Houston Business Law Attorney
Working with Businesses of All Sizes to Meet Their Legal Needs
Owners of every type of business will have legal questions arise at some point, often regularly. Sometimes, a legal dispute arises with another party, and the situation can wreak havoc on your company’s bottom line if you do not properly address the matter. Speaking with an experienced Houston business attorney can help you avoid costly expenses and liability for your business, but not every company owner has access to in-house counsel or reliable legal resources. This does not mean you should ever ignore the matter. Instead, discuss your questions and concerns with a skilled Houston business attorney at the Weisblatt Law Firm.
With more than 25 years of continuous law practice experience, business attorney Andrew Weisblatt dedicates his practice to helping companies large and small with a wide range of legal issues. His clients range from large, multimillion-dollar corporations to single-owner start-ups trying to get off the ground. His experience as in-house counsel for a large, established steel company led to his commitment to helping businesses of all types in Houston and the surrounding areas. His law practice now has loyal clients who call for counsel and representation regarding many different legal matters.
If you would like to discuss legal questions or are involved in a legal dispute, please do not hesitate to schedule a consultation to learn how the Weisblatt Law Firm can help. Call (713) 666-1981 or contact us online to learn the many ways our firm can assist you.
Houston Business Statistics
Houston has grown to be the largest city in the Great State of Texas, and the business economy certainly reflects this growth. People want to live and work in the Houston area, so many owners have built or relocated companies to the city. The following is some additional information about the business scene in Houston:
- 23 Fortune 500 companies have locations in Houston
- The Port of Houston ranks number two in the United States for total tonnage and number one in the United States for international tonnage
- Houston has the sixth-largest airport system in the entire world, which consists of three different major airports
- Houston is a trucking hub, with more than 600 trucking companies operating from the city and connecting much of the South, West, and Midwest
- 14 rail tracks stem from Houston as part of a major rail network in the South
- Houston attracts many multi-national companies, as people working in Houston speak at least 90 different languages
With a strong base in transportation and a rich population of multicultural and highly-skilled workers, it is not surprising that Houston has a diverse array of businesses in its economy.
With the Energy Corridor in the greater Houston area, most of the city’s employment opportunities used to come from the energy sector. However, in recent years, the economy has diversified with many opportunities to work manufacturing, technology, medicine, aerospace, and business services. The top employing industries in Houston, in order of employment, include:
- Trade, transportation, and utilities – 635,600 employees
- Business and professional services – 519,400 employees
- Health and education services – 393,400 employees
- Government – 386,000 employees
- Hospitality and leisure – 327,400 employees
- Construction – 243,300 employees
- Manufacturing – 230,900 employees
- Financial services – 164,000 employees
- Miscellaneous services – 111,500 employees
- Logging and mining – 80,300 employees
- Information – 31,300 employees
Despite its size, every Houston business has an impact on the economy. The business scene is constantly changing, with new growth, relocations, and dissolutions. No matter what stage of business you are in, it is critical to protect your assets and your bottom line. A single legal problem can cause a mountain of problems and may disrupt your operations. Some smaller companies cannot survive a legal dispute that they do not properly handle. Instead of wondering where to turn, contact the Weisblatt Law Firm to discuss the legal needs of your company.
How Can a Business law Attorney Help You?
- Business representation – We represent companies in all business matters and transactions, including negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property protection and licensing agreements, corporate governance, financing, succession planning, and more. In any matter, we provide counsel regarding your rights and obligations under the law, and what steps will be in the best interests of your company.
- Corporate formation – Whether you are starting a new business or would like to change the structure of your business, you should discuss your options with our law firm first. We can evaluate the goals and needs of your company, including the number of owners, your financing goals, liability risks, and more. We can help with all business filings, partnership agreements, limited liability companies, and all facets of corporate formations, such as bylaws and annual filings.
- Business contracts – Every business will utilize contracts, whether written or verbal, formal or informal. It is always wise to formalize any business agreement in writing and to have an experienced attorney draft, review, and negotiate your contracts. Taking care to have a strong contract can save you losses or liability should a party breach the contract.
- Business transactions – There are many situations in which having the right legal representation can give you leverage in a business deal. Parties may try to take advantage of unrepresented business owners or may make costly mistakes. Having an attorney protecting your interests throughout any business transaction can increase the chances of successful results.
- Employment matters – Employees are often an integral part of a company. While keeping the morale of employees high is important, so is complying with all applicable employment laws, including anti-discrimination and wage laws. You should always have an attorney draft and review any employment contracts, including non-compete and non-disclosure agreements. If an employee raises a complaint, consult with us as soon as possible to de-escalate the matter right away.
- Commercial real estate – Real estate is a vital factor for many Houston companies. Whether lease or buy commercial real estate, it is essential to ensure that your lease agreement protects your rights and that the purchase agreement is in your best interests. Commercial real estate transactions are always complex, and you want a lawyer to navigate this process with you.
- Legal disputes – Whether someone alleges a breach of contract, an employee has a complaint, or someone infringes on your intellectual property, legal disputes regarding business can arise when you least expect it. Our law firm can help to negotiate with other parties to resolve the matter without litigation whenever possible.
