. The disputes may be between the business owners. The dispute may also be between the business and another company, an employee, or a customer. Often, these disputes can be resolved before the dispute evolves into litigation.
As a business attorney, I advise business owners dealing with legal problems. As a litigation attorney, I am experienced litigating business law cases in Minnesota courts. However, litigation is expensive, so when possible, I work with the business owner to find creative solutions to solve problems and calm disputes.
Sale of the Business
When a business owner sells the business, a number of legal issues arise. The business sale involves contracts, valuation, transfer of intellectual property, tax considerations, and possibly seller financing issues.
As a business attorney, I walk through these considerations with business owners, analyze the legal issues, and ensure that the business owner’s legal rights are protected. Business sales are often large, complex transactions, but they can go smoothly when done right.
Legal Counsel vs. Litigation
In summary, a business attorney helps a business through two roles: counsel in business decisions and litigation. Good legal counsel and prevent litigation.
For this reason, I gladly accept calls from my clients, give them legal advice over the phone, and help them prevent problems before litigation arises. I often provide legal counsel over the phone as a free service to my clients. Occasionally, an issue requires a more comprehensive legal analysis, so I explain the attorneys fee to clients so they can consider their options.
When litigation is necessary, my concern is having the issue resolved favorably and efficiently so that there is as little impact on my client’s business as possible.
Author Information: Aaron Hall is a business attorney in Minnesota, licensed in state and federal court. He has significant experience in business law, has published articles on LLC and small business law, and has been quoted in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and a number of other newspapers. As a lawyer to business owners, Aaron Hall provides legal counsel and litigation services to businesses in Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Twin Cities metro area, and throughout Minnesota.
Published on November 6th, 2008 | Filed under this Minnesota lawyer topic: Business Law
Disclaimer: Please read the Terms of Use. This website is advertising, not legal advice. As a lawyer in Minnesota, Aaron Hall and lawyers in his firm are licensed to provide legal services throughout Minnesota (MN), including those in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Anoka County, Carver County, Dakota County, Scott County, Washington County, Isanti County, and Wright County. The attorneys' service area includes these Minnesota cities: Albert Lea, Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Belle Plaine, Big Lake, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Carver, Castle Rock, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Circle Pines, Cloquet, Columbia Heights, Concoran, Coon Rapids, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Dayton, Delano, Duluth, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Elko New Market, Excelsior, Falcon Heights, Faribault, Farmington, Forest Lake, Fridley, Glencoe, Golden Valley, Ham Lake, Hamel, Hanover, Hastings, Hibbing, Hopkins, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, Isanti, Jordan, Lake Elmo, Lakeville, Lilydale, Linden Hills, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Long Lake, Loretto, Mahtomedi, Mankato, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Maplewood, Medina, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Monticello, Moorhead, Mound, Mounds View, Moundsview, New Brighton, New Hope, New Port, New Prague, New Ulm, Newport, North Branch, North St. Paul, Northfield, Oak Grove, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, Orono, Osseo, Otsego, Owatonna, Plymouth, Prior Lake, Ramsey, Red Wing, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rochester, Rockford, Rogers, Rosemount, Roseville, Savage, Shakopee, Shoreview, Shorewood, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, Spring Park, St. Anthony, St. Bonifacius, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael, St. Paul, St. Paul Park, St. Peter, Stillwater, Twin Cities, Vadnais Heights, Victoria, Waconia, Watertown, Wayzata, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Willmar, Winona, Woodbury, and Wyoming, Minnesota (MN).