Memphis Startup Attorneys & Lawyers

Why Hire a Startup Lawyer?

When you start a new business, you want to make sure you have the best startup lawyer in Memphis. It's important to find someone who not only understands the business legislation in Tennessee, but also in your business's niche.

A startup lawyer can assist with several facets of the startup process.

• Partnership contracts: If you are creating a company with more than one partner, it is very important that you make sure all partners involved are protected in case of conflicts or later changes in the business. A startup lawyer will have experience with this type of contract and can act as a neutral party who ensures all founders receive equal rights.

• Government regulations: It's important to ensure that your business follows all Memphis city, Tennessee state, and U.S. federal laws and regulations for registering a business. It is easy to miss something when you are starting out, and a local Memphis lawyer will know exactly what steps to follow.

• Public liability: It is important to have a lawyer on hand before any disputes between your business and your customers, suppliers, employees, or the general public arise. The attorney can help ensure that you avoid any sort of liability.

• Forming a business entity: If you plan to incorporate your business, it is extremely valuable to have a lawyer assist you with the paperwork and filing. Every state is different, and having a lawyer who understands how to properly register a business in Tennessee is vital.

• Employee contracts: Having a lawyer help with employee contracts can ensure that you are protected in case employees terminate their contracts or you need to fire them. 

• Supplier and customer contracts: Supplier and customer contracts can be confusing matters. It is recommended that you have a startup lawyer assist in drawing them up.

• Trademarks and patents: If you want to trademark your products and services or patent new innovations, it is very helpful to have a startup lawyer assist you.

How to Find the Best Startup Lawyer in Memphis

• The first thing you should do is speak to owners of more established businesses in Memphis. Ask for recommendations from businesses that are in your industry as well as other startup businesses that may be in another industry. Even if they can't give you a solid contact, they will likely have plenty of words of wisdom to share about what makes a good startup lawyer.

• Contact the Tennessee Bar Association and ask for contacts for startup lawyers. If you aren't able to get contacts through recommendations from other businesspeople or the state bar, the next place to look is your local bar association. The listing will be unbiased and without review.

• Do your research on all the lawyers you have the contact information for. Whether you are recommended a lawyer by a friend or you find someone through a directory, it is vital that you do your research on those people and find out more about their specialties. There are several websites where you can see public reviews that have been left about lawyers.

• Make a short list of the lawyers that seem to best fit your needs.

• Contact them via email or by phone to set up an interview. If they take more than 48 hours to get back to you, you should consider whether they are good choices. You will want someone who is easily contactable.

• Prepare questions for your interviews and be ready to explain what it is you require from the lawyers so that they can get a good understanding of what you need.

Questions for Startup Lawyers

• Have you worked with startups in Memphis before?

You want to hire a lawyer who not only works with businesses in Memphis, but has experience working with startups in the area. That means they will know all the ins and outs of setting up a business entity. They will know all about registering with the Tennessee Department of Revenue, which can be confusing if you have never done it before.

• What are your fees and how do you bill?

Lawyers' fees vary. You will want to find out exactly how much the lawyers you will be working with will cost and how they charge. Some lawyers bill by the hour, while others bill based on the type of work being done. You should also find out if there will be any other lawyers in the firm working on your business so that you know what their fees will be as well.

• Do you have billing plans specifically for startups?

Most startup lawyers know that startups do not have a lot of money to spend, so they often offer special billing plans that allow you to pay in installments. 

As the owner of a startup business in Memphis, you can take advantage of the particularly rich tradition of entrepreneurship that exists in Tennessee by hiring the right startup lawyer for your type of business.