Business Law in Maine
Don’t settle for a lawyer in Maine 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 Government of Maine website provides a comprehensive list of business laws and regulations in the state. For example, Maine law requires employers to display certain posters in the workplace where employees can see them. These posters include the Sexual Harassment Poster, Minimum Wage Poster, and Workers’ Compensation Poster. For convenience, posters that meet the full legal requirements are accessible on the site.
Staying abreast of current commercial laws can be extremely overwhelming, especially as you’re trying to run a business. Keeping an experienced Maine 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 Maine Business Law Attorney Can Help
Maine 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 Maine is essential to the legal compliance and sustainability of your business.
Areas of Business Law
There are business attorneys who specialize in Maine that offer their services to businesses in unique situations. Following are some of the many areas of business law that they tackle.
Organization
If you are developing your business in Maine, 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 Maine business attorney will help you to prepare the necessary paperwork quickly and professionally. They also help you to 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 business attorney will also let you know how to register your business in Maine 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.
General Licenses to operate a business are managed at the town and city level in Maine. Additionally, Corporations must register with the State of Maine Bureau of Corporations. Furthermore, certain types of business may require additional permits and licenses. For example, auctioneers must obtain a license from the State of Maine Board of Licensing of Auctioneers. Credit agencies must obtain a license from Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
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, to begin with. Attorneys can help with the process of protecting IP rights through trademarking and copyright. A business lawyer in Maine 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 Maine 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. For instance, companies that rent products would fall into this category.
Consumer Protection
When most people picture Maine 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.
Maine’s Attorney General Consumer Protection Division is responsible for enforcing Maine’s consumer and antitrust laws. Consumers with complaints can submit an online Consumer Complaint Form. According to the Press Herald, more than half of consumer complaints to the AGO are ultimately resolved. Typically, the solution comes via a mediation process in which both the consumer and the business must agree to participate. The fact that businesses must agree to mediation gives Maine’s resolution system less authority. At least when compared to states where participation is mandatory.
Lobbying
A qualified Maine company and agents that lobby on its behalf can advocate for changes to laws. However, first, 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.
The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices administers Maine’s lobbyist disclosure law. Every lobbyist in Maine must file a joint registration with each of the lobbyist’s employers. This must be done after lobbying more than eight hours in a calendar month on behalf of that client. Be aware, Maine law generally prohibits contributions by lobbyists to the Governor. As well, contributions to Legislature members, constitutional officers of the State, and their staff or agents is also prohibited.
There are many other types of business attorneys that your organization in Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine business stay out of trouble. Steering clear of legal disputes is 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 Maine 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 Maine 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!
Need help with a different sector of Maine law? Check out more of our articles!