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Starting a Business? To Increase Profits, Hire General Counsel Immediately

Starting a Business? To Increase Profits, Hire General Counsel Immediately

There are a million things to think about when starting a business. From structuring your business to defining your audience, paying staff, creating employee handbooks, remaining compliant, through lead generation and sales, starting a business is certainly a big undertaking. So it’s vital that you have a trusted ally and advisor on your side from the start. That’s the role experienced in-house general counsel will play. Indeed, having a general counsel attorney involved from the start will help to reduce redundancies, structure your business properly from the start, and ultimately help you increase profits. Here’s a look at how in-house counsel helps business start-ups increase profits.

 

  • In-House Counsel Mitigates Risk

Launching a business of any type is a risk. After all, whether you’re self-funding, or funded by investors, there is money on the line. In-house counsel helps you to prevent issues before they become problems, thus reducing the likelihood of costly fixes later down the line. For example, your in-house counsel will be able to assist with drafting contracts to hold any partners accountable for upholding their obligations. This can prevent you from hiring an unreliable contractor, only to have no recourse should they not fulfill their end of your agreement.

Likewise, your in-house counsel will advise you on company policies that need to be in place, to protect yourself from employee claims, or allegations of wrongdoing. Having general counsel for your business ensures that your business files the proper articles of incorporation and guides you through all requirements and regulations you’re bound by, as a new business owner. When it comes to starting a new business, preventing mistakes is far more cost-effective than cleaning up errors after the fact.

 

  • In-House Counsel Reduces Redundancies

Having an in-house attorney prevents you or your designated employee from having to spend time reaching out to a third-party legal entity. Remember, most law firms bill hourly, so each time your staff must reach out to an outside legal team, the clock is ticking. Because you’ll have to explain each question, situation, or problem to the outside legal entity, the hours can stack up.

By contrast, an in-house attorney will be kept in the loop of all happenings within your business, so you’ll spend less time repeating, explaining, and reaching out for help. Consider the time-savings of simply having your in-house counsel attend a meeting, rather than attending the meeting, then having to call your legal team, and brief them on the meeting, and answer any questions they may have. Suffice it to say, you’ll reduce redundancies. Your in-house counsel will be immersed in the ongoings of your business, making them familiar with policies, plans, contracts, partnerships, etc. This helps save time and ultimately, money.

 

  • In-House Counsel Gives You Immediate Access to Legal Help

When problems arise in your company, time is of the essence. Whether there’s a regulatory issue that needs attention, or you are considering a claim against another for Intellectual Property (I.P.) infringement, having an in-house legal advisor enables you to act quickly to prevent a minor problem from escalating out of control. In-house counsel helps startup businesses remain nimble, thus able to act quickly in the event of a dispute, error, or other problem.

The cliché that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’, certainly rings true when it comes to legal guidance for new businesses. Investing in general counsel from the start can save you enormous amounts of money overall, thereby increasing profits sooner.

Brown & Charbonneau: Top-Rated In-House & General Counsel for Businesses in Southern California 

For more than 30 years, the business attorneys at Irvine-based Brown & Charbonneau have provided general counsel and in-house counsel services for small to mid-sized businesses in Southern California.

Our award-winning attorneys can custom tailor a general counsel package to meet your needs and budget. General counsel services are offered on a monthly retainer basis, rather than an hourly rate, offering significant savings to business owners. Examples of specific legal services available when you choose Brown & Charbonneau as your general counsel may include:

  • Business Formation Services
  • Business Planning & Strategy
  • Contract Preparation and Negotiation
  • I.P Services (copyright, trademark, patent, trade secrets)
  • HR and Employment Issues
  • Licensing, Regulatory, Legal Compliance Matters
  • Non-Compete Agreements
  • Manufacturing, Distribution, Consultation Agreements
  • Trade Secret Protection
  • Real Estate and Construction Matters
  • Much more

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP business and employment litigation attorneys are here to help new, and existing businesses and employees throughout Southern California. Whether you need help with employment contracts, business litigation, employment claims, breach of contract claims, or general business and employment counsel, we’re here for you. Our Irvine, CA business, corporate, and employment litigation attorneys provide experienced, effective legal counsel. Please contact Brown & Charbonneau, LLP today by calling 714-505-3000. For the latest legal news, follow Brown & Charbonneau, LLP on Twitter and join us on FacebookInstagram, and LinkedIn.

Getting Legal Help in Orange County, CA

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP is a top-rated business litigation, corporate, real estate, and family law firm in Irvine, California. We are honored to be named by Best’s Lawyers® as one of the Top Law Firms in the US, including the specialty area of commercial litigation. As an AV-rated law firm, we are proud of our 10.0 Superb Client Rating from Avvo. Our top-reviewed Southern California attorneys have also earned specializations from the State Bar of California, as Certified Trial Specialists, and are included amongst the elite attorneys to be named Super Lawyers®.

Should you have any other issues involving any of the below areas of practice, please feel free to contact us.

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