We are experienced in a broad spectrum of industries including Internet services, publishing, biomedical, software, e-commerce, manufacturing, commercial business, agriculture, construction, oil and gas, real estate, finance, food service and entertainment ventures.

Our Business Practice Group offers skills and experience in many critical areas including assessing the optimum choice of legal entity formation ("C" Corporation, "S" Corporation, Limited Liability Company, General Partnership or Limited Partnership); formalizing the relationships between the principals in the business; counseling on required and recommended employee agreements and policies; analyzing and implementing alternative capitalization strategies; protecting and licensing intellectual property (patents, trade secrets, trade names, copyrights, know-how); and maximizing the company's position in the event of a sale, purchase, or spinoff.

Strategic planning for long-term business development is vital, whether it involves start-ups, daily business needs, collections, mergers or acquisitions, sell-offs, or other significant transactions. We are able to draw upon the extensive experience within our firm, to bring together the right legal expertise to assist you, whether in taxation, securities, intellectual property, secured transactions, employment, litigation, real estate, land use or estate planning. This comprehensive approach allows us to solve your immediate legal needs and build a solid foundation for future growth.

Using state-of-the-art technology, attorneys at Phillips Law Partners excel at the high-speed pace of business. We have a networked computer system capable of e-mail and facsimile transactions, providing access to files, financial records, and specialized legal research databases, including the Internet. These resources greatly improve efficiency, lower costs and allow us to provide cost effective and timely advice to our clients.

Understanding a client's resources, objectives and goals is the first step to effective representation. Then we evaluate the merits of the available options, and thoroughly explain them, including legal and financial impacts involved with each specific situation. Our goal is not to tell our clients what they want to hear, but rather advise them of their best options. We provide fiscally sound legal advice to enable our clients to make informed decisions in achieving their goals. Just as important, we communicate in plain English.

Our representation goes beyond traditional legal services. For example, we offer business compliance inspections or audits which provide a review of your business operations. We offer annual employee contract and policy reviews to ensure compliance with both public and private-sector employment regulations. We also develop strategies for mediation or dispute resolution, avoiding formal legal proceedings.

Our Business Practice Group is comprised of attorneys with extensive backgrounds in securities, intellectual property, personal and family business, real estate, construction, taxation and employment.

Our effectiveness is built upon a reputation for competent and ethical representation, and a style of advocacy which emphasizes cooperation and achieving the goal. The attorneys in our Business Practice Group will complement your management team with legal expertise and skill to assist in achieving your goals.

Counsel and representation are offered in the following areas and industries:
• Agriculture
• Banking
• Biomedical
• Construction
• Dairy
• Entertainment
• Food Service
• Internet
• Manufacturing
• Oil and Gas
• Publishing
• Real Estate
• Retail and Wholesale Sales
• Software
• Solid and Hazardous Waste Handling
• Telecommunications

Areas of Specialty
• General Counsel Services
• Analysis of business entity and financing alternatives
• Domestic and foreign entity formations
• Agreements regarding principals
- Buy-sell agreements
- Shareholder agreements• Partnership agreements
• Limited Liability company operating agreements
• Stock plans, including ESOPs and incentive stock options
• Intellectual property protection and licensing
- Patents
- Copyrights
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Know-How• Employment Issues
- Employment/confidentiality agreements
- Employee handbooks
- Employee hiring/terminations
- Harassment/discrimination investigations
- Independent contractor agreements• Joint venture/strategic alliance agreements
• Recapitalizations
• Conversions
• Securities
- Registration
- Sales/purchases of businesses
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
- Tax advice and representation• Taxation

We will conduct a thorough checkup on your business policies, contracts and procedures for legal compliance. The areas we typically examine are:
• Operations and Procedures
• Contracts
• Document Retention
• Leases and Options
• Business insurance
• Licensing
• Employment arrangements