Business Lawyers for Providence, Rhode Island
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Meet some of our Providence Business Lawyers
Moss S.
Over 30 years of experience practicing commercial real estate and complex business litigation law.
"Moss S was responsive and attentive to my needs and completed the task ahead of time and within budget"
Elizabeth W.
Liz is an experienced insurance professional, having worked with carriers and brokers for over 10 years. She can review or draft a variety of commercial agreements and is here to help your business. Specialties include: Master Service Agreements, business process outsourcing, marketing and partnership agreements, broker agreements, business associate agreements, and NDAs.
"Liz was very responsive, eager to do a good job, and a pleasure to work with."
Nicholas M.
Nicholas Matlach is a cybersecurity expert (CISSP) and an attorney who is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. He is a client-focused professional who has a deep understanding of the challenges that small businesses face in the digital age. He also provides legal counsel to small businesses on a variety of issues, including formation, intellectual property, contracts, and employment law.
"Enjoyed his demeanor. Professional yet down to earth. The document created for me was very explicit and easy to read. I would recommend :)"
Paul M.
Transactional attorney and corporate in house counsel for 15 years. Draft all types of contracts and employment agreements.
"Paul was stellar in every way. Highest recommendation possible; I will be continuing to partner with him. Thank you, Paul."
March 8, 2025
David W.
David has experience assisting individuals, startups, mid-sized, and publicly traded companies with various business, corporate, and real estate matters including residential and commercial real estate sales, acquisitions, financing and leasing; contract drafting and negotiation; regulatory compliance; and business acquisition, sale, formation, and dissolution.
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Bruce H.
Experienced patent attorney supporting a variety of technologies.
"Smooth and straightforward provisional filing, even as a foreign-based inventor. Clear communication and prompt filing. Highly recommended."
Sam Y.
I am a Connecticut-licensed business attorney with over a decade of combined legal and business-operations experience, including roles as in-house counsel, Director of Operations & Compliance, and Director of Growth. I provide practical, business-focused legal solutions to entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized businesses, and investors who need a trusted advisor that understands both the legal and operational realities of running a company.
"Had great SaaS product legal knowledge and got me everything I needed."
Jeff G.
Jeff has 25 years of commercial transactional experience within numerous industries, including finance/banking, telecommunications/utilities, insurance, and software. He is a recognized authority on contracts, software licensing and negotiation. Jeff earned his Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law and his Masters in Business Administration from North Carolina State University and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Indiana.
"Jeff was super thorough and fast on the TOS and Privacy policy I needed. Would recommend."
October 29, 2024
Jerry C.
I have been practicing law for over twenty years. My practice includes employment/labor law, alternative dispute resolution, estate planning, business and general civil matters.
October 31, 2024
Patrick W.
Patrick is a seasoned attorney with over 11 years of experience in corporate law, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance, with a specialization in emerging technologies such as AI and Web 3.0. Patrick works with commercial contract negotiations for technology startups, managing multi-million-dollar agreements, and offering comprehensive corporate governance services, including stock plan administration, cap table management, and day to day advising. One of Patrick’s career highlights includes his tenure at SharesPost Inc., a pioneering fintech startup, where he served as Senior Legal Counsel and later Interim General Counsel. In this role, Patrick led product legal risk management, negotiated SaaS and data processing agreements, and ensured compliance with SEC, FINRA, and DBO regulations. He played a pivotal role in the company's growth working closely with operations and sales, until such time teh company was acquired. In addition to his work at SharesPost, Patrick’s experience includes serving as Policy Counsel at Bird Global and General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Planned Parenthood Northern California, where he oversaw a $60M revenue organization, directed legal strategy for EHR migration, and ensured compliance with state and federal privacy laws.
John B.
J. D. Bridges has worked both in-house and in firms and has seen countless commercial agreements and technology deals from every angle. J. D.’s worked as in-house counsel for high-growth, VC-backed startups, IT solutions providers and cybersecurity companies and also at an AmLaw Top 50 global firm, representing clients in a variety of industries and purchasers and creators of technology across the globe. He’s negotiated commercial contracts with some of the world’s largest financial services and pharmaceutical companies, as well as assisting startups from incorporation to exit. He’s also helped Fortune 100 companies protect themselves and their data when procuring technology from startups and legacy technology providers alike. J. D. brings a practical and growth-focused mindset to legal advice and excels in working with front-line sales organizations and sales leadership as well as internal counsel, business owners and procurement professionals. Whether a pre-seed AI startup, established manufacturer or a global IT procurement effort, J. D. can support you while concurrently growing and protecting your business.
November 13, 2024
Alyssa C.
