Business Lawyer in Los Angeles

Matthews Law Firm, Inc.

The business world of today is very complex and disputes of this nature are unique and complicated, especially in the state of California. Matters related to real estate, contracts, mergers, and fraud need to be resolved on a daily basis and often in a very timely fashion to adhere with all the legal deadlines. If you need to settle a business matter or dispute, it is essential that you contact an experienced business attorney who can assist you in finding an effective legal solution to your problem. We offer superior legal services to represent you in a variety of matters, including:

Breach of Contract
Breach of contract is the most common dispute encountered in the business world. These cases can involve partnership agreements, leases, purchase and sale agreements, or other business contracts, and all of them involve an oral or written agreement that is then breached by one of the parties.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Fiduciaries are representatives, directors, or advisors who have control or access to the finances or personal information related to a specific business. Their position demands a high obligation to act honestly and in good faith. When they fail to perform this duty, they can cause substantial financial losses to the business that they represent.

Business Formation
Developing a business is something that many people dream of but only few actually go through with. The formation of a business is a critical time and for the longevity of the business it should be done correctly. Business formation can also include the legal aspects when a business is restructuring for any number of reasons.

Partnership Agreements
When working together with a partner it is a good idea to set the guidelines up from the beginning. This may include stating what responsibilities fall to each party so that the roles cannot later be changed without consent. It can also offer further clarity, allowing the business to run smoother when everyone knows what they are doing. These agreements should be developed with a professional to increase their effectiveness.

Commercial Collections
Many businesses are given the difficult task of collecting old debts that are owed to them. It is, however, completely within their legal right to seek repayment of these debts. When businesses have difficulty obtaining payment on a debt, it is often in their best interest to obtain the help of a law firm that can take collection actions on their behalf.

Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
Those who are looking to pursue a business endeavor must first be sure that their legal rights are protected. Hiring a business attorney from the outset will ensure that your business has the greatest chance of success and will help to avoid contract disputes and other serious legal issues in the future.

Landlord and Tenant Disputes
Disputes between commercial landlords and tenants are a very common occurrence. Disagreements arise over matters regarding services that people failed to deliver, nonpayment of rent, and wrongful eviction. In many cases, the parties involved are unable to resolve their disputes alone. It often takes a legal professional to help negotiate a satisfactory resolution for one or both of the parties.

Eminent Domain
The government has been given the authority to take land in certain situations when it is for the good of the population. This can sometimes be a vague definition that allows them to use their own discretion. They may cause a home owner or business to have to move for their purpose and there are ways to fight when eminent domain seems unfair.

Fraud
In the business world, fraud can take many forms. Consumer fraud, fraudulent sale, fraudulent advertising, breach of contract, breach of warranty, investment fraud, fraudulent marketing schemes, and mortgage and real estate fraud are just a few examples. People or businesses victimized by fraud are well served by contacting an attorney who can take legal action on their behalf.

Contract Disputes
A large percentage of business contracts leave certain terms unclear, or fail to address certain terms at all. Contracts like this frequently cause disputes to occur between the parties involved. It is advised that one obtain legal help for any type of contract dispute, including simple disputes, conflicting legal agreements, or disputes that involve multiple layers of business relationships.

Loan Modification
In today's economic climate, many businesses are struggling to keep up with their commercial real estate loans. Commercial real estate in general is performing relatively poorly, which can lead to defaults or foreclosures. Fortunately, many lenders are willing to modify real estate loans in order to provide more favorable payment terms for businesses.

Foreclosure Disputes
When borrowers are unable to continue meeting their monthly mortgage obligations, lenders may decide to initiate foreclosure proceedings, which essentially involves selling the property in order to recoup the debt. Disputes frequently arise during the foreclosure process when the borrower believes that the lender has initiated or carried out a foreclosure in an unlawful manner.

Trademark Disputes
In order to claim ownership, a trademark can be sought by companies and individuals. It offers protection for the creation, product or service that has been developed to avoid from others taking the credit for something that is not theirs. Disputes can arise and someone may take use a trademarked item without permission or individuals and companies can also be blamed for doing so when they are innocent.

