One of the things that all businesses and corporations need is legal advice. This helps them navigate a host of local, state, and federal laws. Sometimes, things get complicated and you need the help of an attorney who practices in either business or corporate law. There are differences between the two. Knowing them helps you get the right attorney with experience in handling cases within a specific area of the law.
Corporate Lawyer vs. Business Lawyer
Corporate lawyers handle the rules, regulations, and laws concerning the formation and operation of corporations. Business lawyers manage the interactions between businesses and people, including customers and employees. Business lawyers provide legal advice on local laws and regulations, reviewing contracts, staff policies, and other matters.
A corporate lawyer can help you with . . .
- Creating buy and sell agreements for trading goods internationally
- Negotiating contracts with other corporations, businesses, and individuals
- Advice on existing contracts
- Protection against litigation
- Trying to attract investors and partners to expand your business
- Setting up a corporate structure for your business
- Creating strategies to reduce possible legal risks for your company.
The advice you receive from these lawyers is more focused and geared toward large businesses, with sizeable assets and operations that span around the world.
Corporate lawyers typically deal with large, potentially multi-national organizations that have diverse and complicated holdings. They are more familiar with federal and international laws than local or state laws.
A business lawyer serves the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. These are businesses with a limited number of employees and operations focused on specific locations. Business lawyers are legal professionals who deal with several business issues, including:
- Dealing with employment disputes
- Helping with contracts and setting up important items such as the employee handbook
- Assisting with tax disputes such as audits, investigations, and tax burden reduction
- Helping to set up and start a new business
- Addressing patent and intellectual property issues
- Enforcement of contracts
- Customized advice for mediation and lawsuits.
Business lawyers are the types of attorneys who are more likely to know every member of a business by sight, if not on a first-name basis. They understand local and state laws and often do all the work for a business on their own (rather than with a team).
The Weisblatt Law Firm practices in both corporate and business law. If you are about to form a new business or you want to make significant changes to your current business, you should consult with a lawyer first. Contact us now at (713) 666-1981 to schedule your free phone consultation with a skilled corporate and business lawyer.
What’s the Difference Between Business Law and Corporate Law?
These Subtle Differences Matter a Lot When You Are Retaining the Services of an Attorney
Corporate Law
In U.S. law, corporations are seen as being legal business entities that are separate from their owners. Corporate law focuses on corporations – specifically, how they are formed and managed. Corporate law covers areas such as shareholder rights, management duties, and shareholder and investment agreements. Corporations can also file lawsuits and enter contracts, which both involve corporate law practices.
Laws and policies surrounding capital increases and liquidation also fall under corporate law, as do taxation and distribution of corporate assets. Because corporations are a type of business entity, there can be some overlap between business law and corporate law. Corporate lawyers might also provide legal advice on the responsibilities and legal rights of businesses involving a corporation. They draft and review legal contracts during business agreements, as well.
Business Law
Business law determines how companies will conduct themselves and handle business matters. One difference between corporate law and business law is that business law relates closely to employment law. Hiring and firing of employees, employee management, and a safe work environment are matters of employee and business law. Business law also concerns tax law, which involves reviewing the financial tax obligations and advantages associated with various businesses.
Business law also concerns itself directly with customers and customer interactions. For example, terms and conditions involving products and services, licensing, guidelines for refunds and guarantees, and other sales matters, all involve business law.
When it comes to handling the details of a small or medium-sized business, a business law attorney is best. Many businesses consult with their business lawyer before making any meaningful decisions.
When to Hire a Business or Corporate Lawyer
Don’t Wait to Hire the Right Type of Attorney in Houston
We recommend entering into an agreement with your lawyer in advance. It outlines all fees and the services that will be provided. This sets out the parameters upfront and in writing to prevent any misunderstandings. Your lawyer can help you build your business from the ground up and deal with any legal difficulties before they arise. Both business and corporate laws in the country are complicated. A new business, no matter the size, will face several challenges in dealing with regulations. An experienced attorney will help you navigate those challenges before they can cause harm to your business.
Hiring an attorney in advance also ensures that you hire the right type of lawyer. If something comes up and you suddenly need a business lawyer, you won’t be as well represented if you hire a corporate lawyer, or vice versa. By consulting with an attorney before you form your business, you can make sure that your lawyer is the right one for your company. This will make a big difference in the long run.
Contact the Weisblatt Law Firm Today to Hire an Experienced Business or Corporate Lawyer in Houston
The Weisblatt Law Firm is the firm to turn to for help with your business law issues. Our firm was founded to give you practical legal advice. We have decades of experience working on many different business law and corporate law issues. This gives us unique insights into complex issues of law that we apply to your situation. Our knowledge, skills, and experience make a difference every day for corporations and businesses in Houston.
Our legal advice is customized for your business to help you address the challenges you are facing. Contact us now at (713) 666-1981 to schedule your free phone consultation with a skilled attorney. The world of business is changing, and you need an attorney on your side who keeps up with everything.
Attorney Andrew Weisblatt
Mr. Weisblatt has practiced continuously since becoming licensed in 1992 and has represented businesses ranging in size from one person start-up ventures to multi-national corporations employing hundreds of people in multiple countries. From 2005 through 2009 Mr. Weisblatt was in-house counsel and chief operating officer of a multi-national corporation in the steel products industry. That in-house position provided valuable insight into how businesses work and what they actually need from their lawyers – both in-house and outside counsel. Attorney Bio