- Business litigation – When you cannot resolve a dispute out of court, litigation may be necessary. It is imperative to have a skilled business litigator on your side who knows how to guide you through the complex process, engage in persuasive settlement negotiations, and represent you in court if needed.
Does My Company Need a Houston Business Law Attorney?
If another party started a legal dispute with your business, you should not wait any longer to discuss the matter with an experienced business attorney. The longer you wait, the more the dispute can escalate, and you may find yourself facing costly litigation or unnecessary liability or losses.
You should also remember that a dispute does not have to exist for your company to benefit from a discussion with a knowledgeable lawyer. A Houston business attorney can evaluate the state of your business and make sure all necessary legal protections are in place to avoid any legal issues down the road. Preventing legal disputes can save your company resources and allow you to focus on running and growing your operations.
If you are still wondering whether to contact a business attorney, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you want to make a business idea a reality?
- Are you trying to get a startup off the ground?
- Are you looking to lease or purchase commercial real estate?
- Do you need someone to sign a contract or has someone asked you to sign a contract?
- Are you consider a merger and acquisition or the sale of your business?
- Are you and other owners seeking to dissolve a business?
- Are you familiar with all local, state, and federal laws to ensure compliance?
Attorney Andrew Weisblatt can help with any of the above legal matters and more.
When people start businesses, they often believe that they can cut costs by trying to navigate the legal landscape on their own. However, this can lead to costly errors that were completely avoidable had they sought advice from an attorney. Even if you believe your business is a well-oiled machine, you may not realize noncompliance issues or contract deficiencies that may lead to a full-blown legal dispute and litigation at any moment.
If a legal dispute already arose, your next call should be to the Weisblatt Firm. We have tools to try to resolve disputes in the most efficient way possible, but we will also do what it takes to protect the rights and assets of your business.
A Houston Business Law Attorney Can Save Your Business Money
Businesses of every size can experience concrete benefits from the help of a business attorney. The right attorney can help prevent litigation whenever possible, which can protect your bottom line as litigation can be costly. Consider the following statistics:
- Small business owners spent $3,000 to $150,000 in fees for litigation, according to the Small Business Association. Many of these businesses struggled to recover from the litigation costs, and many owners made major adjustments to operations in order to recover the costs.
- 36 major corporations spent an average of about $113 million per year on litigation costs. This adds up to $4.1 billion dollars in legal costs and liability that may have been preventable with the right legal representation.
Legal disputes can significantly hurt smaller businesses, especially if owners did not set up their companies to limit their own personal liability. A business attorney can help you limit liability from the very start by forming the appropriate business entity for your situation. Our firm can also counsel you to ensure you do not expose yourself to unnecessary liability during the course of business.
Overall, the services of the right lawyer can cut costs substantially in the long run. Our firm can assist with legal protections, ongoing guidance, and efficient dispute resolution. Without the right legal advice, you may suddenly find your company facing a costly dispute and your business may be in jeopardy.
How Much Does a Business Law Attorney Cost?
When you are trying to cut costs for your company, chances are you do not want to add the expense of consulting with a business attorney. However, many Houston business owners are surprised to learn that such legal services can be affordable and can result in lower costs in the long run. While some firms may demand high hourly fees, others will work closely with clients to reach a fee agreement that works for all parties.
The cost of business-related legal services often depends on the needs of your company. If you are already facing a lawsuit, it may cost more than if you need guidance on entity formation. At the Weisblatt Law Firm, we are always happy to discuss our fees applying to your specific situation, and we will always be straightforward about your legal costs. We want you to succeed, and we never try to mask hidden costs or offer unnecessary services.
Client Testimonial
”Words will fail me to express my gratitude to Attorney Andrew and his team with the way they handled the civil litigation case against me and my business. They provided top- notch professional services. Attorney Mattew was always available to answer all of my questions in a timely manner and in a way that I can best understand. I would recommend them without a second thought anyday. Thank you for the great and outstanding job.” – Adewale Bishi (Google Review)
Consult a Houston Business Law Attorney for More Information
Attorney Andrew Weisblatt counsels and represents all types of businesses in the greater Houston area. Our firm can assist with simple questions or highly complex legal disputes and litigation, and everything in between. Our goal is to learn the needs of your business so we can best address your legal needs as they arise. With the help of the Weisblatt Law Firm, you can trust that your legal bases are covered.
Please do not hesitate to call the Weisblatt Law Firm at (713) 666-1981 or contact us online to set up a consultation. Learn how we can help you cut costs and avoid any legal hiccups with your business today.
The Weisblatt Law Firm, PLLC
1800 Saint James Place #105
Houston, TX 77056
Attorney Andrew Weisblatt
Mr. Weisblatt has practiced continuously since becoming licensed in 1992 and has represented businesses ranging in size from one person start-up ventures to multi-national corporations employing hundreds of people in multiple countries. From 2005 through 2009 Mr. Weisblatt was in-house counsel and chief operating officer of a multi-national corporation in the steel products industry. That in-house position provided valuable insight into how businesses work and what they actually need from their lawyers – both in-house and outside counsel. Attorney Bio