How To Find the Best Attorney for Your Business

If you’re a business owner, chances are that legal questions will come up at some point, and you’ll need to consult a lawyer. “In the vast majority of disputes between companies, you would want to have a lawyer,” says Benjamin I. Fink, a business litigation attorney at Berman Fink Van Horn in Atlanta, Georgia.

But it’s also a good idea to speak to a lawyer about many non-litigation issues, such as:

• Seeking investors for a startup 
• Devising a business plan 
• Purchasing real estate for your business 
• Drafting policies and procedures for employees 
• Forming a contract with another company 

These are all situations in which legal counsel can be enormously helpful and even help prevent litigation in the future. This article will give tips on finding a lawyer for your business when you need legal advice.

What Legal Issues Does a Business Lawyer Handle? 

Business law attorneys handle a wide range of legal issues related to the formation, operation, and even closure of a business.

There are as many kinds of lawyers as there are legal problems confronting clients. Even within business law, there are different areas of specialization. This diversity of lawyers and specializations benefits business owners. It means that whatever your legal issue, a lawyer can help resolve it. 

A business may face many legal needs throughout its existence, including: 

• Business formation
• Contract disputes 
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Conflicts of interest 
• Intellectual property infringement
• Employment disputes
• Real estate transactions
• Land use and zoning issues 
• Personal injury or product liability cases 

When these or other issues arise, having a lawyer can make the process go much more smoothly and ensure you get the best outcomes for your business. 

Protect Your Business’s Future When Facing Litigation

Whatever the dispute, if your business is involved in litigation, use the Super Lawyers directory to find the top business litigation attorneys near you.

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Professional Qualifications for a Business Lawyer

There are a couple of basic requirements you should ensure a lawyer meets: 

• They graduated from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school 
• They’re licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction and are in good standing 

Beyond these baseline requirements, consider a lawyer’s areas of practice and experience. Most lawyers provide a bio and summary of their legal experience on their website or Super Lawyers profile. Use this to assess: 

• How long have they been practicing business law? 
• What are their professional achievements or affiliations?
• What kinds of businesses or clients do they tend to represent (for example, small businesses or large corporations)? 
• Do they have a particular area of expertise or business issues they frequently handle? 
• Do they focus more on business litigation or transactional work?
• Do they have experience in additional areas of law that would benefit your business? 
• What is their track record of success in helping clients?
• What do former clients say about them? 

Other sources of information are online reviews and the law firm/lawyer’s social media accounts. After researching, an initial consultation is a great way to meet the lawyer in person, ask questions, and assess if they’re a good fit.

Attorney’s Fees and Finding the Right Legal Fit for Your Business

A key factor in whether a lawyer is right for you is their attorney’s fees. Cost and billing options vary by the type of case and legal work you need. Common legal fee arrangements include:

• Retainer fee. Legal retainers secure a lawyer’s future legal services. General retainers are often used for routine or recurring legal work. Special retainers pay for specific legal services in advance, and the lawyer deducts legal expenses from the amount as they work. 
• Flat fee. The client pays a one-time upfront fee to the lawyer for their legal services. Flat fees are often used for drafting routine legal documents, for example. 
• Contingency fee. Payment is contingent on winning the client’s case. There are no upfront fees, and the lawyer takes a percentage of the client’s award. This is more common in personal injury cases.
• Hourly fee. The lawyer charges by the hour for their legal services. This is often used for more complex or open-ended legal work.

Start Your Search for a Local Business Attorney 

If you’re a business owner confronting a legal matter related to your business, consider speaking with a business lawyer sooner rather than later. Visit the Super Lawyers directory of top-rated business lawyers to begin your search.