Business Law in Missouri
Don’t settle for a lawyer in Missouri 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.
Missouri Antitrust Laws strictly forbid the formation of monopolies, trusts, or any other type of business venture that unfairly stifles competition in the free market. As monopolies also inhibit the creation of new and better goods and services, Missouri does not allow businesses to complete a merger that would stifle competition.
Staying abreast of current commercial laws can be extremely overwhelming, especially as you’re trying to run a business. Keeping an experienced Missouri 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 Missouri Business Law Attorney Can Help
Missouri 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 Missouri is essential to the legal compliance and sustainability of your business.
Areas of Business Law
There are business attorneys who specialize in Missouri 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 Missouri, 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri Division of Professional Registration is responsible for the licensing of businesses and industries that are required to be certified to operate legally in the state. Many professions, such as social workers, tattoo and body piercing artists, podiatrists, and even professional boxers are required by law to be licensed in the state of Missouri. For instance, boxers must be registered with the Missouri Board of Athletics.
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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Office of the Attorney General of Missouri handles consumer complaints when there are reports of fraudulent business tactics or practices. Tactics and scams such as price gouging or false advertising are prohibited under the law. If you feel you have fallen victim to one of these tactics, you can file a complaint using the online portal, or by calling the hotline for Consumer Protection.
Lobbying
A qualified Missouri 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 Missouri Ethics Commission states that any lobbyist in the state must register within 5 days of beginning lobbying activities. A lobbyist also has to register the company or business they represent, as well as file monthly electronic reports of their activities.
There are many other types of business attorneys that your organization in Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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!
If you still have some urgent questions about your situation, take a look at another area of Missouri law.