What to Look for in a Florida Business Law Attorney

Whether you are contemplating the launch of a startup, expanding operations for an existing business, or handling legal issues your business is facing, having the right business attorney helping you is crucial in making sure you and your business are protected and successful. You need an attorney who not only understands the laws and legal procedures that are relevant to your Florida business, but who also has the practical experience and personal values necessary to effectively represent your business’ best interests.

At Legal Counsel, P.A., we understand the important role your business attorney plays in the creation and success of your business. For over 20 years, we have been dedicated to helping Florida businesses grow and thrive, and we would be honored to provide customized, top quality legal services to your business as well. Based on our experience helping businesses thrive, we have compiled as list of attributes of top-quality business lawyers and are publishing them in this blog post for your consideration.

How to Choose the Right Business Attorney in Orlando

Regardless of the type of business you operate, there is no doubt it will benefit from exceptional legal advice, guidance, and advocacy. That makes choosing the right business attorney a critical step toward the ultimate success of your business. Knowing what to look for and what factors to consider when selecting a business law attorney are the keys to making the right choice for your business. With that in mind, the team at Legal Counsel P.A. urges you to consider the following when evaluating a business law attorney:

Practice Area(s): After completing law school and passing the applicable BAR examination, a lawyer can claim to practice in almost any area of the law. Some attorneys list numerous areas of practice, billing themselves as a “general practitioner.” That is not what you want for your business. Instead, you want an attorney who has chosen to focus their practice only on business law and related areas of the law. That tells you that your attorney has an in-depth knowledge of the legal issues most likely to impact your business.
Legal Experience: A seasoned attorney who has been practicing law for a significant period of time has gained skills and wisdom, both of which can benefit your business. The more legal experience an attorney has, the more likely they are to be able to provide practical, useful advice and guidance regarding a wide range of legal issues that your business may encounter.
Business Experience: While it is essential for your business law attorney to have a firm grasp of the laws that apply to and affect your business, it is equally important to work with an attorney who has first-hand experience running a business. Having a theoretical or abstract understanding of how laws impact a business is not the same as owning a business and having to navigate those laws in real-time to ensure the success of the business.
Negotiation and Litigation Skills: Every attorney who graduates from law school and passes the BAR has gained a basic understanding of the law. Neither law school nor the BAR, however, teach a lawyer how to negotiate a high-stakes contract or litigate a multi-million-dollar lawsuit. Although they can certainly be honed to a razor’s edge, negotiation and litigation skills come naturally to some individuals and not to others. You want a business law attorney with innate negotiating and litigating skills who has spent years fine-tuning them to be used to your advantage.
Resources and Connections: As a business owner, you undoubtedly know that resources and connections can be invaluable, not just for you, but also for your attorney. You should look for an established business attorney who brings both to the table. A business law attorney who has practiced in the community for a significant period of time likely has a wide and diverse circle of business associates, effectively widening your own potential resource pool.
Problem-Solving Approach: Operating any business requires a certain amount of risk; however, some businesses and some business owners are more risk averse than others. There is no right or wrong way to approach problem-solving or manage risks when running a business, but it is best for your business attorney to have an approach that is similar to yours in order to represent your interests effectively.
Personality Type: Whether you are actively working to grow your business, or your established business is being threatened by litigation, there will be situations when you are required to spend a considerable amount of time with your business law attorney under stressful conditions. With that in mind, you should choose an attorney whose personality does not clash with yours. Ideally, your attorney’s personality will balance out yours – the ying to your yang. You need to be able to trust, respect, and rely on your attorney and that will not happen if there is a basic personality clash that you cannot get past.

The stakes are high when you are choosing a business attorney, since your decision will impact the future success of your business. Therefore, you should take the time to meet with the lawyers you are considering and make your choice only after a careful assessment of their experience, qualifications, skills, and personal characteristics relevant to maintaining a successful working relationship.

Get Help from an Experienced Florida Business Attorney at Legal Counsel, P.A. Today

Whether you own a small family-run business or are the CEO of a Fortune 500 business, many of your basic legal needs are the same. You need a business attorney who is dedicated to protecting your business from threats and to help pave the way for your business to prosper now and in the future.

At Legal Counsel, P.A., we would be honored to be the attorneys who represent your business and serve your legal needs. With over two decades of Florida business law experience, we have the skills, resources, and commitment necessary to effectively represent your business from inception through years of success.

When choosing a business attorney, look no further than Legal Counsel, P.A., to ensure that your business is protected and prosperous. To schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help your business, contact us today at 407-982-4321, chat with us online, or submit the contact form on our website.

What to Look for in a Florida Business Law Attorney