contracts - Jamie Miller Law | Tulsa Business Lawyer

Legal ‘To Do’ List? I Can Help! | Video

jmillerlawfirm — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 10:32:06 +0000

So many have shifted their focus these past few weeks amid business closures and/or the need to continue serving customers and clients from afar. There are quite a few things you can cross off the legal ‘to do’ list remotely. Let’s work together if you’re in need of any of the following:

Legal advice while your business is temporarily closed
Help with restructuring amid the current climate
Online mediation and arbitration to settle a dispute outside of the closed court systems
Proactive estate planning

I would like to discuss these ideas with you if you’re interested in filling your downtime with a little legal due diligence.

Contact me or schedule an appointment online to learn more!

Click here to watch this video on YouTube!

The information contained in this video is not specific legal advice. Watching this video does not establish an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking specific legal advice, please feel free to call me or schedule an appointment online.

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Attorney-Client Relationship | Video

jmillerlawfirm — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 09:07:58 +0000

In this video, we’ll be discussing the attorney-client relationship and how I’m working to shift the perception of that relationship.

What if you viewed your attorney differently?
What if your attorney was your legal partner, helping you to prevent or mitigate risks in your business?
What if your attorney knew your business, employees and was available to you to help navigate ongoing business decisions?

I would like to discuss these ideas with you if you’re interested in gaining a partner in the legal field.

Contact me or schedule an appointment online to learn more!

Click here to watch this video on Vimeo!

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J. Miller Law Firm Introduction | Video

jmillerlawfirm — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:47:42 +0000

In this video, I’ll be introducing myself, J. Miller Law Firm and an exciting new opportunity to partner with me as your business attorney on a subscription basis. Get unlimited access to me without the billable hour fee. Contact me or schedule an appointment online to learn more!

Click here to watch this video on Vimeo!

The post J. Miller Law Firm Introduction | Video first appeared on Jamie Miller Law | Tulsa Business Lawyer.

Business Partnership | Video

jmillerlawfirm — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:44:15 +0000

In this video, we’re talking with Jennifer Edwards, owner of Direction, LLC about partnerships, structuring your business in writing, determining the split and writing up a buy/sell agreement. Learn why she decided to hire a business attorney to structure her business partnership for Direction.

Forming a Business Partnership: Hire An Attorney

Click here to watch this video on Vimeo!

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Why You Should Hire a Business Attorney | Video

jmillerlawfirm — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 07:49:09 +0000

In this video, we’re talking with Jennifer Edwards about her entrepreneurial adventures and how to avoid some common new business pitfalls. Learn why she decided to hire a business attorney.

Cover Your New Business Bases: Hire A Business Attorney

Click here to watch this video on Vimeo!

The post Why You Should Hire a Business Attorney | Video first appeared on Jamie Miller Law | Tulsa Business Lawyer.

Starting a Business in 2020

jmillerlawfirm — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 11:09:14 +0000

You may have seen a recent article/post about the “50 Best Cities for Starting a Business in 2020.” Tulsa and Oklahoma City both made this list! Tulsa was identified as #1 for Wage Growth and #19 for Rate of Entrepreneurship. Oklahoma City was ranked # 5 for Rate of Internship and #23 for Wage Growth. It is an exciting time to do business in Oklahoma! In Tulsa and surrounding communities, there are business incubators, coworking spaces, active chambers of commerce, and a huge amount of networking opportunities.

If you have ever dreamed of starting a business or buying an existing business, I would encourage you to do so but think it through carefully, and start it the right way. By starting it the right way, I mean don’t shortcut the steps you need to take. Starting a business from scratch, or buying an existing business are important decisions, and missing steps or making decisions you later regret can have serious legal and tax consequences.

Steps to Consider if you are Starting a Business

Create a thorough business plan AND budget

Having a thorough business plan (and budget) in place is something that often gets overlooked in the initial excitement. I am also a mentor and subject matter expert for SCORE in Tulsa, and there are free resources for business plans available through SCORE, as well as other entities. Just like with anything else though – don’t use just anything you find on the internet. These decisions are too important to take lightly. A link to SCORE business planning resources can be found here: https://www.score.org/business-plans-startup-assistance-resources.

Decide how you will structure your business

You also need to decide on a formalized structure for your business, such as a corporation or a limited liability company. This is a conversation I would encourage you to have with an attorney as well as your tax advisor, working together. The Secretary of State website is a great place to start for resources/forms, but submitting that filing is not the end of the process. Depending on the structure you choose, you will also want to have governing documents professionally drafted, such as an operating agreement, partnership agreement, or bylaws, as well as buy-sell agreements if there are multiple owners.

File for licenses or permits

Depending on the type of business, there may be licenses or permits needed, as well as additional registrations for tax purposes, such as the Oklahoma Tax Commission if you will be selling taxable goods and/or services.

Hire employees or contract independent vendors

The conversation about employees versus independent contractors is also important, and there are many factors that go into that decision. Misclassifying workers as contractors when they are actually employees can have serious consequences. Again, consult with an attorney about these issues, and your tax professional should be in the loop as well.

