Business & Corporate Attorneys

501,317 verified business attorneys across the United States. Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution. Compare verified business attorneys nationwide by experience, peer ratings, and client reviews — get matched with counsel in any state, free for clients.

Business law covers everything from forming an LLC at the kitchen table to negotiating a public-company merger. A business attorney works as an outside general counsel: drafting the contracts that prevent disputes, setting up the corporate structure that protects founders and investors, and litigating when negotiation fails.

What business attorneys handle

Entity formation: LLC, S-corp, C-corp, partnership
Founder agreements, equity splits, and vesting schedules
Customer, vendor, employment, and confidentiality contracts
Commercial leases, including office, retail, and industrial
Financing transactions: convertible notes, SAFE agreements, equity raises
Mergers, acquisitions, and exit transactions
Partnership, shareholder, and operating-agreement disputes
Securities compliance for private placements (Regulation D)
Regulatory compliance specific to your industry

Why early legal investment pays off

Most business legal problems are dramatically cheaper to prevent than to litigate. Founders who skip operating agreements end up in $100,000 partnership disputes; companies that use form contracts often discover the form forfeits key rights. A few thousand dollars in early business legal work routinely saves orders of magnitude in later litigation.

When to talk to a business attorney

You are starting a company with co-founders
You are raising capital, even friends-and-family
You are signing a customer or vendor contract worth more than your monthly revenue
You are hiring your first employee or independent contractor
You are considering a merger, acquisition, or sale of the business
A partner, employee, or vendor relationship is heading toward dispute

Atty. Hugh M. McIntosh

Washington 53 year 5.0

Hugh M. McIntosh is a lawyer practicing corporate financing law, acquisitions, divestitures and mergers law, international transactions.

Acquisitions, Divestitures And Mergers Law Corporate Financing Law International Transactions

Atty. Mark Daniel Toljanic

Oak Brook 40 year 5.0

Mr. Mark Daniel Toljanic is a lawyer practicing corporate/business law, individual income tax, contracts & agreements and 5 other areas of law.

Contracts & Agreements Corporate Business Law Individual Income Tax Banking Law Criminal Law +3

Atty. Edward M Laine

Minneapolis 52 year 5.0

Edward M Laine is a lawyer practicing patent infringement, class action, intellectual property litigation and 2 other areas of law. Edward received a ...

Class Action Intellectual Property Litigation Patent Infringement Business Litigation Employment Litigation

Atty. Martin W. Meyer

Milwaukee 44 year 5.0

Atty. Martin W.

Mergers And Acquisitions Real Estate Taxation Business Law Corporate Law +1

Atty. Jason E. Wadman

Worcester 16 year 5.0

Jason E. Wadman is a lawyer practicing business litigation, construction law, criminal law and 35 other areas of law.

Business Litigation Construction Law Criminal Law Assault Automobile Accidents +33

Atty. Edward John Lesniak

Chicago 52 year 5.0

Edward John Lesniak is a lawyer practicing appellate, banking and financial services, consumer financial services litigation and 4 other areas of law....

Appellate Banking And Financial Services Consumer Financial Services Litigation Bankruptcy & Debt Business +2

Atty. Kimber Lynn Latsha

Mechanicsburg 46 year 5.0

Mr. Kimber Lynn Latsha is a lawyer practicing health care, regulatory law, reimbursement and 7 other areas of law.

Health Care Regulatory Law Reimbursement Antitrust Business Transactions +5

Atty. Scott Gary Seidman

Portland 45 year 5.0

Scott Gary Seidman is a lawyer practicing energy litigation, intellectual property litigation, antitrust advice and 7 other areas of law. Scott receiv...

Antitrust Advice Energy Litigation Intellectual Property Litigation Antitrust Litigation Appeals +5

Atty. William M Lukens

San Francisco 61 year 5.0

William M Lukens is a lawyer practicing antitrust & trade law, bank fraud, environmental and natural resources and 6 other areas of law. William recei...

