At Great Lakes Legal Group, our team of experienced legal professionals creates a law firm devoted to helping you or your loved one. Providing our clients with a variety of services that require a lawyer in Michigan, we value our customer relationships and trust. We are driven and dedicated to giving our clients a holistic approach to the legal field that’s inclusive and honest. Our team of lawyers truly enjoys the practice of law that gives our clients a one-stop shop for all things legal. Keeping this in mind, our focus is on thoughtful enthusiasm and client relationships. We strive for long-term relationships and success with our clients. We are the top-rated litigation and transactional counselor group mentioned by both SuperLawyer and Martindale Hubbell.
Our Track Record
Our attorneys have amassed an outstanding track record of accomplishments, particularly throughout the many challenges facing today’s businessperson. One of the most significant aspects of representing a business, whether at its early inception stages or after years in the industry, is balancing the goals of the organization with what is permitted under the law. In addition to litigation matters, we represent businesses in corporate matters, employment disputes, and negotiations. We also recognize the importance of representing businesses at every stage and have appeared on behalf of our clients before licensing bodies, state and federal agencies, as well as in court. Our experience in litigation reinforces the importance of properly drafted contracts and strategic action. The first step in ensuring that your business avoids potentially costly disputes is hiring attorneys with experience in drafting commercial agreements.
Creative and Thoughtful Counsel for Your Company – No Matter the Stage
At Great Lakes Legal Group, we guide clients through their most important transactions, critical day-to-day matters, and the full range of issues that arise in a company’s evolution. Clients rely on the in-depth commercial and industry experience that we employ and our ability to navigate the nuances of contract law, corporate law, and business law when handling their most complex challenges.
Our team utilizes a deep understanding of our client’s businesses and the competitive markets in which they operate, to help them achieve their objectives and goals. Our clients range from industry-leading corporations to emerging growth companies and come from all backgrounds. We are considered an integral part of our clients’ decision-making and risk management processes by offering our trusted services and being a client-driven company ourselves.
Our clients receive expert counsel on all aspects of creating and operating a company with entity incorporation through policy development. This includes consultation and ongoing guidance with the complex range of employment law issues that affect everyone in today’s corporate market. We regularly provide contract drafting and review across a full range of essential corporate interests and concerns. The result is a coordinated and seamless team approach that allows our clients to be proactive in pursuing their business strategies. We handle a high volume of matters at our practice, for example, in 2018 we handled various business deals over $20 million.
OUR BUSINESS LAW SERVICES INCLUDE:
Entity Formation:
Our law firm can provide consultation that is incomparable in its value, efficiency, and expertise. Entrepreneurs often face frustration on the front end of their vision due to generic advice and not being custom-tailored regarding their needs and capacity. We excel at this. Our knowledge of business law and corporate law will help you make the most informed decisions for your business. We offer years of experience and being minority-owned, we serve clients of all backgrounds.
General Contract Drafting and Review:
We provide thorough review and commentary, focused drafting, and thoughtful negotiation, along with other contract law needs. This can include everything from early-stage agreements such as partnership, operating or joint venture agreements, to contract needs that may arise from the cost of doing business such as employment, license, and confidentiality agreements. Even if you don’t know where to begin, you can explain to us the type of arrangement that might be suitable for your business needs, and our contract law and corporate law expertise will guide the process.
Employment Contracts:
We regularly negotiate, draft and review all sorts of employment agreements, including compensation agreements, non-compete, and non-solicitation agreements, general release agreements, severance agreements, and independent contractor agreements. We also assist in employment disputes and other aspects of employment contracts. Our diverse team has years of experience to offer and can help ease the confusion and stress that employment contracts bring.
Compliance Training:
Great Lakes Legal Group can provide training for business or not-for-profit owners, executives, supervisors, and employees. Our training focuses on how to comply with federal, state, and local labor laws. This includes employment, sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, retaliation, workplace violence, diversity, and sensitivity. With state and federal agencies reporting record numbers of complaints being filed at their agencies by employees, the responsible employer must take steps to insulate themselves from liability for acts committed by employees and managers. Employers that take a proactive approach to employment law compliance generally have higher levels of employee morale and productivity. Appropriate compliance not only decreases liability but can also increase profitability. A commitment to serious compliance is a win-win for employers and employees alike.
Nonprofit Advising:
We offer the same corporate law services to our non-profit clients with the same quality and vigor as our for-profit clients. However, nonprofits can often face unique challenges, as some special laws and regulations govern nonprofits and charities. We can help you from entity formation and obtaining 501(c)3 tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service to implementation of best governance practices once your organization is up and running.
Our attorneys are recognized throughout the industry for their expertise. In October 2018, Attorney Ayanna Alcendor spoke at the National Business Institute on the topic—“Top Mistakes Nonprofits Make: Keep Your Nonprofit Clients Compliant, Thriving and Free of Error!”—to much acclaim. In October 2019, Attorney Jehan Crump-Gibson presented at CoAct Detroit, a hub for accelerating collaborative action in Southeast Michigan’s nonprofit community, on Mission Drift, Conflict of Interest, and other critical issues that impact 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
STATE AND LOCAL LICENSING MATTERS
Not every business in Michigan needs a license. However, several types of businesses are required to do so. Oftentimes, the necessary license is issued by a State agency, which issues hundreds of licenses and requires certain filings to stay up-to-date. Whether commercial transactions, contracts, or other aspects of your business concerning the law, our team of professionals can help you achieve and exceed your goals. We understand the passion, commitment, and drive it takes to run a business or company. Understanding all of the aspects of the law concerning your business can be overwhelming and confusing. Work with Great Lakes Legal Group to ensure you’re getting the quality care you deserve and the knowledge of business law you need to keep your business running smoothly.
State and local licensing ensure you’re running your business within the regulations and legal requirements of the state of Michigan. In addition to protecting your business legally, you can also boost your business’s reputation and qualify for citywide funding. If your business sells products or services that are taxable, you’ll also want to be sure you register with the tax authorities. Obtaining the necessary state and local licensing, you can also highlight your business’s level of knowledge and skill.
BUSINESS CONTRACT SERVICES:
Business contract services cover a multitude of contracting services regarding businesses of all kinds. At Great Lakes Legal Group, we help with the pursuit and defense of breach-of-contract related to claims on behalf of your business. We also provide services for liability, partnerships, and individual contracts. If you’re looking for assistance with business contract services, our lawyers at Great Lakes Legal Groups proudly serve those in Michigan.
Find successful resolutions and a better understanding of your business contracts. Our professionals offer contract formation services, contract interpretation, contract enforcement, and more. Our lawyers pursue, defend, and resolve contract-based claims and help you gain a better understanding of business contracts of all kinds.
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION SERVICES:
Law is important concerning commercial transactions as it resolves disputes or conflicts between commercial transactions or trades between firms and individuals. At Great Lakes Legal Group, we are passionate about providing you with thoughtful enthusiasm and insight into business law and commercial transactions.
Commercial transactions are receiving a form of payment for a product or service. There are several kinds of commercial transactions such as those between consumers and businesses, business to business, and between internal divisions, just to name a few. Commercial transactions and business law include a set of laws that relate to sales and trade. To ensure you’re operating within the laws governing commercial transactions, contact our team today!