Many of our clients are business owners. We have been representing entrepreneurs for over 23 years, from family-owned "mom and pop" operations to large franchises and companies that have multiple locations in several states, . We help business owners design, implement and maintain effective plans to help them reduce their personal liability, preserve all viable income tax deductions, facilitate the owner's retirement, maintain family harmony, retain key employees and minimize income, gift and estate taxes.
To help owners protect estates and businesses which have been a lifetime in the making, we focus on an integrated approach to business planning. Such an approach includes estate, retirement, insurance, asset protection and tax planning issues. More importantly, it includes discussions about family values and belief systems. As a result, we rely heavily on the expertise of our clients' other professional advisors to help create the most effective team for our clients' success.
Most of our business representation is done on an hourly basis. Hourly rates differ for attorneys and paralegals. Like our estate planning work, we will give you a "best estimate" of the total fee to be charged based on the scope of the work you hire us to do. Generally, we will give you a maximum amount that we will not exceed without your permission. In some cases, we will quote you a flat fee to accomplish your legal work. In any event, we will both sign an Engagement Letter and Fee Agreement that identifies each of our rights, duties and obligations and the agreed upon fees.
Initial meetings for all business related matters will vary in time depending on the topics we discuss. Because we will be giving you legal advice and discussing various strategies at this meeting, there is a charge for this meeting. Although you have no obligation to hire us to work for you after the first meeting, you will receive advice and information you can use immediately.