Legal Services

Michele Woodruff Lyons specializes in business legal advising & counseling. MWL provides General Counsel services to small businesses, so that even a small business can have "in-house" legal counsel. MWL's business legal services, including General Counsel services include the following:

General Legal Counsel
As your small business' General Legal Counsel, MWL will offer weekly, hour-long check-ins to spot legal issues, including in-person visits when desired and meetings with employees to reduce liability risks, as well as trainings for supervisors. Some examples of General Counsel services that can be provided during the month are listed below:

• IP Law for Small Businesses: Trademark/Copyright agreements/releases (e.g., photography/art clients), Cease & Desist Letters.

  • Trademark Consulting and Application: Intellectual property can be valuable to a business, and may require registering patents and trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office or protecting a copyright through U.S. Copyright Law. 

  • Legal Demand Letters: The first step is many legal matters is a demand letter such a cease and desist letter, a demand for payment, a demand for documents, a demand to follow a contract agreement, or a lease termination letter.

• Business Organization: Business formation (including articles of incorporation, etc.), business license applications, business permits, business plans, trademark/copyright licensing with artists for logo design or purchase, negotiation.

  • Consultation: Before starting a business, a business plan is important to determine the budget, type of business, and the form that the business requires. At this point, the permits required, intellectual property matters, and other issues, such as lease agreements can be discussed. 

  • Formation: For the client that has already determined the form of business, business formation generally requires drafting and filing the required business formation paperwork with the Secretary of State, as well as drafting recommended foundational documents. 

  • Dissolution: For businesses that have elected to dissolve, business dissolution generally requires drafting and approving of dissolution legal documents and then filing the required dissolution forms.

• Contract Law: Drafting agreements, editing agreements, negotiations, and advisement on existing agreements and/or amendments. 

  • Negotiation: Before entering into contracts and settlements, a business generally needs a negotiator to handle the negotiation and drafting of the terms.

  • Pre-Litigation Analysis: Before entering into litigation, a business may want to review the benefits and risks of litigation, including the budget, statue of limitations, and current issues, which are part of a pre-litigation analysis.

• Employment Law: Employment offers, employment agreements, employment policies, grievances, and employment releases.

  • Employment Agreement: Drafting a hiring letter to lay out the obligations and compensation of the employee can be a critical component before starting an employee-employer relationship to inform all parties of expectations.

• Landlord/Tenant Law: Legal rental advertisements, holding deposit receipts, rental agreements, security deposit returns/receipt letters, rental agreement violation letters, cash for keys agreements.

• Real Estate Law for Small Businesses: Applying for loans, reviewing real estate offers, helping with permit applications, selling businesses.

Personal Legal Services

While MWL specializes in business legal writing and counseling services, for clients who require personal legal documents, MWL purchases updated legal software to provide the most recent updates in laws for drafting wills, trusts, or other estate documents, including health and financial powers of attorney, health-care directives, and HIPAA waivers. These documents are always recommended and particularly before any health procedure, travel, or going away to college. MWL can also handle pre-nuptial and post-nuptial marital agreements and other basic legal documents, or provide personal pre-litigation analysis.

Local Student Career Services

While MWL specializes in legal work, she provides limited student career and college services for Carmel clients who require that work for their high school students.

Please contact MWL if you have questions or are looking for representation at 831.238.9880. MWL offers flat rates for most services and projects that are attractive and reasonable relative to experience and credentials. Flat rates allow the client to easily budget without being charged for unexpected delays or problems. MWL works efficiently and will provide a timeline for the project completion.

MWL only serves businesses with lawful purposes. MWL does not offer litigation services, services outside of California, or services that involve a dispute valued at over $1 million due to liability limitations. MWL will refer her clients to respectable local law firms for larger projects and litigation.

LEGAL PRACTICE ADVERTISEMENT DISCLAIMER

Nothing in this website is intended in any way to form an attorney-client relationship or any other contract. It is designed solely to provide general information about the legal practice of Michele Woodruff Lyons. Know any and all deadlines you have that relate to your legal situation, and make sure that you meet them. Michele Woodruff Lyons does not assume any responsibility for advice given until you have a signed engagement agreement engaging the firm’s representation. Michele Woodruff Lyons may choose not to provide a initial consultation to any person or business. Michele Woodruff Lyons makes no guarantees, warranties, or predictions about your case. Past successes do not ensure future results will be the same.