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Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese. You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand. You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.
The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls. Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails. An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.
Learn how we service your area through our Remote Location Approach.
Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs. Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible. It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.
Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.
Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.
"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."
"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"
We Understand Business Owners’ Needs! Kevin O’Flaherty who personally works with our business & corporate clients, has a passion for business and understands the mindset of entrepreneurs in a way that most attorneys do not. In addition to owning O’Flaherty Law, Kevin has started multiple other enterprises. He founded and hosts the SeizeYourBusiness.com podcast & videoblog, in which he interviews successful business owners and entrepreneurs regarding business issues and strategies. Kevin hosts regular Small Business Workshops and Seminars, as well as multiple Business Think Tank groups, where entrepreneurs come together to share ideas and work through problems. Kevin also founded the Business Lounge, a club for entrepreneurs and professionals to work together to enhance their business opportunities. As a business owner, you don’t just need an attorney. You need an attorney who understands the unique mindset of an entrepreneur.
Our Clients Love Us! Our Champaign business, corporate & contract Law attorneys have earned a reputation for going above-and-beyond for our clients. Many of our clients have been so impressed by our service, that they have taken time out of their busy schedules to write us glowing reviews, which you can read here. In 2016, we received the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award. In 2015, Suburban Life Magazine named Kevin O’Flaherty as one of its Best Under 40. We have received these accolades because we work every day to put our clients first. We promptly return calls and e-mails, and affirmatively communicate with you and educate you at every stage of your matter.
We Are Budget-Friendly! We know that the last thing you need for your bottom line is expensive legal bills. Our mission is to build a lifelong relationship with our business clients and their families. This is why we have intentionally set our rates below market. We offer cost-effective flat fees for most projects. If a flat fee is not available, we will make sure that you know what to expect at the outset of your project, and that you are never surprised by a legal bill. If you can find a more affordable option for your business & corporate needs, we would like to hear about it!
We are Comprehensive! The fact that you are a business owner will impact your personal legal needs, such as estate planning, real estate, and protecting assets from creditors. Because our team of Elmhurst attorneys has experience in nearly every area of law, once you establish trust with O’Flaherty Law of Champaign, you will never have to look elsewhere for an attorney, regardless of your needs. Unlike firms with a more limited scope, we have the ability to incorporate your business planning into your personal legal needs. Should your business need assistance with collections or other dispute resolution, with bankruptcy, or with any other area of law, we can help!
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Learn how we service your area with our Remote Location Approach.
The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.
Schedule a ConsultationLearn More About The Firm44 E. Main Street STE 412
Champaign, IL 61820
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I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team. Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys. Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us. They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates. We are here to help!
In this article, our Champaign business attorneys discuss business succession planning and explain how to use buy-sell agreements to plan for an owner’s retirement. We explain three different options to plan for a business owner’s retirement with buy-sell agreements, including: the company purchasing a retiring owners shares through a lump sum payment, the company purchasing a retiring owner’s shares through installment payments, and the gradual transfer of a retiring owner’s shares to the next generation. A buy-sell agreement is a contract between business owners to provide for ownership succession should an owner wish to disassociate from the company, should the company wish to terminate an owner’s interest, or should an owner die or become disabled.
In this video, our Champaign business attorneys emphasize how it is important that you work closely with a business attorney when incorporating your business for several reasons:
(1) Your business attorney will educate you and assist you in selecting the most advantageous and proper corporate entity: There are many different types of corporate entities that you can select from when incorporating, including LLCs, S-Corps, LPs, and LLPs, your business attorney will take the time to educate you on the pros and cons of each type of entity for your particular situation. Your attorney will help you find the most cost-effective solution that best fits your needs. Series LLCs can be a great cost-saving solution for business owners with multiple businesses or multiple locations. Professionals and other particular types of businesses may be required to file as a P.C. or PLLC. Selecting the wrong corporate entity can be an expensive mistake for your business.
(2) Your business attorney will help you maintain required corporate formalities: In order to receive the benefits of incorporation, such as liability protection and self-employment tax savings, it is important that you follow the required steps to maintain corporate formalities, both at the time of initial corporate set-up and annually. Failure to do so will result in creditors being able to "pierce the corporate veil" in order to attribute business debts to the shareholders personally and may result in paying back self-employment tax savings if you are audited. Your attorney will help you prepare bylaws or an operating agreement, prepare initial and annual meeting minutes for shareholders and directors, comply with notice requirements for annual meetings, issue stock, and maintain your corporate book. Even if you are a single-shareholder corporation or LLC, failure to take these steps may result in your corporation being worthless from a liability and tax-saving standpoint.
(3) Your Business Attorney will register your corporation with the required government agencies: As part of our corporate-set up service, our Elmhurst attorneys will assist you in obtaining state and federal tax ID numbers, registering with the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and completing any other registrations that are required for you to legally operate your business.
(4) Your business attorney will advise you on tax issues associated with your corporation and file the necessary paperwork on your behalf: As a corporation, you have the opportunity to make an S-Corp election with the IRS that may significantly reduce your personal and business tax liability. A good corporate attorney will work with your accountant to ensure that you are receiving the benefit of every tax advantage available to your corporation.
(5) Build a long-term relationship for your future business needs: Meeting with a business attorney at the incorporation stage of your business will allow you to build a relationship of trust and identify future legal needs such as contracts, leases, employee issues, exit strategies, or disputes. When a legal issue arises, it is important both to identify the situation as one in which you should consult your attorney, and to have a pre-established relationship with an adviser and advocate that you trust.
In this video, our Champaign business attorneys explain that as a business owner it is important to have a trusted relationship with your business attorney. You should always feel comfortable calling or e-mailing your attorney at any time. Here are a few situations where it is advisable to consult your business attorney:
1. Incorporating Your Business
4. Employee and Independent Contractor Issues
5. Intellectual Property, Trademark, and Copyright
6. Business Purchases & Sales
7. Rewarding Key Employees & Executives
9. Exit Strategies
10. Estate Planning
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