Business Lawyer in South Salem, NY

If you started a business, you may want to consult a business lawyer in South Salem, NY. A lawyer can help you with numerous legal matters, from drafting contracts to protecting you from lawsuits, and address all your questions and concerns.

Common Myths About Business Law

No matter what kind of business you run, it’s important to have a skilled business lawyer on your side. However, you might have heard some untruths about these lawyers that are making you reluctant to hire one. Here are some common myths about business law that you shouldn’t believe:

It’s only necessary to hire a business lawyer when your company has legal issues. Far too many business owners wait until they’re facing a lawsuit to hire a business lawyer. This is a big mistake. If you hire a lawyer after you’re faced with a legal dispute, it may be too late to mitigate the damages. To save yourself money and stress, you should retain a lawyer early on. Then, he or she will have a chance to warn you about certain legal situations that may arise.

A business lawyer is too expensive. At first, hiring a business lawyer might seem very expensive, especially if you are just starting a business. You’re trying to cut costs any way you can and wonder if it is worth it to retain a lawyer. However, not all business lawyers charge astronomical fees and not all of them charge by the hour. You can find a lawyer who charges flat fees for routine tasks. When you consider how much legal issues can cost your business, hiring a business lawyer in South Salem, NY doesn’t sound so expensive anymore.

If your business didn’t do anything wrong, you can’t be sued. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. People can try to sue your business for a variety of reasons and some of the reasons may be frivolous. That’s why it’s important to have a business lawyer on your side at all times.

You don’t need to consult a business lawyer for simple contracts. Even if you think you’re about to enter into a fairly simple contract, it is still a good idea to have a business lawyer look it over. He or she will make sure that the contract reflects your company’s best interests and is legally binding.

Why You Should Consult a Business Lawyer When Drafting Contracts

They Check the Legality of the Contract

Business law firms, such as Sweeney Legal, stay up to date on any new regulations that could affect business or contract law. Therefore, when you are working on a new contract, your business lawyer in South Salem, NY should review the contract to incorporate the most recent legislation. This process should reduce your risk of loss due to a breach of contract or a lawsuit based on unfair or illegal practices within the contract.

They Understand Contracts and Legal Jargon

Contracts attorneys and business lawyers understand how contracts work and how to read them. They can take a complicated contract that is full of legal jargon and tell you what it says in layman’s terms. They can also take your desires and write them in a way that should protect you and clarify what you expect in the contract, translating your demand into legal jargon. Using the appropriate jargon can reduce or eliminate any misunderstandings or legal challenges to the contract.

They Are Negotiators

Sweeney Legal can tell you that your lawyer is your advocate, and the job of this legal professional is to protect you and get you the best deal possible. First, your attorney should understand your industry’s normal contract terms. These professionals can then begin their negotiations from this point.

However, if you and your counterpart are having difficulty working out different aspects of your contract, a contract or business lawyer can help you negotiate the terms.

They Review the Contract for Completeness

A business lawyer in South Salem, NY can also search for conditions or terms that may have been left out of the contract and advise you on what to do next. They ensure that everything is outlined clearly and completely. These professionals know that you cannot make any assumption about the actions required by any party to the contract. Often, you will find that these attorneys ask a lot of detailed questions about your arrangement, which can be tedious. However, they are trying to protect you and your interests by making sure the contract is complete and any loopholes are closed.

They Are Your Advisors

Business lawyers understand that your company will have to produce multiple contracts. If you hire an attorney to work on one contract, e.g., an employment contract with a specific individual, when the contract is executed, the attorney may discuss other contracts with you. For example, you may need nondisclosure agreements, terms and conditions or supplier and vendor contracts. An effective attorney will be proactive and work with you to fully protect you and your company.

Good Reasons to Hire a Business Lawyer

From payroll to rent, there are many expenses that go into running a business. That is why business owners may try to cut costs any way they can. However, hiring a business lawyer is one expense you shouldn’t skimp on. Here are a few good reasons to work with a business lawyer in South Salem, NY.

Determine the best business structure. There are several ways you can structure your business. However, if this is your first time owning a business, you might know the appropriate business structure. If you structure your business improperly in the beginning, you may have to deal with legal problems down the road. That is one good reason to have a skilled business lawyer on your side. He or she will help you understand tax obligations and liabilities associated with each business structure.

Draft contracts. No matter what type of business you own, you are bound to enter into multiple contacts throughout the years. Whether the contract is with an employee or client, you should have a business lawyer review it before you sign anything. These documents contain complicated legal terminology that you might not fully understand. Your lawyer will make sure that everything in these documents is correct and reflects your company’s best interests.

