Hiring a good lawyer and consultant is crucial to any successful business. A good business attorney and consultant will provide vital assistance in almost every aspect of your business, from basic zoning compliance and copyright and trademark advice to formal business incorporation and lawsuits and liability.
Contracts. You will need a professional who can understand your business quickly; prepare the standard form contracts you will need with customers, clients and suppliers; and help you respond to contracts that other people will want you to sign.
Real estate. Leases of commercial space--such as offices and retail stores--are highly complex and are always drafted to benefit the landlord. Because they tend to be "printed form" documents, you may be tempted to think they are not negotiable. Not so. An expert will help you navigate through the process.
Taxes and licenses. Although your accountant will prepare and file your business tax returns each year, your lawyer should know how to register your business for federal and state tax identification numbers, and understand the tax consequences of the more basic business transactions in which your business will engage.
Land Use. It's important to have highly trained and respected experts who have developed long standing relationships with key staff in Planning, Building & Safety, Development Services and Community Development Departments as well as elected officials and Council staff. These strong ties help with not just approvals of discretionary processes, but also to gain expedited and efficient processing of tract maps and building permits. Land Use Consultants have a clear understanding of the building and zoning code, permit fees and project requirements to each jurisdiction, which prevents common delays in gaining project approval. They also coordinate entire project teams, seamlessly orchestrating the engineering, surveying, environmental, architectural and other consulting firms necessary to create an efficient land use process.
Advising clients across a wide spectrum of transactional, litigation, corporate and regulatory areas, Latham & Watkins provides clients with innovative solutions to complex business and legal matters.
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The Afriat Consulting Group, Inc. is a full-service firm specializing in governmental advocacy, political consulting, land use entitlement and community relations.
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