Even if you make every effort to “do things by the book” and keep track of legislation, at some point, if you run a business then you will undoubtedly run into legal issues. Of course, the scale of these issues will vary depending on the size and sector of your business but it’s very unlikely you’ll run any company without falling afoul of the rules eventually. We’re only human, after all.
If you don’t look after the legal side of your business, you leave yourself vulnerable to a spate of lawsuits and disputes, so making sure you have the necessary legal coverage is important. With that in mind, here are some key tips for dealing with legal issues for your business and how to ensure you’re properly covered.
Table of Contents
Documentation
Keeping the right documentation is key for any legal disputes, these can be used to back your argument or protect you from spurious claims. This can be everything from contracts to invoices and will be used as evidence if you ever end up in court. Keeping thorough documentation also reveals that your business had preventative systems in place, which always looks good.
Choosing a solicitor
Getting the right solicitor is key. Choose a solicitor who specialises in business law and litigation rather than a more general solicitor. This will give you the best chance in business legal disputes as they will have trained to cover specific situations that will impact you and your business. However, even the most specialist business solicitor may not get the case right every time and could even make a mistake to put your business at risk. This is when you should look into filing a professional negligence claim against your solicitor to help you to recoup some of the funds lost due to any legal error.
Knowing when to settle
In some cases, the cost of taking further legal action will surpass the cost of settling the case. We all make mistakes so you know your business was in the wrong and the settlement is justified, this could be the best course of action. Even if your business isn’t in the wrong but settlement would still be cheaper, it’s often a good idea to defend the case as you don’t want your business to be seen as an easy target for easy settlement pay-outs. Remember, however, that mud sticks and even if you settle out of court there will always be the court of public opinion to contend with.
Building your legal team
Building a legal team for your business is key. If you run a small business then you could outsource this, of course, but for larger businesses, having a comprehensive legal team is key. Cultivate a legal team that you trust and with experience in your field, if possible. Surround yourself with the right legal minds and you should never need to see the inside of a courtroom.
