Business Law in Fairbanks, AK
Many Fairbanks residents dream of owning their own business. Having that autonomy is part of the American dream; you are your boss. But, owning a business is complicated not just from a managerial standpoint, but from a legal standpoint as well. There are several areas where you may find it beneficial to have an experienced Fairbanks attorney by your side to help you fight.
What Is Business Law?
Business law regulates the conduct of merchants, persons, and businesses who engage in commerce, trade, and sales. Business law is also commonly referred to as commercial law. It covers a broad area, such as real estate laws, safety laws, food laws, and environmental regulations.
The Alaska Consumer Protection Act protects all Fairbanks residents against unscrupulous or illegal business practices and activities. This includes, but is not limited to, falsely representing the origin of goods or services, pyramid schemes, selling used goods as if they were new, and intentionally misrepresenting a product.
Staying abreast of current commercial laws can be extremely overwhelming, especially as you’re trying to run a business. Keeping an experienced Fairbanks, Alaska business law attorney on retainer or at least a simple phone call away can help ensure your business remains compliant. Compliance issues can lead to costly damages, so a proactive approach is always best.
How a Qualified Fairbanks, Alaska Business Law Attorney Can Help
Fairbanks business laws are often associated with unique legal issues. One of the most substantial parts of business law is contract violations. When transactions occur between customers and businesses, this usually involves a contract. Still, some legal concerns and problems happen more often than others.. Here are some additional aspects of commercial law that a business attorney can help with:
- Starting a new business
- Protecting intellectual property
- Protecting trade secrets
- Terminating a business
- Transferring a business
- Tackling unfair competition
- Addressing consumer complaints
- Handling marketing and advertising disputes and violations
Costly commercial disputes often cover multiple areas of business law. This is why hiring experienced commercial law lawyers in Fairbanks, AK is essential to the legal compliance and sustainability of your business.
Areas of Business Law
Specialized business attorneys in Fairbanks offer their services to businesses in unique situations. Here are some of the many areas of business law that they tackle.
Organization
If you are developing your business in Fairbanks, a lawyer can help you decide whether you list your company as a limited liability company or a corporation. They will also assist with the paperwork you need to file for your business.
Contracts
When you need to form contracts with your suppliers, clients, customers, and your employees, a business attorney will help you to prepare the necessary paperwork quickly and professionally. They also help you respond to any contracts that other organizations or people want your business to sign.
Licenses and Taxes
While your accountant handles preparing and filing your business tax returns, your business attorney can guide you through registering your business in for state and federal tax identification numbers. They also offer critical advice on potential tax implications and stand ready to defend your business in court if legal issues arise.
The Alaska Department of Business Licensing is where Fairbanks residents must apply to receive state-specific licenses to operate. The department also provides online forms and applications for renewing a license, disclosure of refund policies, and the ability to check the status of any current license you hold.
Intellectual Property Rights
When an individual creates something, they have some automatic rights to their ideas. However, if someone steals the idea, they may have a difficult time proving the idea or creation was theirs, for starters. Attorneys can help with the process of protecting IP rights through trademarking and copyright. A business lawyer in Fairbanks, AK can also help you seek reparations from companies that infringe on your IP rights or defend you against accusations.
Property Law
Physical properties also need protection. In Fairbanks, Alaska in most instances, this refers to immovable property, such as real estate. Property law governs the use, sale, transfer, or rental of this type of property. Some business attorneys may include premises liability in this area, such as slip-and-fall accidents. Property law may cover moveable assets as well. Companies that rent products would fall into this category.
Consumer Protection
When most people picture Fairbanks, AK businesses going to court, they imagine businesses or business people suing each other. This certainly happens quite often, but companies and consumers sue each other too. Consumers often sue companies for defective products or false advertising. Companies, in turn, may sue consumers for libel or slander.
If you have been the victim of fraudulent business practices, you should waste no time in contacting the Alaska Consumer Protection Unit. This wing of the Attorney General’s Office investigates unfair and deceptive business practices and files legal actions to stop such practices.
Lobbying
A qualified Fairbanks, Alaska company, and agents that lobby on its behalf can advocate for changes to laws. However, they must have a deep understanding of the following:
- What the current laws are
- How the current laws affect the business
- What changes might provide better opportunities for the business
This is an especially common hurdle in the world of tech and engineering. For instance, the tech and transportation industries have banded together to lobby governments to consider allowing autonomous vehicles on public roads for testing and eventual official use.
The State Legislature of Alaska deems it illegal for any Fairbanks resident to lobby without registering. Lobbyists are also required to submit fiscal reports so that bribery or coercion cannot take place.
There are many other types of business attorneys that your organization in Fairbanks may benefit from using. If you’re not sure about what type of business attorney your company needs, use the form below to get connected with the best legal help in your area.
Work With an Experienced Fairbanks, Alaska Business Law Lawyer
Hiring a business law attorney near you can help you to resolve many commercial issues that may emerge. In addition to this, commercial law attorneys in Fairbanks can provide you with legal research, legal advice, and any other types of services that your business needs to protect itself or to fight a claim.
A commercial law attorney is also beneficial if your business needs to file a lawsuit or if you’re ever in a situation where you have to attend a court hearing. Additionally, a business law attorney in Fairbanks, AK will help you determine the best course of action for your business if you are ever in violation of any laws.
Most importantly, a business attorney helps your Fairbanks business stay out of trouble. Steering clear of legal disputes is almost always less costly than trying to find your way out of one. While it is not always possible to avoid business litigation, doing all you can to avoid one can go a long way to protecting your business.
Are you looking for a business attorney in , AK to defend your business interests? We can connect you with an experienced and passionate lawyer at no cost to you. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alaska state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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