Partnership Disputes
Partnerships are formed when two or more individuals agree to work together to achieve and advance mutual interests (usually business related). Regardless of whether or not a written partnership agreement is forged to solidify such a relationship, disputes can and do occur. Examples of these include financial disputes, partner exit disputes, and profit-sharing disputes.

Shareholder Disputes
Shareholders, or stockholders, are people who legally own one or more share of a private or public corporation's stock. There are many types of disputes that can arise between shareholders, including disputes against the corporation issuing the stock, disputes with shareholders who are believed to be breaching fiduciary duty, and disputes involving minority shareholder rights.

Insurance Disputes
When running a business, insurance can be relied up on in difficult situations. For a company that has been paying each month they can be surprised to find out just how difficult it may be to gain compensation. Insurance disputes are a common problem that many face and legal action is often necessary.

Real Estate Litigation
Real estate transactions in Los Angeles can go wrong for a variety of reasons, including failures to reveal property problems, lease agreement violations, and unresolved judgments. When a dispute occurs regarding any type of real estate transaction, one can take steps towards obtaining a favorable resolution by seeking representation from a skilled attorney.

Royalty Disputes
Many businesses hold licenses over property (real or intellectual) that give them the right to receive royalty payments from those using that property. When a business does not receive the royalty payments it is entitled to, it can create a significant financial burden for the business, and necessitate legal action against the non-paying entities.

Unfair Business Practices
The Unlawful Business Practices Act allows individuals to take legal action in the event of any "unfair, unlawful, or fraudulent business act or practice," such as illegal employment practices or violations of the California Labor Code. Any disputes regarding unfair business practices, whether you are an employee or business owner, should be resolved with the help of an attorney.

LLC and LLP Disputes
LLC stands for "limited liability company," a business structure in which the owners have limited personal liability for the debts of the company. LLP stands for "limited liability partnership," a form of business ownership in which all partners have limited liability protection. Disputes in LLCs and LLPs can take many forms, including contact issues, breach of fiduciary duty, and business dissolution.

Business Litigation
Many businesses in Southern California work with a variety of individuals and groups that help manage or promote the business' services. As many parties are working together to achieve certain goals, it sometimes happens that disputes arise, and these disputes often require litigation in order be fully resolved.

Intellectual Property Litigation
Intellectual property is an important part of our society and many people are developing ideas that can be profited from or used to advance a company. Intellectual property includes a number of areas and it can be very relevant in a business operation. When disputes arise over who has rights regarding it or who has ownership, legal action can be needed.

Federal Trade Commission Complaints
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was developed for the purpose or protecting consumers when dealing with businesses. A complaint can be made to the FTC that the company is violating regulations and they may choose to take action.

Mediation
Mediation can provide an alternative to litigation as a means of dispute resolution. In mediation, a third party (known as the mediator) helps the involved parties negotiate a settlement to their dispute. The mediator works in an advisory capacity only, and is merely there to move the settlement process forward. The mediator is not qualified to make binding legal decisions.

Entertainment Law
With the large influence of the entertainment business in the Los Angeles area and the different factors that come into play with these types of operations, mattes of entertainment law should be handled by a professional with relevant capabilities. Entertainment law is a broad area that can play into many other areas of business law.

FAQs
Let us answer the questions that you have regarding business law. This is a vast area of the law that can have a lot of pertinent information that you should be aware of. Without the assistance of a professional you may be at a loss. Contact our office and set up a consultation to get started and to gain the answers you may be unable to find on our site.

Why hire a Los Angeles business attorney?

As business law is complicated, so is any type of litigation that addresses business matters or disputes. If you are an individual taking legal action against a business, or a business owner who is defending against legal action from an individual or other business, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can work towards a resolution on your behalf, and utilize knowledge and experience in this area of law to increase your chances of a beneficial case outcome. There is a lot at stake in these cases and the effectiveness of the outcome can be dependent on who is handling the case. Set up a consultation with our attorney today.