Find a Business Attorney in Houston Texas
There are various reasons why you would need a lawyer. However, it usually depends on your unique circumstances. It is recommended that before you make any decision that may have legal ramifications that you hire a lawyer. For instance, when you are setting up a partnership, checking regulatory compliance, negotiating a loan, obtaining trademarks or patents and much more, you should hire a lawyer.
Unfortunately, some businesses wait until something goes wrong to consult a lawyer. However, that is not a smart idea. Most entrepreneurs will tell you that a relationship with lawyers is like a marriage, which takes time to develop. Thus, it is important to start the search for your lawyer early. Here are a few tips that we at RunRex think will help you find the right business lawyer.
Find a Specialist
Business attorneys cover everything ranging from financial issues, corporate governance to regulatory compliance. The first step to picking your attorney is to examine your most important legal needs as a businessperson. For instance, if you are planning a merger and acquisition in Houston, TX, look for an attorney or law firm that specializes in that area. It helps to ensure efficiency when you know what exactly you need.
Experience Matters
One of the key qualities you need in an attorney is experience. No matter how glowing their academic qualifications may be, the experience is always their greatest asset. For instance, if an attorney has been practicing law for two decades but has only six months experience in the patents field, they might not be a good fit. You will need to find someone who has the skills and knowledge that goes back at least a few years in a particular field.
Check Academic Qualifications
Where a lawyer went to school may actually be quite important. You might also want to find out whether they obtained an LL.M or J.D. Weigh the benefits of picking experience over a lawyer who recently graduated from a top law school and understands modern legal practices. Neither of the lawyers is better or worse than the other one. You just need to find one that is the best fit for your needs.
Ask about the Previous Clients
While confidentiality laws prevent lawyers from naming the lawyer, attorneys should still be able to share statistics of past clients. For instance, they should be able to give a winning ration of 70 percent or a settlement rate of 80 percent.
Check the Fees
Some of the lawyers charge by the hour at a flat rate. Others might be willing to work out an alternative arrangement, especially if you are a growing business with few profits. Always ensure that you try to negotiate for the best prices and payment method with the lawyer.
Check how modern they are
In the modern cutthroat world of business, it is important that you have a lawyer available 24/7. For instance, you may become the victim of a sudden corporate takeover or spiking stocks. There will be a problem if the lawyer does not understand things such as cloud networking, conference calling, and other things. Do not be afraid to ask the lawyer if they understand mover technology.
Check for professional associations
Good business lawyers should be part of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) or a similar association. Besides that, you should check if they have been part of any business advisory boards or if they are affiliated with any major corporate groups. If you need a lawyer, who can help you win your business’ case, find a lawyer that has ties to the business community.
Ask for referrals
If you need something outside the scope of their practice, ask them if they are willing to offer any referrals. For instance, if you hire them for the purposes of an A&M but run into a tax issue, request them for a referral to the right lawyer. A good attorney will be well networked with Houston, Texas. He or she will have the right connections to find the right lawyer.
Pick the right size of the law firm
There are advantages and disadvantages of hiring large, medium-sized, and solo practitioners. If you are a small business, picking a large law firm may not be the right choice. This is because such a big law firm will not prioritize your case. However, if you are a medium-sized or large company, finding a single practitioner may be inadequate. In general, size the law firm according to your needs.
These are just some of the tips that you will need for finding a business attorney. Whether you need a lawyer for a simple issue such as copyright or want an A&M lawyer, these tips should suffice. Besides that, you can ask for help from your business associates in Texas on how to pick a lawyer. It is especially so if you have never had to pick a lawyer in the past.