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Spring 2000
When Should You Seek Legal Advice?
MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS wait until they are knee-deep
into a crisis before seeking legal assistance and this is when it will cost them the most.
Here is a list of situations in the day-to-day life of the entrepreneur where a lawyer
should be consulted:
- at start-up:
most owner/managers need guidance on the
exact structure that their venture should take, perhaps not realizing that it may very
well change over time. At least iniitially, the typical options are sole proprietor ship,
partnership or limited company and much the same advice will be secured by consulting
either an accountant or a lawyer;
- as circumstances change:
if the companys owners
bring on new partners or shareholders (or dissolve a relationship that has gone sour), a
lawyer should be hired to review the paperwork. He or she should also be consulted over
the terms of any partnership or shareholder agreements that are drawn up among existing
owners;
- when facing financial woes:
if the company develops
money troubles that are so serious that an accountant cannot help, a good lawyer will
outline what options may available. This could include advice concerning what should be
done prior to filing for bankruptcy, how best to file and how to protect future interests.
This advice could be secured at about the same time that a Trustee in Bankruptcy has been
approached;
- when you are suing someone else:
whether the company is
attempting to collect an overdue debt or complaining about shoddy work from one of its
suppliers, conversations with the parties involved, correspondence and informal
negotiation should be attempted before legal action is initiated. But sometimes the other
party simply refuses to "play ball" and legal action is necessary;
- when you are being sued:
in these situations find out
exactly what the other side is offering and determine if it might be better for all
concerned if the matter was settled out of court. If, however, the offer is unacceptable,
legal assistance is justified and necessary;
- when a contract, lease or any business agreement is beyond
your expertise or involves significant risk:
this might include transactions involving
large sums of money, when the companys survival is threatened should an agreement
not work out as intended or when the language between the parties must be worded so that
all are clear as to terms that have been agreed.
SPRING 2000 ARTICLES : Rent Your Basement? | Paying Canada Pension |
Seeking Legal Advice | Breaking Up
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