FAQs

1. If my company/myself is sued, what do I do? When do I seek counsel?
   
   
2. How do I protect my company from a lawsuit?
   
   
3. How do I know what entity my company should be, and what are the differences between an LLC and a corporation?
   
   
4. How long does forming a corporation or LLC usually take?
   
   
5. Do you give complimentary consultations?
   
   
6. How do I keep litigation costs down?
   
   
7. How can I protect my company's sensitive information, (client lists/corporate data?
   
   
8. How accessible are your attorneys and does our file get passed from person to person?
   
   
9. What if I have an urgent question?
   

1. If my company/myself is sued, what do I do? When do I seek counsel?
   
   You seek counsel immediately. Lawsuits are time sensitive. Waiting could cause irreparable damage. There are legal requirements contained in the Summons and Complaint, which attorneys understand and with which they are familiar. Do not hold onto a Complaint, it could cost you. Attorneys also need time to assess whether you have a valid claim or claims against the opposing party.
   
   It is also best to seek counsel before you are sued to assess your exposure. If you think you or your company is facing a suit, you should seek counsel as soon as possible.
   
   
2. How do I protect my company from a lawsuit?
   
   Every company owner wants to be protected against suits. The first step is to be sure that the entity is separate from the owners' personal liability. Next, is to have a vulnerability assessment, which the firm's attorneys can provide. We literally can go to your place of business and review your operations to see where the weaknesses lie.
   
   On a basic level the company's contracts, service agreements, invoices and leases should be reviewed on a regular basis. Company owners should have documents, even simple contracts, drafted by an attorney; this is the most effective way to prevent lawsuits.
   
   
3. How do I know what entity my company should be, and what are the differences between an LLC and a corporation?
   
   This is a commonly asked question and the answer depends on a host of variables. The decision of which entity to form to protect personal liability is one made in conjunction with the company's accountant, as the firm likes to take all aspects of the business into consideration. However, the answer will depend on a host of questions, and being better prepared when you meet a specialist will help us analyze and direct you that much more efficiently. For example, you should know the name of your company, the Officers and Shareholders and the percentage of ownership as well as the contribution (in property or capital) that is being contributed. Also, you should consider how many, if any, employees will be employed by the company over the next 1-5 years, as well as whether there are or will be “foreign” (out of state) investors.
   
   
4. How long does forming a corporation or LLC usually take?
   
   That depends largely on how prepared the owner is when setting up the entity. Our firm can have the filing done with the Secretary of State within 24 hours, but there is an expedited fee to do so. The average length of time for a filing is 2-4 weeks. The length of time to finalize all documents and federal and state filings as well as set up the corporate/LLC documents is approximately 3-4 weeks, depending on the owners' availability.
   
   Our firm strives to take great care of its corporate clients; we pride ourselves on protecting personal assets for the business owners we have serviced.
   
   
5. Do you give complimentary consultations?
   
   Yes, in the areas of our practice, we provide a complimentary one-half hour consultation.
   
   
6. How do I keep litigation costs down?
   
   Litigants can keep costs down by first being organized and available, as well as assisting counsel with questions and clarification. Our attorneys want clients to be satisfied and to provide the best representation possible. This includes doing what is necessary in a case to protect its clients' interests but we do not unnecessarily generate litigation issues that increase fees. Our goal is to effectively strategize a case with our clients, to try to achieve the maximum result.
   
   
7. How can I protect my company's sensitive information, (client lists/corporate data)?
   
   First data must be identified as being “proprietary”. If a company's data is truly proprietary or a “trade secret” then the best way to handle protecting that information is by creating and enforcing a contract between all parties who are in contact with the proprietary information.
   
   
8. How accessible are your attorneys and does our file get passed from person to person?
   
   Our attorneys are very accessible. It is our goal to respond to clients as soon as possible and to address each issue with care and individualized attention. Files are assigned to a lead attorney and support is provided by a staff “point person.” We also have weekly meetings in which all attorneys and support staff are present to review active cases and strategies. This way our clients get the benefit of many “legal minds” and the staff is always aware of the status of a client's matter.
   
   
9. What if I have an urgent question?
   
   You should call and let the party answering know that your matter is urgent. If the attorney handling your matter is not available, a qualified professional will be contacted to get back to you within the hour, if not sooner!