Business Law in Pensacola, FL
Don’t settle for a lawyer in Pensacola, Florida who 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.
Pensacola consumers enjoy the protections of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (DUTPA). For example, DUTPA covers unlawful acts and practices by social media platforms. A social media platform cannot censor or shadow-ban a user’s content without notifying the user. Additionally, a social media platform must inform each user before making any changes to user rules, terms, and agreements.
Staying abreast of current commercial laws can be extremely overwhelming, especially as you’re trying to run a business. Keeping an experienced Pensacola, Florida 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 Pensacola, Florida Business Law Attorney Can Help
Pensacola 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 Pensacola, FL is essential to the legal compliance and sustainability of your business.
Areas of Business Law
Specialized business attorneys in Pensacola 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 Pensacola, 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 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 Pensacola business attorney will also let you know how to register your business in Florida 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.
Certain industries in Pensacola must acquire licenses from the State of Florida. For example, restaurants and mobile food carts in Pensacola must acquire a license from the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Wholesale bakeries in Pensacola must obtain a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Additionally, businesses operating in Pensacola must obtain a business license/tax receipt from the City of Pensacola.
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 Pensacola, FL 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 Pensacola, Florida 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 Pensacola, FL 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 Consumer Protection Division (CPU) of Florida’s Office of the Attorney General enforces Florida’s consumer protection laws. Additionally, the CPU may work with other state attorneys general, and the federal government, in joint enforcement efforts. Pensacola consumers can file a general business complaint online. Additionally, consumers can file a price gouging complaint during a declared state of emergency.
Lobbying
A qualified Pensacola, Florida 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.
Lobbyists working in Pensacola must register with the Florida Commission on Ethics (COE). This can be done online through the Florida Lobbyist website. Lobbyists can also file their mandatory quarterly compensation reports through this website. Be aware that Florida law prohibits the use of state funds for lobbying. If a lobbyist accepts state funds as compensation, the COE can bar them from registering as a lobbyist for up to 2 years.
There are many other types of business attorneys that your organization in Pensacola 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 Pensacola, Florida 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 Pensacola 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 Pensacola, FL 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 Pensacola 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 , FL 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 Florida 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!