As General Counsel, we will be available on-call and provide your company with legal advice on all matters. Whether you want to hire new employees, create a Client Service Agreement, enter into a commercial lease or need guidance on your corporation or LLC, we will help you every step of the way. Hiring general counsel is the best way to ensure that your company is operating according to the law and that you are protected at all times. That’s not all. The duties of a general counsel attorney extend to representing your company in legal matters, contract disputes, risk management, and more.
Why You May Need General Counsel
Many people make the mistake of thinking that they only need counsel if they are being sued. This is not the case. Having general counsel on your side right from the start means that your company is protected from all legal issues. The lawyer will also be familiar with your operation and will be able to navigate any legal situation quickly.
Another misconception about lawyers is that you only need them when you run into trouble. This couldn’t be further away from the truth. While a general counsel lawyer may be able to solve the issues at hand, it’s best to prevent them in the first place. The help that professional counsel will bring to your company is essential for success. The lawyer will be in charge of contract drafting, review, compliance assessment, due diligence assistance, intellectual property protection, and much more.
The General Counsel will report directly to the head of the organization and can lend help to all departments. It’s important to mention that having an attorney on the team means that the staff will receive training on how to respect the laws and rules relevant to your business. As a result, the attorney can oversee multiple departments and ensure they are running smoothly.
When selling or buying a business, hiring a lawyer is vital if you want the deal to go in your favor. If you are selling, the lawyer can help protect the intellectual property that you might not want to include in the deal. More importantly, the lawyer can help negotiate the deal for maximum profit and add terms that favor you. The same can be said when buying a business. In fact, here is where help from a lawyer can save you a fortune in the long run. The lawyer will verify the documents and perform the necessary due diligence on the seller’s assets and records. You don’t want any detail to be overlooked!
No matter if you are running a small or big business, having general counsel on your side will give you an edge over the competition. They ensure that your business is compliant with your state’s laws, draft contracts that represent your best interests, and take all the steps required to protect your business and its assets. This is why hiring General Counsel in Portland from the early stages of your business is a great decision.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
We have the expertise and experience to handle acquisitions, sales or mergers of privately held or publicly traded businesses. We are experienced in all aspects of buying and selling businesses: strategic planning, evaluating and screening prospects, and negotiating, structuring, financing and closing a transaction. We adopt a win-win philosophy in commercial transactions.
Seller Preparation
When selling a business, it is important to have a full understanding of what is being sold and what is to be kept by the seller. Some sellers may want to keep certain assets, such as copyrights or intellectual property. Knowing exactly what is on the negotiating table will also be useful to establish an accurate and acceptable price for the sale
Buyer Due Diligence
Before purchasing an existing business, it is essential that you learn the ins and outs of the company, or the assets to be bought in order to avoid any surprises or hidden liabilities in the future.
Due diligence involves the careful investigation of the business’s assets, books and records. This ensure that the company and its assets are accurately described by the seller and understand the current financial statements of the business and be aware of any risks, liabilities and debts.
Corporate Governance
Prepare and review a company’s internal affairs documents, such as its corporate bylaws, shareholders agreements, founders’ agreements, limited liability company operating agreement or partnership agreement. Prepare and review suggested, mandatory and other policies, including the whistle-blower policy and document retention policy. Identification and management of risks and crises. Counsel on corporate governance policies, procedures and principles, including fiduciary duties. Advise on board structure and composition. Advise and implement anti-takeover mechanisms. Provide guidance on governance best practices.
We advise companies and their boards of directors, board committees, and management on a variety of key issues, including: design and implementation of corporate compliance programs and codes of conduct; risk management; advice with respect to shareholder proposals and dealing with activist shareholders; and fiduciary responsibilities of directors and officers.
Commercial Contracts
Formation of Subsidiaries
Joint Venture Agreements
Business Investment
Commercial Paper
Executive Employment and Separation Agreements
Franchising and Licensing Agreements
Operating and Partnership Agreements
Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
Contract Drafting, Review and Negotiation
Registering and Protecting Trademarks, Copyrights and Intellectual Property Rights
Business Negotiation
Indemnity, Settlement and Release Agreements
Software Licensing Agreements
Cloud Services Agreements
Non-Compete Agreements
Employee Benefits and Compensation
Supplier, Vendor, Distribution and Service Agreements