Business Attorney Law
At Stephenson Rife, our business attorneys help you make the most of your company.
Protect Your Business with a Business Attorney
At Stephenson Rife, our business attorneys help you make the most of your company. State and federal laws set rules for businesses. We educate our clients about the boundaries established by those rules so they can avoid legal disputes. Our business lawyers also can defend your business against legal claims by individuals, other companies, and government agencies.
Our Business Lawyers Look Out for You
Managing a business comes with a wide variety of challenges. You will have to handle payroll, HR, hours, logistics, and the list goes on. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a team to help share the load. If you’re a small business owner, those challenges fall squarely on you. There’s no need to face it all alone. Someone with experience in business law can lift some of that burden.
A business attorney at Stephenson Rife offers:
Local business knowledge: Business laws exist at the federal and state levels, so if your business is in Indiana, it is to your advantage to choose a local business attorney. Our team works primarily in and around Shelbyville, Indiana. They have connections among other local business owners and understand both the law and your business’s market.
Experience with the law: Our business attorneys have chosen to focus on business law and related practice areas. They spend every day working with clients like you who need guidance about how the law impacts business practices. Too often, businesses wait until something goes wrong to get help. Be proactive and get an experienced attorney on your side early.
Liability protection advice: Different legal structures can impact your liability as a business owner. Our attorneys can advise you so that your assets remain protected and you have limited personal liability. They will do this by recommending an LLC, corporation, or other appropriate structure.
Guidance for employment issues: As an employer, you have obligations to your employees. You want to make sure that you are thoroughly protected in the event that something goes wrong. A business attorney can educate you about ideal hiring practices, contracts, labor laws, and more.
Assistance with dispute resolution: If a legal dispute arises, one of our business attorneys can step in as a mediator or negotiator. When you establish a relationship with us early, you’ll have someone to call right away. This can save you valuable time and money.
Reassurance and peace of mind: The bottom line is simple. A business attorney protects you. One of our lawyers can be a valuable asset as you form, dissolve, sell, or merge a business. Every stage of ownership can be made easier with the right help from a qualified business attorney.
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We take the hard cases – and win them! Free consultation, no obligation.
Our Firm Covers a Wide Range of Legal Challenges
Just about everything a business can do is regulated in some way by local, state, or federal codes, regulations, statutes, or judicial decisions. They include:
- Business formation
- Ownership agreements
- Contracts
- Taxes
- Intellectual property
- Anti-trust
- Employment
The range and complexity of laws governing businesses have such broad reach that a business owner may unintentionally violate a regulation. When drafting documents that can directly impact the future of their business, those same business owners may leave themselves open to future lawsuits. The business attorneys at Stephenson Rife can handle the full range of legal needs businesses have. We can review and draft documents, mediate disputes and litigate on your behalf in court.
DEDICATED
Our clients are like family and we care about their well-being.
PREPARED
Our exceptional team is outstanding and is always prepared for every case.
DRIVEN
Our top-notch attorneys are tough and focused on getting justice for our clients.
A Business Attorney Can Handle Legal Issues That Impact Your Company
The most important service we provide is keeping our business clients out of legal trouble. We answer questions and advise our clients so they can get through the legal minefield that comes with owning and running a business. An ounce of prevention can be worth a ton of cure for you and your business.
- If you’re starting a business, you can choose from different legal entities to own it. Some are a better fit for you than others.
- We review, negotiate, and draft contracts. They can be for employees, suppliers, contractors, joint ventures, and between co-owners.
- Knowing and obeying employment laws should keep you out of a lot of trouble. We try to steer our clients clear of problems, but we will defend them before government agencies and in court if they come up.
- Intellectual property may be the most valuable thing your company owns. It can be patents, copyrights, trademarks, customer lists, and marketing plans. We advise our clients on how to protect these assets. When necessary, our business litigation attorney can take action against those using them without your permission.
- Having the right insurance can be critical to your company’s survival if something goes wrong. We advise our clients on the coverage they should obtain. Stephenson Rife also represents businesses whose insurance claims were improperly denied.
- If you lease your space, your lease should be reviewed so you understand your rights and responsibilities. We may be able to negotiate favorable language that could help you now and into the future.
Like all legal areas, few business law disputes are resolved at a trial. Most conflicts are settled through negotiation, and mediation in business disputes can also be used. Stephenson Rife attorneys are skilled negotiators and seasoned mediators.
Business Law Resources
Start Your Relationship with a Local Business Attorney
It is clear that a business owner needs a strong resource who understands business law. Ready to get started? Our process is simple.
Contact our offices when you call 317-548-1107 or submit a contact form.
You’ll get a FREE consultation during which you’ll discuss your basic needs.
You’ll meet with one of our business attorneys who will ask question to gain in-depth knowledge about your business and unique situation.
You’ll discuss a fee structure that is appropriate for you.
You’ll get to rest easy knowing that you have a business attorney on your side.
Discover What Makes Stephenson Rife Exceptional
The team at Stephenson Rife has three core values that guide everything we do. We are always dedicated, prepared, and driven. When you choose us, you will gain a powerful advocate. Our advantages go even deeper. We keep close to our community, so local business owners will find plenty of Hoosier hospitality at our offices. Our business lawyers are familiar with the complexities of both large corporations and small businesses. We can guide you from the foundation of a fledgling company to its eventual sale or merger.
Our clients, current and former, can tell you even more about how we work. Here are just a few of our client testimonials:
“Very professional, most of all they have heart! They truly care about the client. I highly recommend.”
— Peggy Q., 5-star rating on Google
“Thank you and thanks for everything you guys have done. Couldn’t have made it through it without you guys. Truly a blessing.”
— Tracy W., 5-star rating on Google
We Are Here for You
Take the first step in protecting the future of your business. Contact the caring and professional team at Stephenson Rife today. Call 317-680-2011.
M. Michael Stephenson
Founding Partner
Attorney Mike Stephenson has 40 years of experience and is a trusted advisor to many individuals and companies. His current practice is dominated by civil litigation in state and federal courts. He focuses much of his time on handling catastrophic injuries caused by all types of accidents, including car wrecks, semi, industrial, product liability, and fire, just to name a few. He also works extensively in construction-related matters.
Brady J. Rife
Founding Partner
Brady Rife has developed a diverse civil litigation practice for plaintiffs throughout Indiana. Brady is heavily involved in serious personal injury matters, complex business and commercial disputes, and insurance litigation in state and federal courts. Brady has successfully tried several jury trials and bench trials as lead counsel and has also briefed multiple cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals.