What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do?

A corporate lawyer provides legal services to various businesses. They may work at a law firm that contracts with clients or serve as staff lawyers within an organization and report directly to the general counsel. Regardless of their role, corporate lawyers are accountable for various legal and business matters such as business planning and strategy.

Forming a Corporation, Partnership, Limited Liability Company or Alliance

Corporations can take many forms such as sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and limited liability company (LLC). Each of these business structures has its own legal rights and obligations plus organizational structure and tax burdens. A corporate lawyer can assist their clients decide which legal structure best meets their needs and how best to organize the relationship between principals of the business.

Drafting Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Constitution to Guarantee Legal Compliance for A Company.

Corporate lawyers are frequently responsible for reviewing and updating a company’s articles of incorporation and by-laws due to changes in statutory requirements or policy regulations that could impact the corporation. Any alteration to statutes or government policies could have an immediate effect on operations as well as sales figures.

Incorporating New Products And Services

A company may be creating a new product or service and wants to protect its intellectual property and copyrights from infringement by others. A corporate lawyer can assist the company register its trademarks or copyrights, which is especially essential if the firm plans on selling or distributing its new items and services elsewhere.

Negotiating Employee Contracts

A corporate attorney is responsible for negotiating agreements between a business and employees. These documents cover compensation packages, terms of employment, as well as other details that pertain to operations and policies within the firm. Furthermore, they identify proper employee classifications and qualifications for each position within the business to guarantee it satisfies any legal obligations it might owe its personnel.

Analyzing Legal Aspects of Proposed Products and Services

Companies often receive proposals from other corporations to develop an investment or merger deal. Unlike concept proposals, these are usually more detailed and require a detailed review by a corporate lawyer in order to assess any legal ramifications.

Housekeeping

Corporate law entrusts an in-house legal team with maintaining the company’s legal documents in proper order and signed by officers. This could include purchasing or procurement contracts, lease agreements, loan agreements and any other document issued by the business.

As a corporate lawyer, you must graduate from an accredited law school and pass the bar exam in your state of residence. You have the option to specialize in one field such as securities law or study general business law for a more versatile career path. No matter which specialty you select, excellent writing, communication, and negotiation abilities are essential because these will be utilized across most aspects of the job as a corporate lawyer.