Most new or young business entrepreneurs may not know what to look for when searching for a San Diego business lawyer. Some experienced business owners and investors have never really had the right person in that role.  Some of the primary traits you should seek may seem obvious, but some may surprise you.

Key Takeaways When Searching For a San Diego Business Lawyer:

• Every serious business owner, shareholder, member in an LLC, or investor needs an experienced business attorney, a competent CPA and tax advisor, and a banking relationship or reliable source of funding at any point in your business life.
• Experience helps you to reach your goals sooner, and with less of the hassles, disputes, failures, setbacks, and losses that have held back or closed other businesses, like yours, in the past.
• There is a broad range of legal services you will need at every point of the business journey, from formation and startup, through corporate document creation and updates, contracts, asset purchases, mergers, acquisitions, and ultimately, when you are ready to cash out or sell the company to pursue other opportunities and interests.
• If you are any type of success in business you will inevitably become involved in a dispute or lawsuit.  You’ll need an experienced business lawyer who knows how to handle the situation you face, and is equipped with tested and proven strategies to resolve any dispute or lawsuit in a cost-effective and timely manner, and in any venue from negotiations to a settlement conference, business mediation, arbitration, or at trial

The Essential Ingredient in Your Relationship With Your San Diego Lawyer

When searching for a San Diego business lawyer, proven advice based upon decades of experience is the first element of what you should be looking for.  “Been there, gotten hundreds (or thousands) of clients through that.’ Sound advice and counsel at each step in the formation, development and ultimate disposition of your business is one of the essential ingredients of your relationship with a business attorney.

Look for an attorney with deep experience not only in business, but in your business or niche.  A strong business lawyer provides sound counsel along the way to help business owners to avoid the traps and pitfalls that cost money and threaten the life of a business.  An experienced business attorney is like having a business coach available at any time.  Even professional athletes draw on the perspective, experience and skill of a high level coach.  The same is true for successful business professionals.

Contracts Form the Basis of All Business Transactions and Relationships

Extensive experience in every form of contract is another important ingredient when searching for a San Diego business lawyer.  The Watkins Firm has developed an extensive, proprietary library of business contracts, due diligence checklists, and agreements for almost every conceivable business situation or need.  Our attorneys guide our business clients toward success through effective business contracts with employees, vendors and customers, licensees, distributors, business partners – preventing disputes before they ever arise while providing incentive for each party to provide an excellent result for our clients.  We counsel business clients on mergers and acquisitions – including stock purchases and asset purchases – and how to buy out a competitor or vendor to expand your own business opportunities.  Licensing and distribution agreements help your company to reach new vertical and geographical markets quickly and effectively.

Why is Trial Experience Such an Important Skill for Your Business Attorney?

One of the most important aspects to look for in a San Diego business lawyer is successful trial experience.  We can hear you asking: “Why is trial experience so important?”  The answer lies in the heart of what a business lawyer should do for you: advise you on business help you to avoid disputes and lawsuits before they ever arise.  Your Watkins Firm business attorney will negotiate successfully on your behalf to quickly and efficiently resolve any dispute which might arise. A strong trial record results in a powerful reputation with other San Diego business attorneys, as well as insurance companies and other parties you will encounter along the path of doing business in San Diego.

If you are involved in a dispute, and the other party knows your attorney is skilled, prepared to go to trial and will likely defeat them, they are much more willing to negotiate a resolution that is in your favor.  The Watkins Firm has successfully tried business litigation cases for almost four decades, and has a strong reputation and winning track record.  Our clients appreciate having a strong and effective legal partner when a dispute or litigation arises.

Pro-Tip: “Why do you need an experienced business attorney?  You get to do what you do best and not worry about doing something that you didn’t even know about that got you into trouble.

As business owners, we all have those moments where something comes up and we just need a quick answer or we need insight into how big a problem a specific situation might be, ‘how much should I worry about this? Or how do I go after this opportunity? I’ve never done this before.’ This is where we can really help you and your company. We have transactions and litigation attorneys. We have experience from both sides of the aisle. We have the deal makers and we have the ‘watch out; Don’t do that; You can get sued’ lawyers! And we all work together so we all can spot the same issues and provide good advice. And that’s what every business owner needs. It’s the least expensive form of insurance you can buy.