Draft contracts for vendors, clients, customers, contractors, and employees

Every business needs solid written contracts in place. These may be contracts with vendors, clients, customers, contractors, and occasionally employees. It is often less expensive for preventative legal services such as contract drafting and negotiation than trying to fix a bad contract later or litigate it after there is a problem.

These are just a few of the steps involved in starting a business. Having a solid business plan in place, as well as professionals to guide you through the process can help to make it manageable and get you up and running smoothly.

If I can help you with starting a business 2020, I would love to hear from you! To schedule a consultation: 918-938-1322 or jamie@jmillerlawfirmpllc.com.

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Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

jmillerlawfirm — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:36:53 +0000

It may be close to Valentine’s Day, but in this case I am talking about business breakups. I have seen an increase in the number of people coming to me where they have a business with one or more other individuals, and want to either get out of the business or end the business entirely, and the business partner does not agree in one or more areas. Unfortunately, many of these people have not taken the steps up front to have a written contract with their business partner that addresses how disagreements will be handled, including withdrawals, sales, and dissolving the company.

The best time to come to an arrangement with your business partners is at the beginning. When you are starting your business and everyone is getting along, it is typically much easier to come to a clear consensus on how you want to handle situations down the road. If you do not create such an agreement, and you come to an impasse, you can still try to come to an agreement but it can be more difficult after disagreements have already occurred and tempers may be high. In the absence of a written contract, your options are limited to the Oklahoma statutes regarding your particular corporate structure (such as a corporation or a limited liability corporation) which may include going to court to get a resolution, which can include additional time and expense.

If you would like to discuss creating an agreement for your business or have an issue with a business partner, feel free to contact me at 918-770-7810 or jamie@jmillerlawfirmpllc.com.

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Review, Reflection and Business Planning

jmillerlawfirm — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 18:37:46 +0000

During the last few weeks of the year I like to spend some time reflecting on the year, giving thanks for people and opportunities, and making decisions on how to best serve my clients in the coming year. You’ll find my business planning checklist below.

As part of that process, I encourage you to take time for review and reflection as well. If you have estate planning documents – do you know where those documents are, and have you reviewed them in the last few years? With life changes such as marriages, divorce, moves, additional or growing children, and unfortunately the passing of loved ones, it is important to review your existing plan documents. This can be adding a codicil to a will, amending a revocable trust, revoking or changing a power of attorney, etc. It is also an opportune time to review your accounts and insurance policies not only to make sure you have the coverage and policies in place that you want but also that your beneficiaries are correctly identified.

If you haven’t created any of these documents yet, please consider checking that off your list.

Below is a sample list of items to review or consider.

Estate Planning

Know location of existing documents
Review documents for changes
- Personal Representatives/Trustees/Power of Attorney
- Guardians for minor children
- Property changes
- Deed changes
- If you have a revocable Trust, have you correctly transferred property and assets into the name of the Trust?
Accounts and Insurance Policies
- Review coverage and beneficiaries

If you have a business, have you met your business planning goals for the year, and what changes do you want to make? What would happen to your business if something happened to you? Have you reviewed your contracts with vendors and customers? Do you have employee policies in place? An ongoing relationship with an attorney can help you plan to meet your goals, make changes, review and update your documents or draft new ones, and plan for the future. Below is a sample list of business planning items to review or consider.

Business Planning

File annual paperwork for corporate structures
Review or create corporate structure and keep records updated
Revise or create contracts with vendors, customers, clients
Revise or create employee handbooks and policies
Review your insurance policies
End of year bookkeeping and tax planning

Maybe you have a dream about starting a business or buying a business? An attorney can help you work through those steps even when you are in the planning phase. Some considerations are pros and cons to the distinct types of corporate entities, operating documents, and licenses that may be needed.

Planning Ahead for 2018

In 2018, I plan to expand my work with business owners and am able to offer affordable and flexible options for ongoing legal services. I take a proactive approach with my clients to solve problems, minimize risks, and find the best method to resolve disputes for clients. I also have a large network of other trusted professionals I can connect with clients to meet other needs, such as insurance, accountants, realtors, administrative support, and more.

I also plan to continue providing free speaking engagements on topics such as estate planning, business legal services, and mediation/alternative dispute resolution.

I am blessed with wonderful family, friends, and clients. Wherever you are in life, I would encourage you to take some time to review your plans and goals. I would love to help you in that process.

Blog Disclaimer: This blog is made available for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute specific legal advice. By reading this blog you understand there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and J. Miller Law Firm, P.L.L.C. This blog is not legal advice and you should not act upon this information without seeking advice from a lawyer licensed in your own state or jurisdiction. Your use of the blog is at your own risk as the materials presented may not reflect the most current legal developments, and may be changed, improved or updated without notice. J. Miller Law Firm, P.L.L.C. is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the content of this blog or for damages arising from the use or performance of this blog under any circumstances.

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