Our experienced business attorneys work hard to advance your interests
At Hemmer Wessels McMurtry PLLC, we have extensive experience in the areas of business organization and taxation. From forming a business to implementing a succession plan, we offer our clients sound advice regarding each stage of their business’s development and any issues they may face along the way. We represent a wide variety of business types, including publicly-traded and closely-held corporations, S corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, estates and tax-exempt organizations.publicly-traded corporations, closely-held corporations, S corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, estates and tax-exempt organizations. We are seasoned counselors, negotiators and litigators in all areas of business law, including business formations, contracts, asset protection, shareholder and partnership disputes, collections, taxation, banking, finance, intellectual property, trusts, franchising, labor and employment, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. We are a full-service business law firm, so our attorneys can handle whatever hurdles your company encounters personally and efficiently.
The process of forming your business
Every business needs a solid foundation. Our business law attorneys have decades of experience in helping clients with business formations and the many other issues that are likely to arise during a company’s startup years:
Choice of entity — In Kentucky, a business can organize as a sole proprietorship, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or registered limited liability partnership. In Ohio, the options are sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company and professional corporation. Our attorneys help you choose the most appropriate structure for your company, based on considerations of personal liability and tax exposure.
Agreements — Well-drafted contracts spare you from future litigation. If your employment contracts, for example, do not include non-compete clauses, disgruntled former employees may be tempted to sell your customer lists and trade secrets. Malpractice insurance contracts that do not include tail coverage can leave doctors exposed to lawsuits long after they have closed their practices. Our business law attorneys are meticulous when they draft and review your vendor agreements, leases, buy/sell agreements and other contracts.
Asset protection — Even if you choose a business form that limits your personal liability, you still should consider additional methods to protect your assets. Our attorneys can set up trusts, transfer ownership between spouses and recommend other steps to keep your assets safe.
Once you’ve formed the business, we help you get it running
After you have decided which business form best serves your needs, you have several other startup tasks to complete. Our team assists you with:
Intellectual property — We help you protect your trade name, logo and other intellectual property by registering your trademarks and service marks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Employment and non-compete agreements — We draft employment agreements that protect your interests. A noncompetition clause in an employment contract helps prevent disgruntled former employees from using or selling your trade secrets, such as client lists and marketing plans.
Federal and state requirements — Before you hire employees, you need our business law attorneys to help you with the paperwork required by the state and federal governments, including:
- Partnership agreements
- Vendor agreements
- Real estate contracts
- Federal Employer Identification Number
- State and federal withholding taxes
- Employee eligibility verification
- New hire reporting programs
- Workers compensation insurance
Your business will have ongoing needs
Once you have your business up and running, Hemmer Wessels McMurtry PLLC’s attorneys provide continual legal support to our business clients on any issue that may arise, including all aspects of business, finance and taxation. We are frequently called upon to aid clients with:
- Drafting and negotiating agreements
- Navigating federal, state and local laws and regulations
- Preparing audit and opinion letters
- Developing employee and compliance programs
- Banking
- Commercial real estate matters
- Debt collection
- Employment and labor matters
- Litigation
Our attorneys can help every step of the way.
