Local Law Firm Specializes in Small Business Development

The conventional wisdom is that all that is needed to start and grow a small business are a good idea, hard work and some cash.

This viewpoint, of course, is both idyllic and inaccurate. Today’s small business must deal with complex, interrelated factors including entity structure, tax strategy, governmental requirements, investors, contracts, intellectual property, employees, leases, and technology. Each of these factors brings with it legal questions that increase the complexity. The average business owner knows he or she needs to address these questions but doesn’t know where to start. Says attorney Michelle Hayden Bomberger: “The most important element of starting a business is to put together a business plan. The business plan lets the owner really think through the elements of the business and provides a roadmap for the company. The legal strategy is also derived from the business plan and includes issues such as selecting an entity type with tax considerations in mind, structuring outside investments, developing contracts, negotiating leases, and protecting intellectual property.”

Michelle is the founder and owner of Small Business Legal Services PLLC (SBLS), a law firm dedicated to providing legal and business advisory services to owners of small and growing businesses. Michelle says that SBLS can better serve small businesses because she takes the time to understand each client’s business and derives an appropriate legal strategy to help accomplish the goals of that business. This approach creates a true partnership between SBLS and its clients by enabling clients to focus on executing their business strategy while she executes the legal strategy to support them.

Michelle also comments that SBLS is better equipped to provide high-quality, cost-effective service to clients due to its small size and commitment to small business owners. “Many small business owners opt not to contact an attorney to assist them with setting up the company, entering into a lease, or hiring employees due to concerns about the cost of legal services or that a lawyer will simply complicate the deal. This approach is risky and may end up costing more in the long run,” says Michelle. Instead, SBLS strives to simplify transactions for clients by making them “business-friendly” and emphasizes regular client communications and upfront discussions of timing and costs of service.

Michelle first began to think about opening a law firm focused exclusively on small businesses while attending Northwestern Law School where she was a founding member of the school’s Small Business Opportunity Center (SBOC). The SBOC’s mission is to provide law students interested in business law a way to obtain hands-on skills prior to graduation. The SBOC was not only successful in serving the participating students but also was an outstanding service to local businesses and non-profits. “I found that I truly enjoyed helping small business owners understand the business and legal challenges they might face as the business grew. From this realization came SBLS.”

Michelle has opted to leverage her strong educational background to serve small businesses rather than work in a larger law firm. She attended graduate school at Northwestern University in Chicago, obtaining a JD from the School of Law and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Her undergraduate degree is in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame. What further differentiates Michelle from most business attorneys is her experience working in business. Michelle has worked with Fortune 500 companies as a technology consultant with Ernst & Young LLP and gained deep business operations expertise as a Senior Manager in Cingular Wireless’ Auditing Services Group. Through this experience, Michelle can better relate to her clients and, therefore, help them understand how the legal necessities factor into their business success and bottom line.

Michelle concludes, “Everyday I am given the chance to share an entrepreneur’s excitement about bringing a business idea to life. In exchange, I am able to help them succeed in a very tangible way which makes my work very rewarding.”

Michelle will present two seminars on Legal Planning and Contracts for entrepreneurs and small business owners on April 21, 2006 at Bellevue Community College, North Campus (10700 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA  98004) as part of the Small Business Administration's Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WENT) Roundtable Networking Breakfast program.   The early session entitled, "Legal Issues:  Avoid Mistakes that Destroy Small Businesses," emphasizes the importance of legal planning for business success including topics such as entity formation, government compliance, employment, leasing, and intellectual property.  The later session, "Business Contracts:  Get to YES and Stay Out of Court," will address basic contract law and common contracting mistakes.  The seminar runs from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  More information can be found at the seattle ccd website.

For more information on Small Business Legal Services PLLC, contact Michelle Bomberger at 425-503-2578 or michelle@sblslaw.com or visit www.sblslaw.com.