When we’re forming a business, we help them select the right kind of company with their goals in mind, or if they’re merging with or buying something else.  They’re already in business, but we give them advice on whether they should change or how to expand their company, or what they can and can’t do with their business. If they’re in the merger and acquisition stage, then it’s a whole different list of things we’re going to talk to them about and work them up, get them set and ready to go to do the best they can.

Every company has contracts when they first come to see us. We don’t want to do a full ‘dental exam on’ them. We’re just going to address what’s going on and get some background.  Because once our lawyers here get background on a company, know generally what they’re doing, then we’re ready for any kind of questions they may have. We don’t want to fix anything that’s not broken. We don’t want to go in there and say, you need to do this. You’re doing this all wrong. No, if they’re making a profit, they’re doing it all right. And if there’s something they’re concerned about, we’ll help them address it. But any of the main issues, the complexities of being an employer, business transactions, commercial contracts, all those will lead us to general background. And that means they don’t have to teach us or pay us to learn their general background for any questions they have in the future. We’ll get that at the first consultation. We’ll know what’s going on. And so if they come back and say, ‘okay, you just handled my consumer or my lease or my independent contractor agreements, I’ve got this other issue.’ We won’t have to say, ‘oh, I need a couple hours of your time to get to know what you do.’ Odds are, we’ve helped dozens and dozens of other companies very similar to your business, and we can help you to get there faster, and with less risk and setback.” – Dan Watkins, Founding Partner

Know What to Look For in a San Diego Business Lawyer

Now you know a little more about what to look for in a San Diego business lawyer.  You need a proven business coach who can help you through formation and the establishment of strong corporate documents.  You will need guidance on maintaining strong corporate governance and compliance to protect the corporate veil and all of the hours, effort, money and sweat you will invest in your business now and in the future.  You will need strong, effective contracts to ensure good relationships and profitable transactions.  You will need a powerful ally to advise you through any dispute or lawsuit while working to resolve them quickly and in a cost-effective manner.

Most of all, you need a trusted counselor who will provide insight and advice at each step of your business journey. We invite you to review our podcast Episode 38 – General Counsel and The Importance of a Strong Business Attorney as well as the strong recommendations of our clients and contact the Watkins Firm or call 858-535-1511 for a complimentary consultation today.

Meet Dan Watkins:

Daniel W. Watkins is a true people person who sincerely listens. He cares deeply about what others are going through.  Dan enjoys digging into the facts and finding creative solutions to problems.  He contributes his insights candidly and constructively.

Dan’s interest in people make him deeply invested in every relationship and his exuberant personality makes him a true litigator. Dan fights for his clients with a fierce and calculated commitment.

Dan has practiced in the areas of business, medical practices and healthcare business, high tech/science, real estate and employment defense law since 1987. He is a trusted litigation strategist and true trial attorney with over 50 jury and bench trials to his credit. Dan has successfully represented both large companies and individuals and achieved substantial victories in well-publicized trials throughout California and the U.S.

He is experienced in business and corporate formation and administration, as well as all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including binding arbitration and mediation.

THE ROAD TO BECOMING A BUSINESS LAWYER AND LITIGATOR

Dan has almost 40 years of experience working with, for and against some of the largest insurance companies in the country. He has successfully tried and litigated cases in the areas of Healthcare Compliance, Commercial Litigation, Unfair Business Practices, Fraud, Breach of Contract, Battery, Premises Liability, Product Defect, Medical Malpractice, Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Construction Defect, as well as Unfair Competition, Defamation, and Trade Secrets.

In December 2003, Dan commenced litigation against Health South Surgery Centers-West, Inc and its’ subsidiaries, exposing the company’s extensive mismanagement and misconduct of its’ surgery centers. Dan has also been asked by some of California’s largest municipalities and corporations to conduct legally required investigations into matters involving alleged employment discrimination and harassment.