Antitrust & Trade Law Bank Fraud Environmental And Natural Resources Accounting Firms and Insurance Companies Construction Defect and General Commercial Litigation +4

Atty. Kenneth Andrew Caruso

New York 48 year 5.0

Kenneth Andrew Caruso is a lawyer practicing business, securities & investment fraud, international dispute resolution and 2 other areas of law. Kenne...

Business International Dispute Resolution Securities / Investment Fraud Commercial Litigation White Collar

Atty. Kevin Matthew Rollin

Vero Beach 17 year 5.0

Kevin is adept at resolving conflicts through both collaborative law and state court litigation. In addition to divorce, he represents clients in busi...

Appeals Appellate Practice Child And Family Alimony Child Custody +11

Atty. Donald Livingston Smith

Los Gatos 51 year 5.0

Donald Livingston Smith is a lawyer practicing real estate, corporate law, partnership law and 1 other area of law. Donald Livingston received a B.S. ...

Corporate Law Partnership Law Real Estate Estate Planning

Atty. Julia Marleen Ahearn

Tallahassee 39 year 5.0

Ms. Julia Marleen Ahearn is a lawyer practicing collective bargaining, contracts & agreements.

Collective Bargaining Contracts & Agreements

Atty. Paul Anthony Miller

Ventura 52 year 5.0

Paul Anthony Miller is a lawyer practicing domestic relations, business law, labour and employment. Paul received a B.S. degree from Loyola University...

Business Law Domestic Relations Labour And Employment

Atty. Gordon Yukinori Yamamoto

San Francisco 52 year 5.0

Gordon Yukinori Yamamoto is a lawyer practicing real estate, business law, trust planning and 1 other area of law. Gordon received a B.A. degree from ...

Business Law Real Estate Trust Planning Wills

Atty. Nicholas Yedinak

Wenatchee 36 year 5.0

Nicholas Yedinak co-founded this firm with his good friend Andy Kottkamp in 2000. Mr.

Criminal Law DUI Defense Firearm Rights Adoption Corporate Law +6

Atty. Dwight Lee Smith

Tulsa 45 year 5.0

Dwight Lee Smith is a lawyer practicing resolution of business disputes, whether through mediation, arbitration or litigation. Dwight received a B.S. ...

Arbitration or Litigation Resolution Of Business Disputes Whether through Mediation

Atty. Herbert L. Finkelstein

Ossining 69 year 5.0

Herbert L. Finkelstein is a lawyer practicing trusts and estates, real estate, taxation and 3 other areas of law.

Real Estate Taxation Trusts and Estates Administrative Law Corporate Law +1

Atty. Grady Baker Murdock, Jr.

Chicago 52 year 5.0

Grady Baker Murdock, Jr. is a lawyer practicing ethics / professional responsibility, health care, class actions and 4 other areas of law. Grady recei...

Class Actions Ethics & Professional Responsibility Health Care Corporate Diversity And Inclusion Discrimination And Harassment +2

Atty. Garen Meguerian

Paoli 31 year 5.0

Garen Meguerian is a lawyer practicing litigation, commercial law, consumer law and 1 other area of law. Garen received a B.A. degree from Villanova U...

Commercial Law Consumer Law Litigation Employment Law

Atty. Donald Richard Ingalls

Encino 58 year 5.0

Donald Richard Ingalls is a lawyer practicing business litigation, real estate, corporate law and 1 other area of law. Donald received a B.A. degree f...

Business Litigation Corporate Law Real Estate Criminal Law

Atty. Stephen R. Kirklin

Houston 52 year 5.0

Mr. Stephen R.

Business & Commercial Litigation Consumer Protection Contracts Oil & Gas Litigation Commercial Litigation Fa +7

Atty. William Nathaniel McGrane

San Francisco 53 year 5.0

William Nathaniel McGrane is a lawyer practicing bankruptcy litigation, business litigation, legal malpractice litigation and 2 other areas of law. Wi...

