Business Law in Portland, OR

Don’t settle for a lawyer in Portland, Oregon 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.

Oregon’s Trade Practices and Antitrust Regulation laws protect Portland residents from unfair and deceptive business tactics. The laws cover everything from trade restraint to false advertising. Some of the prohibited activities include:

• Creating monopolies

• Price fixing

• Misrepresentation of the source or quality of goods

• Bait and switch practices

• Pyramid schemes

Staying abreast of current commercial laws can be extremely overwhelming, especially as you’re trying to run a business. Keeping an experienced Portland, Oregon 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 Portland, Oregon Business Law Attorney Can Help

Portland 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 Portland, OR is essential to the legal compliance and sustainability of your business.

Areas of Business Law

Specialized business attorneys in Portland 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 Portland, 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 Portland business attorney will also let you know how to register your business in Oregon 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.

According to the Secretary of State, Oregon does not issue a general state business license. However, many businesses must obtain occupational licenses from various state agencies. Some of these businesses include pesticide companies, hemp growers, and restaurants. In addition, all businesses operating in Portland are required to register with the city’s Revenue Division.

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 Portland,  OR 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 Portland, Oregon 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 Portland, OR 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 Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces consumer protection laws in Portland. The DOJ investigates consumer complaints and may file civil suits against businesses. In addition, individual consumers can file personal lawsuits in Multnomah County Court. However, you must begin your lawsuit within one year of the illegal action.

Lobbying

A qualified Portland, Oregon 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.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission enforces the state’s lobbying rules. Portland lobbyists have to register with the commission and submit quarterly activity reports. In addition, the lobbyist’s client or employer must file quarterly reports of all lobbying expenditures.

There are many other types of business attorneys that your organization in Portland 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 Portland, Oregon 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 Portland 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 Portland, OR 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 Portland 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 , OR 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 Oregon 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!