There are basically two job contours any business of any type
and size will need for sure: an accountant and a lawyer. The primary reasons
for getting an accountant are quite clear--you need a finance expert to help you
set up your "chart of accounts," examine your numbers infrequently,
and make all of your essential federal, state and local tax returns. The reason
for hiring a business attorney may not, however, be so ostensibly. A reputed
business attorney can provide crucial assistance in almost every stage of your
business, from basic zoning submission and copyright and trademark advice to full-fledged
business incorporation and lawsuits and liability.
If you are facing litigation, it's very twilight. Most small
businesses put off employing a lawyer until the sheriff is resting at the door
serving them with a summons. The time to engage with one of the commercial law firms in London is before you are prosecuted. Once you have been served with a summons
and grievance, it's become late--the tragedy has already taken place, and it's
just a question of how much you will have to pay (in court fees, attorneys'
fees, settlements and other incidentals) to rectify the problem.
Big firm or small business? In general, the larger the law
firm, the bigger the overhead, thus the higher the hourly rates you will be supposed
to pay. Still, larger firms have a number of benefits over smaller ones. Over
the past few years, lawyers have become extremely dedicated. If you use a single
practitioner or small firm as your lawyer(s), it's possible that they will not
have all the skills you may need to grow your business.
Are you experienced? Don't be hesitate to ask direct
questions about a lawyer's experience. If you know you want to incorporate your
business, for example, ask if he or she has ever handled incorporation.
Are you well-joined? Your business attorney should be
something of a legal "internist"--one who can identify your problem, carry
out any "minor surgery" that may be required, and refer you to local authorities
for "major surgery" if required. No lawyer can perhaps know
everything about every domain of law. If your business has specialized legal
needs (a graphic designer, for example, may need someone who is familiar with
copyright laws), your attorney should either be familiar with that distinctive
area or have a working relationship with a person who is. You shouldn't have to
go parasitic for a new lawyer each time a different type of legal problem comes
up.
Do you have other clients in the running
industry? Your attorney should be slightly familiar with your industry and its
legal setting. If not, he or she should be ready to learn the ins and outs of
it. Examine your candidate's shelf or journal rack for copies of the same
journals and professional literature that you read. Be aware, however, of
attorneys who signify one or more of your competitors. While the legal code of
ethics (yes, there is one, take it or not) requires that one of the law firms in London keep everything you tell him or her strictly intimate, you do not want
to risk an unintentional leak of subtle information to a competitor.
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