Bankruptcy Litigation Business Litigation Legal Malpractice Litigation Real Estate Litigation Securities Litigation

Atty. Joshua D. Friedman

Mobile 18 year 5.0

Joshua D. Friedman practices at Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, Newman & Rouse, P.C.

Civil Litigation Commercial Litigation Landlord and Tenant Law Bankruptcy Bankruptcy Chapter 11 +13

Atty. Luther Graves Stiff III

Birmingham 48 year 5.0

Gray Stiff is a Senior Partner and his practice is concentrated in commercial and construction litigation and dispute resolution. He has extensive exp...

Architect Disciplinary Actions Architect, Engineer, And Design Professional Malpractice Commercial Disputes Construction Litigation Fidelity & Surety Litigation

Atty. John Y. Pearson, Jr.

Norfolk 55 year 5.0

John Y. Pearson, Jr. is a lawyer practicing commercial litigation, professional liability.

Commercial Litigation Professional Liability

Atty. Martina Mende Nagle

San Diego 34 year 5.0

Martina Mende Nagle is a lawyer practicing labor and employment, litigation, employment law and 83 other areas of law. Martina received a B.A. degree ...

Employment Law Labor and Employment Litigation Affirmative Action Age Discrimination In Employment +81

Atty. Presiding Judge John W. Degravelles

Baton Rouge 52 year 5.0

Presiding Judge John W. Degravelles is a lawyer practicing admiralty and maritime, products liability, medical malpractice and 5 other areas of law.

Admiralty And Maritime Medical Malpractice Products Liability Automobile Negligence Business Litigation +3

Atty. Thomas Joseph Fraser, Jr.

Jacksonville 28 year 5.0

Thomas Joseph Fraser, Jr. is a lawyer practicing business torts, business transactions, commercial litigation and 8 other areas of law. Thomas receive...

Business Torts Business Transactions Commercial Litigation Construction Litigation Corporate Finance +6

Atty. Garry Koenigsberg

San Francisco 50 year 5.0

Garry Koenigsberg is a lawyer practicing franchise law, arbitration, contracts. Garry received a B.A. degree from Columbia University in 1971, and has...

Arbitration Contracts Franchise Law

Atty. Jeffery R Jones

Howell 50 year 5.0

Jeffery R Jones is a lawyer practicing real estate, business transactions, condominium law and 2 other areas of law. Jeffery received a B.A. degree fr...

Business Transactions Condominium Law Real Estate Real Estate Development Real Property Law

Atty. James Price Ware

Seattle 21 year 5.0

James P. Ware is a trial and appellate lawyer who represents businesses, property owners, estates, and individuals in complex, high-stakes disputes.

Appellate Law Business Disputes Commercial Litigation Business Litigation Cannabis Law +2

Atty. C. Daniel Vaughan

Vienna 27 year 5.0

C. Daniel Vaughan is a lawyer practicing estate planning and estate administration, trusts and estates, advance directives and 43 other areas of law.

Advance Directives Estate Planning and Estate Administration Trusts and Estates Ancillary Probate Business & Succession Planning +41

Atty. Aaron Harris

Lehi 18 year 5.0

Aaron Harris is a shareholder at the SMITH LC Utah office. He is an experienced trial attorney who represents clients in all areas of litigation, incl...

Commercial Litigation Contract Enforcement Family Law Construction Defect Divorce +1

Atty. Barbara Ellis Stanley

Houston 36 year 5.0

Ms. Barbara Ellis Stanley is a lawyer practicing commercial, litigation.

Commercial Litigation

Atty. Jill Louise McCrory

Canonsburg 38 year 5.0

Jill Louise McCrory is a lawyer practicing health law, corporate counsel. Jill received a B.S. degree from Indiana State University, and has been lice...

Corporate Counsel Health Law

Atty. Ronald K. Durand

47 year 5.0

Ronald K. Durand is a lawyer practicing corporate finance & securities.

