Business Legal Counsel
What our Law Firm offers to small business’s that other firms don’t
The traditional method by which a small business owner gets legal services is that he or she must first recognize on her own that an aspect of her business has a legal threat. Then the small business owner waits until she cannot ignore the legal issue any longer. Then the small business owner finds and calls one or more attorneys to help solve the legal issue that has now grown more large and complex than necessary.
Of course you are always invited to call our firm when you need assistance or advice on any legal or business problem. But it is essential to recognize that the traditional approach to procuring small business legal services does not give the best value to the small business owner. This is because he or she is not usually professionally trained to anticipate and recognize small business legal issues on her own. Moreover, the traditional approach does not do anything to help the small business owner build systems in her business that can prevent many small business legal issues while also limiting the impact of those small business legal issues that cannot be prevented. In the end, the unfortunate small business owner ends up paying the proverbial “pound of cure” because nobody helped her apply the necessary “ounce of prevention.”
Large corporations have figured this out. So they hire full-time staff attorneys and sometimes entire legal departments to help them get ahead of legal problems. But small businesses usually do not have the need or resources to hire and train full-time legal staff. So small businesses miss out on this solution.
What makes us unique
We are business-people who also happen to be attorneys.
As business-people, we can step into your shoes and identify with both your dreams and nightmares as a business owner. We are intimately familiar with the seven parts of every successful small business. Are you? We are also able to understand the technology that your small business uses and sells. We want you to succeed as a small business, not just on some particular point of law.
We have what other small business law firms can’t offer
The Sierra Crest Business Law Group has created its proprietary Concierge Legal Protection Plan for Small Businesses. This plan has four components to help you as a small business owner build your small business legal systems, including corporate governance, contracts, claims and business litigation, human resources, insurance, policies and procedures, intellectual and other property, and regulatory compliance.
The Concierge Legal Protection Plan for Small Businesses is designed for small business owners who are proactive and intentional about building their businesses. Its value is more than the cost difference between the “ounce of prevention” and the “pound of cure,” although that cost difference is substantial. This is because you have a primary purpose why you need to have your small business and the profit it is supposed to create for you. The ultimate value of the Concierge Legal Protection Plan for Small Businesses is that it frees your time and gives you the tools to create the future that depends on the success of your small business.
Don’t wait to take control
Do you prefer to act rather than to be acted upon? Are you ready to take control of the future of your small business? Then contact the Sierra Crest Business Law Group to ask us about our proprietary Concierge Legal Protection Plan for Small Businesses. We will be happy and proud to show you what it offers and how it will give you multiples of the value that you invest in it.
What is consumer fraud in Nevada?
One of the Nevada statutes I turn to frequently is NRS 41.600, entitled “Actions by Victims of Fraud.” This statute allows any person who is a victim of “consumer fraud” to recover his or damages, equitable relief (which can include “rescinding” or unwinding the bad deal), and attorney’s fees. The statute gives a specialized definition of “consumer fraud.” The most important part of this definition is that “consumer fraud” includes any “deceptive trade practice” described in NRS 598.0915 to 598.0925.
Turning to the statutory definition of “deceptive trade practice” reveals multiple lists of conduct that counts as a deceptive trade practice and, therefore, consumer fraud. Some of the items are fairly specific and some are general. There are more than 57 separate items.
Whenever I encounter any kind of fraud or consumer dispute, I will review theses lists to see if one or more of the items match the situation with which I am dealing. Some particularly potent items on the statutory list of deceptive trade practices include:
Knowingly making any false representation in a transaction, NRS 598.0915(15);
failing to make delivery of goods or services for sale or lease within a reasonable time, NRS 598.092(4);
knowingly misrepresenting the legal rights, obligations or remedies of a party to a transaction, NRS 598.092(8);
conducting a business or occupation without all required state, county or city licenses, NRS 598.0923(1);
failing to disclose a material fact in connection with the sale or lease of goods or services, NRS 598.0923(2); and
violating a state or federal statute or regulation relating to the sale or lease of goods or services, NRS 598.0923(3).
Investors and those who market investments should pay particular attention to NRS 598.092(5), which says that a deceptive trade practice includes advertising or offering an opportunity for investment and:
representing that the investment is guaranteed, secured or protected in a manner which he or she knows or has reason to know is false or misleading;
representing that the investment will earn a rate of return which he or she knows or has reason to know is false or misleading;
making any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact which is necessary to make another statement, considering the circumstances under which it is made, not misleading;
failing to maintain adequate records so that an investor may determine how his or her money is invested;
failing to provide information to an investor after a reasonable request for information concerning his or her investment;
failing to comply with any law or regulation for the marketing of securities or other investments; or
representing that he or she is licensed by an agency of the State to sell or offer for sale investments or services for investments if he or she is not so licensed.
So when you are a consumer or investor with a question about your rights, check the statutory list of deceptive trade practices. If you are a business, please be aware that some of your customers may check this list as well. As always, I am more than happy to discuss with you any questions you might have about Nevada consumer fraud.
How Do I Buy or Sell a Business in Nevada?
We have negotiated many business sales for buyers and sellers alike, and can guide you through the process so that you receive what you have bargained for.
The 3 Biggest Business Risks that Owners face today
Small Business Owners, those whose livelihood and careers depend on their business thriving have a lot to worry about. So much of a business’s chances are left up to chance and factors outside of one’s control. However, there’s ways to make sure that come the unexpected, your business is protected from harm.
The 3 biggest risks small business owners face today: Employee Matters, Contracts, and Partners can all tank your prospects. A small business law firm can help you sort through these risks.
What is our Concierge Legal Protection Plan for Small Businesses?
• First, you get regularly-scheduled business strategy meetings (monthly, twice-monthly, or weekly, depending on your level of service) with one of our business attorneys, in which we focus on the business legal system that is the highest priority in your small business and then develop a written action plan to strengthen it;
• Second, in between business strategy meetings, our Client Care Specialist follows up and provides accountability to make sure that everybody who has accepted a responsibility in the written action plan does what he or she has agreed to do;
• Third, on a quarterly basis, our office conducts a risk assessment of your small business and provides you a written report on issues that we recognize as frequent sources of vulnerability to small businesses; and
• Fourth, on an annual basis, one of our business attorneys visits your place of business and participates in a long-range strategic planning meeting with you.
Why you should have a business partnership agreement
How can someone avoid legal disputes between business partners? Some business partners ask the question of how they can anticipate and resolve legal disputes with a business partner before they ever happen. Our firm can help you find solutions!
Request a Consultation
Consultation - Contact Us Page
"*" indicates required fields