Review lease real estate agreements. If you plan on running your business in an office building or another type of commercial space, you will need to sign real estate agreements. Like contracts, these agreements contain complex legal jargon. As such, you’ll want to have a business lawyer look over real estate agreements to ensure they’re fair.
Reduce your risk of lawsuits. Unfortunately, every business lawyer has a risk of being sued. Defending a lawsuit can cost your business thousands of dollars in legal fees. That’s another reason to hire a skilled business lawyer from the very beginning. He or she will provide you with sound legal advice and reduce your risk of lawsuits.

3 Ways a Business Lawyer Can Help You

Businesses can all benefit from the advice of attorneys. Depending on the situation, you may need a lawyer to help clarify legal terms, oversee the signing of contracts, or help with securing assets for you and your family. A business lawyer in South Salem, NY, can help you understand any legal jargon you may come across. They can also assist you in other business ventures. Here are three ways a business lawyer can help your business stay legal and encourage growth.

1. They Can Help With Contracts

A contract often includes legal terms, so it is essential to help someone in attendance who understands this terminology. A business lawyer from Sweeney Legal can also draft out contracts that you may need to use for clients, employees, and customers. Having an attorney create an agreement ensures that you and your intended party enter into a beneficial legal agreement. They can also revise the document if needed. When others want you to sign a contract, you can have your lawyer read over it and answer any questions about statements included in the document. Signing a contract without any legal guidance is a risk that you may not want to take. The consequences may lead to unpleasant circumstances, lost revenue, or other legal problems.

2. They Can Help With Employee Laws

A business lawyer in South Salem, NY, from Sweeney Legal can help you hire employees and ensure you understand employee laws, regulations, and codes. Take the time to converse with a lawyer about these rules to help you avoid any missteps or claims from employees. Depending on your establishment, you will also need to create some rules and regulations employees need to follow in the workplace. If your company is remote, you will need to make rules for online behavior and conduct. Make a handbook to give workers an idea of where to look if they have questions or concerns. Also, make it easy for employees to contact any supervisors or managers if they have issues they would like to have addressed. A business lawyer can help you create, add to, or revise this document as well.

3. They Can Help With Real Estate Leases

If you have a physical building for your organization, you are likely renting it from someone. You usually sign a commercial lease agreement, which is an agreement between you and the landlord. However, before you sign this document, consult with a business lawyer in South Salem, NY. They can explain the agreement to you and point out any legal terms or statements that are confusing. Hiring a lawyer from Sweeney Legal can make sure you understand the terms of the agreement, so you are not surprised later. Lawyers can explain any legal consequences or effects of terminating the lease, your options if you have to close, and more.

Hiring a lawyer to help with your business can benefit you in several ways. You can have peace of mind and know that your company is safe. Consider consulting a business lawyer the next time you have questions about your company so that it can keep growing and thriving.

Help from a Business Lawyer With a Breach of Contract

If you have formed a contract with someone and believe that they have breached this contract or are about to breach the contract, you may have grounds to form a claim against them with the help of a trusted lawyer. Contracts are typically simple: one party has a good or service that another party wants and that second party is willing to pay for it. When one of these parties breaches the contract, it means that the first party either did not supply the goods or service as they said they would or the second party did not pay for the goods or service. If you are on either end of this breach and would like legal help to file a claim, reach out to our trusted team.

How do I know if a breach of contract has occurred?

It can seem questionable in some circumstances to identify exactly whether a breach of contract has occurred. However, you will find a few examples below that may highlight whether a breach has happened.

One party has not fully committed a breach but they have made it very clear that they intend to commit such a breach.
One party has not lived up to their end of the contract.
One party is still delivering things but they are not delivering the exact items, goods, or services as outlined in the contract.
One party is working to make sure the other party is unable to fulfill its obligations.

These are just a few of the ways that some parties may not fulfill their obligations when it comes to a business contract and it is important that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to begin working on filing a legal claim against that party or finding ways to finish out the contract as originally promised.

Help Before a Breach Even Occurs

If you want contract help before a breach even occurs, it is wise to give us a call. We can help to draft contracts in ways that avoid lawsuits and disputes as much as possible. It is also important for contracts to point out potential conflicts that could occur and offer solutions in advance if this does happen. Not only will this protect you, but it will protect the nature of your business transaction with another party. Our team can also work to review any contracts that another business gives you to sign so that we can ensure you know what you are getting into even before you go into business with someone else. This can be key for avoiding future litigation and getting into poorly formed business deals with companies you may not be able to trust.

Questions to Ask a Business Lawyer

Before you hire a business lawyer, there are several questions you should ask, including:

What types of business do you typically work with?
What do you charge?
What is your area of specialty?
Do you have experience with employee matters?
What experience do you have with tax matters?
How long have you been practicing law?

Schedule a consultation with a business lawyer in South Salem, NY from Sweeney Legal, LLC, today.