Corporate Finance & Securities

Atty. Jeremy Wethered North

Towson 46 year 5.0

Jeremy Wethered North is a lawyer practicing corporate, domestic, insurance and 2 other areas of law. Jeremy received a B.A. degree from University of...

Corporate Domestic Insurance General Practice Litigation Defense

Atty. Paul F. Norris

San Francisco 39 year 5.0

Paul F. Norris is a lawyer practicing intellectual property, information technology, software and 3 other areas of law.

Information Technology Intellectual Property Software Business Law E Commerce +1

Atty. Thomas S. Bechtel

Atlanta 38 year 5.0

Mr. Thomas S.

Dispute Resolution Litigation Personal Injury Alternative Dispute Resolution Business Litigation +2

Atty. Stephen Vincent Petix

San Diego 58 year 5.0

Stephen Vincent Petix is a lawyer practicing product liability defense, medical malpractice, personal injury and 3 other areas of law. Stephen receive...

Medical Malpractice Personal Injury Product Liability Defense Commercial Litigation Environmental Law +1

Atty. Mary R Vasaly

Minneapolis 43 year 5.0

Mary R Vasaly is a lawyer practicing appellate practice, commercial litigation, insurance litigation and 2 other areas of law. Mary received a A.A. de...

Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation Insurance Litigation Contested Trusts And Estates Shareholder Litigation

Atty. Nelon Kirkland

Bradenton 41 year 5.0

Nelon Kirkland is a lawyer practicing accidents, automobile accidents and injuries, bodily injury and 13 other areas of law. Nelon received a A.A. deg...

Accidents Automobile Accidents And Injuries Bodily Injury Business Catastrophic Injury +11

Atty. William S. Pilling III

Philadelphia 49 year 5.0

William S. Pilling III is a lawyer practicing business, corporate & incorporation, employment & labor and 5 other areas of law.

Business Corporate & Incorporation Employment & Labor Financial Markets And Services Hedge Funds +3

Atty. William L. Logan

East Lansing 36 year 5.0

William L. Logan is a lawyer practicing public finance, regulatory law, business law and 2 other areas of law.

Business Law Public Finance Regulatory Law Consumer Law Real Property Law

Atty. John Rush Keller

Fort Lauderdale 37 year 5.0

John Rush Keller is a lawyer practicing administrative and legislative advocacy, antitrust and trade regulation, class action litigation and 3 other a...

Administrative and Legislative Advocacy Antitrust and Trade Regulation Class Action Litigation Commercial Litigation Litigation +1

Atty. Brian W. Newcomb

Menlo Park 53 year 5.0

A LEGAL ADVOCATE FOR PROFESSIONALS My law practice handles legal issues related to real estate, business litigation and construction defects. I use mo...

Business Litigation Construction Law General Civil And Trial Practice Class Actions Commercial Law +2

Atty. Arthur D Hittner

Boston 51 year 5.0

Arthur D Hittner is a lawyer practicing general business representation, securities, real estate syndication law and 1 other area of law. Arthur recei...

General Business Representation Real Estate Syndication Law Securities Sports Law

Atty. Peter A Teholiz

Lansing 44 year 5.0

Peter A Teholiz is a lawyer practicing bankruptcy, banking law, agricultural and 12 other areas of law. Peter received a B.S. degree from University o...

Agricultural Banking Law Bankruptcy Appellate Practice Bank Workouts +10

Atty. Bruce Allan Butcher

Seattle 62 year 5.0

Bruce Allan Butcher is a lawyer practicing corporate, intellectual property, international and 3 other areas of law. Bruce received a B.S. degree from...

Corporate Intellectual Property International Business/ Commercial Securities +1

Atty. John R. Alexander

Elmira 54 year 5.0

John R. Alexander is a lawyer practicing banking, corporate, business law and 2 other areas of law.

Banking Business Law Corporate Health Care Tax

Atty. James Carl Baker, Jr.

