Selecting a Children's Fashion Business Attorney
When starting your Children's Fashion Business, be sure to choose a business attorney that best suits your needs.
No attorney is perfect for every situation. Some children’s businesses require very particular knowledge and experience; some people work best with an attorney who has a particular type of personality. Prior to starting your search for a lawyer for your children’s business, ask yourself what role you want your business lawyer to fill.
Business attorneys typically fall into two categories: lawyers who handle disputes are called litigators and those who handle contracts, securities and other business matters are called transactional lawyers. Some attorneys handle both litigation and transactions, but most tend to concentrate in one area or the other. Most businesses in the Children’s Fashion Industry will likely want to focus their search on an attorney specializing in business matters with strong knowledge of trademarks and contracts and lawyer with past experience in the children’s fashion industry.
What role do you see this attorney playing in your fashion business? Are you looking for an attorney for a particular project or someone who can advise you as your business' general counsel on various issues? If your need is one particular project, you may want an attorney with specialized knowledge in that area. If you are looking for an attorney for many matters as your business grows, you will probably want a business lawyer with a wide range of knowledge and skills and experience in the children’s fashion industry. You can then rely on him to bring in a lawyer with more specialized expertise when it is needed.
What type of personality do you work with best? Do you prefer a person who is extremely forceful? Do you prefer a person who is less combative and more cordial? Either way you go, be sure your personality and theirs match and you are comfortable discussing any topic on your terms.
Once you have assessed your needs, develop a list of attorneys who have the potential to meet your needs. The best way to begin developing your prospected attorneys is from personal knowledge, industry referrals, bar associations and even internet searches. Once you have your list, work on narrowing it down using the initial information you have for each lawyer. Once you have your list down to 2-3 top prospects, prepare a list of questions to ask each attorney and plan initial calls with each. Remember that is very important to contact at least 2-3 references and ask questions about how the attorney handles specific type of situations.
At this point you should have a pretty good idea of which attorney is going to be the best fix for your needs and personality. The final step in choosing a business attorney is the personal interview. Even though you already had a telephone conversation, it is difficult to assess personality without a face to face meeting. If you are seeking to hire a business attorney for a long term relationship, a meeting in person is essential, so be sure not to neglect this last step.
Important questions to ask during your final meeting:
What similar children’s fashion businesses has the attorney represented? What similar matters has the attorney handled in the apparel business? How long has the attorney been practicing law? What is the hourly rate? Are paralegals or associates available to handle routine matters at lower rates? Does the attorney handle certain matters for a fixed fee? What is the estimated fee? (Assuming you have a particular project in mind) Have any disciplinary complaints been filed against the lawyer? What was the outcome? How will the attorney handle matters that are outside his areas of strength? What is the attorney's availability and what is their preferred way to communicate?
Doing your homework, setting the appropriate expectations and asking the proper questions will help you find a children’s fashion business attorney who will work with you to fill your legal needs for many years to come.
No attorney is perfect for every situation. Some children’s businesses require very particular knowledge and experience; some people work best with an attorney who has a particular type of personality. Prior to starting your search for a lawyer for your children’s business, ask yourself what role you want your business lawyer to fill.
Business attorneys typically fall into two categories: lawyers who handle disputes are called litigators and those who handle contracts, securities and other business matters are called transactional lawyers. Some attorneys handle both litigation and transactions, but most tend to concentrate in one area or the other. Most businesses in the Children’s Fashion Industry will likely want to focus their search on an attorney specializing in business matters with strong knowledge of trademarks and contracts and lawyer with past experience in the children’s fashion industry.
What role do you see this attorney playing in your fashion business? Are you looking for an attorney for a particular project or someone who can advise you as your business' general counsel on various issues? If your need is one particular project, you may want an attorney with specialized knowledge in that area. If you are looking for an attorney for many matters as your business grows, you will probably want a business lawyer with a wide range of knowledge and skills and experience in the children’s fashion industry. You can then rely on him to bring in a lawyer with more specialized expertise when it is needed.
What type of personality do you work with best? Do you prefer a person who is extremely forceful? Do you prefer a person who is less combative and more cordial? Either way you go, be sure your personality and theirs match and you are comfortable discussing any topic on your terms.
Once you have assessed your needs, develop a list of attorneys who have the potential to meet your needs. The best way to begin developing your prospected attorneys is from personal knowledge, industry referrals, bar associations and even internet searches. Once you have your list, work on narrowing it down using the initial information you have for each lawyer. Once you have your list down to 2-3 top prospects, prepare a list of questions to ask each attorney and plan initial calls with each. Remember that is very important to contact at least 2-3 references and ask questions about how the attorney handles specific type of situations.
At this point you should have a pretty good idea of which attorney is going to be the best fix for your needs and personality. The final step in choosing a business attorney is the personal interview. Even though you already had a telephone conversation, it is difficult to assess personality without a face to face meeting. If you are seeking to hire a business attorney for a long term relationship, a meeting in person is essential, so be sure not to neglect this last step.
Important questions to ask during your final meeting:
What similar children’s fashion businesses has the attorney represented? What similar matters has the attorney handled in the apparel business? How long has the attorney been practicing law? What is the hourly rate? Are paralegals or associates available to handle routine matters at lower rates? Does the attorney handle certain matters for a fixed fee? What is the estimated fee? (Assuming you have a particular project in mind) Have any disciplinary complaints been filed against the lawyer? What was the outcome? How will the attorney handle matters that are outside his areas of strength? What is the attorney's availability and what is their preferred way to communicate?
Doing your homework, setting the appropriate expectations and asking the proper questions will help you find a children’s fashion business attorney who will work with you to fill your legal needs for many years to come.
