Business Law

We help clients set up and structure businesses of all sizes, from sole proprietorships and partnerships to incorporated companies. The right structure depends on factors like liability protection, tax considerations, and how you plan to grow the business. In an initial conversation, we typically walk through your goals and current situation so you understand the practical differences between structures before deciding. Every business is different, so we do not recommend a one-size-fits-all approach — the best structure for a single-owner consulting business is often very different from what makes sense for a business with multiple founders or investors.

A sole proprietorship is the simplest way to run a business, but it does not create a separate legal entity — you and the business are treated as one, which can mean personal exposure if something goes wrong. Incorporating creates a separate legal entity that can offer liability protection and may have tax advantages, but it comes with more ongoing paperwork and cost. Neither option is automatically better; it depends on your industry, risk exposure, and long-term plans. We generally recommend discussing your specific situation before deciding, since the right choice can affect your personal liability for years to come.

Yes, even with just two founders, a shareholder agreement is worth having early. It sets out ownership percentages, decision-making authority, and — importantly — what happens if one founder wants to leave, is unable to continue, or the two of you disagree on the direction of the business. Many disputes between business partners happen precisely because these questions were never written down while everyone was still getting along. Putting an agreement in place at the start is generally simpler and less costly than trying to negotiate one later, once a disagreement has already started.

Incorporation itself can often be completed within a few business days once we have the necessary information, such as your proposed company name, the intended structure, and details about the people involved. The overall timeline can extend if a name search takes longer than expected, or if you need additional documents like organizational resolutions, share structures, or a shareholder agreement prepared alongside incorporation. We can give you a more specific estimate once we understand what you are setting up and how quickly you need to be operational.

It helps to bring any existing business plan or summary of what you intend to do, a list of who will be involved (partners, co-founders, or investors) and their intended roles, and any documents already prepared, such as draft agreements or correspondence with other founders. If you already have a business name in mind, bring that too. You do not need everything finalized before your first meeting — part of the purpose of that first conversation is to identify what is still missing and what needs to be prepared next.

Business law work is commonly billed hourly, though some routine matters, like a standard incorporation, may be offered at a flat fee. The right approach depends on the scope and predictability of the work — a straightforward incorporation is easier to quote a fixed price for than an ongoing contract negotiation with an uncertain number of rounds. We discuss fee structure and what to expect before any work begins, so there are no surprises, and we are happy to answer questions about billing during your first consultation.

Yes, contract review is one of the most common ways we support business clients, whether it is a supplier agreement, a lease, a partnership arrangement, or a client-facing services contract. A review generally covers whether the terms reflect what you actually agreed to, whether any clauses expose you to more risk than you realize, and whether anything important is missing. We aim to explain what we find in plain language, not just mark up the document, so you understand the practical implications of what you are signing.

Templates can be a reasonable starting point for very simple, low-risk situations, but they are written to apply broadly and often do not reflect the specific risks of your business or industry. A lawyer reviewing a contract looks at how the terms apply to your actual situation — your suppliers, your customers, your existing agreements, and what could realistically go wrong. The value is less about the document looking correct and more about understanding what you are agreeing to and whether it protects you the way you expect it to.