Stefan Töpfer
CEO & Chairman of WinWeb
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Small Business Start-Up Checklist - Choosing a Lawyer

by Stefan Töpfer on Apr 16, 2008


There are numerous legal issues that arise with the formation of a small business. It is likely that you will need the help of a lawyer at some point early on, whether you are in the process of determining the legal form of your business or choosing a name. You may also find that you need their help down the line when dealing with complex issues like leases, contracts and intellectual property or if you are subject to litigation.  

Your lawyer may be one of the key people that you turn to for advice and therefore it should be someone you can talk to comfortably and exchange ideas. It may be necessary for you to change lawyer if your business needs change, although this could be an expensive process. Here are some helpful things for you to remember when recruiting a lawyer:  

  • Get recommendations on good lawyers from people you know and whose opinion you trust
  • Try to find lawyers who specialise in small business affairs
  • Consider interviewing more than one lawyer (although some may charge for this)
  • Do not ask for legal advice during the interview, the purpose of it is to determine how well you get along with the lawyer
  • Find out about the types of fees they will charge (hourly charges / flat fees / monthly retainer / contingency fees)
  • Ask the lawyer for references (preferably some small business owning customers)
  • Use the knowledge you have gained from the interviews to make an informed decision about which you would rather work with on a regular basis
« Australia/New Zealeand Small Business News Round-up - 16/04/2008
India Small Business News Round-up - 17/04/2008 »



This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 11:58 pm and is filed under Small Business Checklists, Start-Up. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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One Response to “Small Business Start-Up Checklist - Choosing a Lawyer”

  1. THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » Small Business Start-Up Checklist - Legal Requirements

    Said on April 23rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    [...] advice on any of these issues, it is advisable to consult a legal professional   « Australia/New Zealand Small Business News Round-up - [...]

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