Pittsburgh Startup Attorneys & Lawyers

Why Hire a Startup Attorney?

Most people have heard the statistic that half of new businesses fail in the first year.

A top attorney can offer the legal advice you need to steady your company during its difficult early days. Startup lawyers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have plenty of experience in guiding startups. They can help you get the result you seek quickly and for a reasonable price.

Why Do Start-Up Companies Need a Lawyer?

• Protecting Ideas: Your business may come up with patentable inventions. The best attorneys help startups understand which of their ideas qualify. They can offer guidance in trademarking ideas and brands, too.
• Avoiding Existing Claims: Many ideas already have trademark claims. Those include business names, logos, and even business practices. A top lawyer will tell you about potential problems you have with copyright violations. Not protecting your startup from such claims may prove costly enough to bankrupt the business.
• Helping with Government Regulations: A company is subject to local, state, and federal laws from day one. Few startup employees are aware of these rules. A top attorney will offer guidance about how to follow the laws of the land. They can even tell a startup about steps to take to avoid certain regulations. Advice like this can save a company lots of money, time, and effort.
• Business and Trade Protection: When a startup gets customers, it is bound by set legal terms. It also forms verbal or written contracts with customers. A lawyer will write the contracts and other documents that a startup needs. Without legal advice, a startup runs the risk of violating an agreement. Such a mistake comes with harsh financial and legal penalties.
• Business Partners: When a startup begins, the owners enter a trust, even if they don't realize it. The best attorneys offer guidance in how to draw up legal documents. These contracts protect everyone's interests, reducing the odds of an extended legal battle at a later date. A lawyer's paperwork will decide who earns what in the partnership as well as controlling interest and expectations for each partner.

When Should a Startup Hire a Lawyer?

The mistake many new businesses make is not hiring an attorney immediately. Instead, these companies wait until someone sues them. By then, it's too late. A startup should use an attorney to:

• Incorporate or Form a Business: A lawyer will decide whether you need to incorporate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company among other options. Without top legal advice, you could mess up the company's future.
• Hire Employees: Government regulations impact the hiring process. Once the workers are in place, the company must have rules in place. Otherwise, workers won't know what the startup expects of them. A top lawyer can offer suggestions on the best hiring practices. The attorney can also help the startup write an employee handbook. It'll list all worker expectations and obligations.
• Obtain Patents: When someone in your organization invents a new product or idea, you need to trademark it immediately. By doing so, you protect your company's intellectual property against theft and copyright violations.
• Handle the patent and trademark process: This is important because the United States Patent and Trademark Office receives more than 600,000 applications each year. It also has a backlog of pending applications. An attorney can help you speed up the process while saving you money on document fees.
• Raise Money: Cash flow makes a difference to the startup's survival. The best attorneys understand this. They have experience making deals to get new companies the money they need. They also know how to handle any ownership interests, shareholder stakes, and revenue splits. You should always hire an attorney when you raise money for your business.

How to Find the Best Startup Attorney in Pittsburgh

To find the best attorneys in Pittsburgh, you need to do a bit of research. You should first check to make sure a lawyer has passed the Pennsylvania Bar Exam. You should also call the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Ask if an attorney has any outstanding complaints. Also check to make sure that they've passed the bar according to that organization's records.

Finally, read the online biographies of potential attorneys. See which ones list startup law as their field of expertise. You want a Pittsburgh attorney with a lot of experience in the field.

Which Questions Should I Ask a Startup Attorney?

• How much do you charge?
• Will you bill per hour or per project?
• Do you have special plans available for startups?
• What's your current workload?
• What kind of experience do you have with companies like mine?
• Are you the only person I'll deal with during the process? If not, who else will talk to me?
• Do you know state incorporation procedures for Pennsylvania?

If you're starting a new company, hiring a startup attorney is worth it. They can help you draw up business contracts, follow government regulations, and give legal advice for any other questions you have.