Little Rock 40 year 5.0

James Carl Baker, Jr. is a lawyer practicing workers compensation, product liability, personal injury litigation and 2 other areas of law. James recei...

Personal Injury Litigation Product Liability Workers Compensation Commercial Litigation Property Damage Litigation

Atty. Linda Socolow

Fort Lauderdale 29 year 5.0

Ms. Linda Socolow is a lawyer practicing real estate, land use & zoning, equine law and 6 other areas of law.

Equine Law Land Use & Zoning Real Estate City Commercial +4

Atty. Camille A. Bathurst

Prospect 45 year 5.0

Camille A. Bathurst is a lawyer practicing business law, real property law, small firm practice management and 6 other areas of law.

Business Law Real Property Law Small Firm Practice & Management Administrative Law Civil Litigation +4

Atty. Richard O. Burson

Laurel 38 year 5.0

Richard O. Burson is a shareholder with Burson Entrekin Orr Mitchell & Lacey, P.A.

Banking Law Litigation Medical Malpractice Administrative Law Products Liability +1

Atty. Melvyn B. Ruskin

Uniondale 61 year 5.0

Melvyn B. Ruskin is a lawyer practicing corporate & securities, health law: regulatory, health law: transactional and 1 other area of law.

Corporate / Securities Health Law: Regulatory Health Law: Transactional White Collar Crime & Investigations

Atty. Frank X. Duff

Wheeling 5.0

Frank X. Duff practices at Schrader, Companion, Duff & Law, PLLC Read Full Bio

Employment Law Labor Law Litigation Consumer Protection Corporate Law +4

Atty. Michael McCormack

Seattle 5.0

Michael McCormack is a lawyer practicing business, real estate. Michael received a B.A. degree from University of Washington, and .

Business Real Estate

Atty. Samuel Mason

Philadelphia 48 year 5.0

Samuel Mason is a lawyer practicing venture capital, intellectual property, credit transactions and 4 other areas of law. Samuel received a B.A. degre...

Credit Transactions Intellectual Property Venture Capital Corporate Corporate Finance +2

Atty. Roy Hamilton Liddell

Ridgeland 40 year 5.0

Mr. Roy Hamilton Liddell is a lawyer practicing business litigation, transportation law and litigation, insurance defense and 1 other area of law.

Business Litigation Insurance Defense Transportation Law and Litigation Creditors Rights

Frequently Asked Questions about Business

LLC or corporation — which should I choose?

Most small businesses with simple ownership structures choose an LLC for tax flexibility (pass-through) and lighter corporate formalities. Businesses planning to raise venture capital usually convert to a Delaware C-corporation. A business attorney can recommend the right structure based on your tax situation, growth plans, and capital strategy.

How much does it cost to incorporate?

A simple LLC or corporation formation typically runs $500 to $2,000 in attorney fees plus state filing fees ($50 to $500 depending on state). Multi-founder formations with custom equity, vesting, and IP-assignment agreements range $2,500 to $7,500.

Do I need a written contract for every deal?

For any deal worth more than a small recoverable amount, yes. Verbal agreements are legally enforceable in many situations but devilishly hard to prove. A short written contract — even an email exchange that captures key terms — dramatically improves your position if a dispute later arises.

Can I use template contracts from the internet?

Templates work as starting points but routinely miss state-specific requirements and industry-specific risks. Have a business attorney review and customize before you sign anything that exposes the company to meaningful liability or rights.

How do I take on a co-founder?

Document equity, vesting, decision-making authority, IP assignment, and what happens if a founder leaves. The first six months of a partnership are when these terms are easiest to negotiate; once the company has revenue, every conversation gets harder.

When should I consider selling the business?

Common sale triggers are owner retirement, lack of next-generation succession, growth capital needs that exceed bank financing, and consolidation in the industry. A business attorney working with an investment banker or business broker can prepare the company for sale, manage diligence, and negotiate terms.

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