Practice Areas
General practice attorneys typically focus on four general areas, including business and finance, real estate and commercial lending, trusts and estates, and commercial and civil litigation. Within these general practice areas, attorneys may concentrate their practice on specific legal matters.
Business Law
Attorneys work closely with small, family businesses and large corporations on tax, finance, and business issues, providing legal help in the following areas:
Corporate law
Commercial finance/banking
Family business
Venture capital
Financing
Technology
Loan workout
Employment law
Real Estate
Attorneys in real estate and commercial lending practice have experience in a wide range of real estate and commercial lending transactions including:
Asset-based and real estate financing
Permitting
Leasing
Zoning
Acquisitions and development
Conveyancing
Title matters
Commercial/finance banking
Commercial leasing
Affordable housing
Workouts and foreclosures
Architect and contractor
Zoning and environmental issues
Commercial real estate financing
Trusts and Estates
Attorneys are well-versed in numerous legal issues relating to the planning and administration of estates. They provide advice and prepare documents that will define the client’s intentions regarding his or her property upon death. They aim to prepare documents that eliminate or minimize the imposition of estate and death taxes as much as possible. Attorneys also prepare documents for business owners, which can bring about the transfer of the business, property, and its control to the beneficiaries, while minimizing taxes. These lawyers can also handle trust and estate disputes and litigation in state and federal courts. In addition to preparing wills and trusts, attorneys also prepare documents that assist with managing the client’s assets and health care during their lifetime. These may include documents such as:
Lifetime trusts for property management
Powers of attorney
Declarations of homestead which protect a person’s home from the claims of creditors
Health care proxies
When the need arises, attorneys can secure the appointment of a conservator or legal guardian or conservator by the Probate Court to protect an incapacitated person and his or her property. Attorneys can handle all aspects of estate administration. In the event where a trust is to take effect upon a client’s death, lawyers can provide advice regarding funding and administration of the trust. Tax services can include the preparation of annual income tax returns for clients.
Litigation Law
Litigation law is necessary for a wide range of business and personal matters. Attorneys represent large corporations, small companies, and individuals, in both the state and federal courts. The goal of litigation is straightforward: to resolve efficiently and economically to the satisfaction of the client. An approach to litigation should be both pragmatic and aggressive. And, while aggressiveness has a particular place in litigation, it should be tempered with common sense and logic.
Many cases are litigated through trial, but alternative methods of resolution have an equitable place in resolving disputes. After a thorough review of the legal matter is undertaken, it is reviewed with the client. After that, attorneys can stay in close contact with their client as the case progresses. Some areas of litigation practiced include:
Policyholder claims
ERISA
Real estate litigation
Regulation of insurance
Pension litigation
Employment litigation
Construction litigation
Trust litigation
Estate litigation