Business Law in Houston, TX
Don’t settle for a lawyer in Houston, Texas that lacks the experience and deep knowledge of commercial law that your business deserves. We can connect you with an experienced business law attorney to handle your case.
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 Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) prohibits many business practices in Houston on the grounds that they are false, deceptive, or misleading. For example, no person can willfully misrepresent the ownership of a business for the purpose of holding a going-out-of-business sale. Under the DTPA, you may have the right to sue for damages in Houston. If you can show that a business knowingly deceived you, you also may be eligible to recover up to three times your damages.
Staying abreast of current commercial laws can be extremely overwhelming, especially as you’re trying to run a business. Keeping an experienced Houston, Texas 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 Houston, Texas Business Law Attorney Can Help
Houston 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 Houston, TX is essential to the legal compliance and sustainability of your business.
Areas of Business Law
Specialized business attorneys in Houston 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 Houston, 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 the accountant that your business has will prepare and file the tax returns with your business, your Houston business attorney will also let you know how to register your business in Texas for state tax identification and federal tax identification numbers. They also provide you with the knowledge that you need to understand any tax consequences and defend you in court, if necessary.
The Texas Business Licenses & Permits handbook provides a comprehensive list of industry-specific license requirements for Houston businesses. For example, a Houston business serving alcohol must obtain a license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. As well, a dentist in Houston must obtain a license from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Furthermore, the City of Houston does not issue a general business license. However, general contractors must generally obtain permits on a job-by-job basis.
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 Houston, TX 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 Houston, Texas 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 Houston, TX 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.
The Attorney General of Texas Consumer Protection Division (CPD) can accept consumer complaints and file civil cases in the public interest. If you live in Houston, you can file a complaint online if you experience unfair or unlawful business practices. Keep in mind, once you file a complaint, it becomes a public record. Additionally, the CPD cannot bring criminal charges for deceptive business practices. Therefore, hiring a qualified Houston business law attorney may be a necessity.
Lobbying
A qualified Houston, Texas 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 industry have banded together to lobby governments to consider allowing autonomous vehicles on public roads for testing and eventual official use.
Texas law dictates that lobbyists working in Houston must register with the Texas Ethics Commission. The TEC provides a list of all forms that a Houston lobbyist needs to file electronically. Any Houston resident can view reports on lobby activities, lobby expenditures, and lobbyist registrations on the TEC Website. However, if a lobbyist receives less than $1,620 in compensation within a calendar year, they may not have to register with the TEC.
There are many other types of business attorneys that your organization in Houston 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 Houston, Texas 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 Houston 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 Houston, TX 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 Houston 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 , TX 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 Texas 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!