Illinois-licensed attorney with 9 years of experience in public interest work utilizing advanced skills in contract & project management, compliance, investigation, risk management, & training. Proven record developing and managing partnerships to deliver exceptional results in government agencies, non-profits, law firms, and broad community networks leading to multi-million dollar recoveries, risk management, and execution of large-scale program initiatives. Skills include: 1. Project & Contract Management: 9 years in project & contract management tracking project and contract goals, stages, budgets, and deliverables to lead and support program and department initiatives. 2. Compliance, Investigation, & Risk Management: 9 years in law, policy, & programs conducting investigation, research, writing, analysis, and education in administrative agency and court matters relating to: compliance, financial regulation, contracts, employment, workforce development, healthcare, retirement assets, mental health, disability, taxes, immigration, civil rights, grants, benefits, social services, & criminal defense. 3. Training/Teaching: 4 years training co-workers & community partners; 3 years teaching in U.S. & Ecuador (7 total). 4. Technology: Microsoft Office (including Excel), Contract Express, DocuSign, SharePoint, Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, Concordance, GoldFynch, Clio, Smokeball, Qualtrics, Google Forms, Slack, Zoom, Teams, Webex, & Adobe. 5. Spanish: Advanced Spanish skills from 1 year of teaching, studying, & travel in Ecuador, Peru, & Mexico.
Business Legal Questions and Answers
Business
LLC Operating Agreement
Kansas
Can an LLC operating agreement be modified without the consent of all members?
Can an LLC operating agreement be modified without the consent of all members? I am a member of an LLC and we have been operating under a certain agreement for several years. However, there have been some changes in our business and it is necessary to make amendments to the operating agreement. One of the members is reluctant to agree to the changes, but the majority of us believe it is in the best interest of the company. We want to know if it is possible to modify the operating agreement without the unanimous consent of all members, and if so, what steps are required to do so legally.
Cherie M.
It primarily depends on what your operating agreement says regarding consent for making changes. That will control the process. If it is just changes to the operating agreement, it does not need to be reported to the Secretary of State. Changes to the Articles of Organization would need to be reported, however.
Business
S Corp
Arizona
What are the advantages and disadvantages of forming an S-Corporation for my small business?
I am a small business owner and I am considering forming an S-Corporation for my company. I have heard that there are certain tax benefits and liability protections associated with this type of entity, but I am unsure of the specifics. Additionally, I am concerned about the administrative and legal requirements of maintaining an S-Corporation and how it may impact my business operations. I would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of forming an S-Corporation in order to make an informed decision.
Daniel D.
Advantages of Forming an S-Corporation Tax Benefits: Pass-Through Taxation: An S-Corp does not pay federal income taxes at the corporate level. Instead, the income, deductions, and credits "pass through" to the shareholders, who report them on their personal tax returns. This avoids the "double taxation" that occurs with a C-Corporation. Self-Employment Tax Savings: As an S-Corp owner, you can divide income between salary and distributions. Only the salary portion is subject to payroll taxes (Medicare and Social Security), while distributions are not. This can reduce self-employment taxes. Tax Deductibility: Expenses such as health insurance premiums for shareholders may be deductible, along with business expenses. Liability Protection: Like other corporations, an S-Corp provides personal liability protection. Your personal assets (e.g., house, personal bank accounts) are generally shielded from business debts and legal actions against the company, provided you follow corporate formalities. Credibility: Forming an S-Corp can give your business greater credibility with customers, vendors, and lenders. It shows you are a legitimate business entity, which may help when seeking financing or contracts. Potential State Tax Benefits: Some states provide additional tax benefits for S-Corps, although this varies by state. Disadvantages of Forming an S-Corporation Ownership Restrictions: An S-Corp can have no more than 100 shareholders, and all shareholders must be U.S. citizens or residents. This can limit the growth potential if you plan to bring in additional investors. S-Corps can only issue one class of stock, which may restrict your ability to attract certain types of investors or structure equity creatively. Administrative and Legal Requirements: Corporate Formalities: S-Corps must adhere to certain formalities, such as holding annual shareholder meetings, maintaining a board of directors, keeping detailed records, and filing required documents with the state. Failure to follow these rules can result in losing your liability protection. Payroll Requirements: If you work in the business, you must pay yourself a reasonable salary, which adds payroll administrative costs. You’ll also have to withhold and pay employment taxes on that salary. Tax Complexity: While S-Corps offer tax advantages, they also bring complexity, especially when it comes to classifying distributions versus salary. Misclassification can trigger IRS audits or penalties. Some states do not recognize S-Corporation status, meaning your business may still be subject to state-level corporate taxes. Limited Flexibility in Income Allocation: S-Corps require that profits and losses be allocated strictly based on ownership percentage. This limits flexibility if you want to allocate profits disproportionately among shareholders.
Business
Demand Letter For Payment
California
HI, being a freelancer and independent contractor( 1099) in CA, can I send a collections notice for non payment to client?
I am an independent contractor and freelancer in San Diego, California. I am a sole proprietor who offers training and consulting services. I use a contract agreement with my clients. Even after signing my contract, this client is unwilling to compensate me for the hours I spent working on his project. I would like to send this client a collections notice for non-payment. I would appreciate knowing the process. Thanks in advance
Matthew S.
Yes, you can send such a notice for nonpayment. I would send one in the form of a demand letter.
Business
Shareholders Agreement
Massachusetts
Should I form a corporation around my research if I don't plan to conduct any other forms of business (e.g., hire, sell, or raising funding) in the next year?
Should I form a corporation around my work if I don't plan to conduct any other forms of business (e.g., hire, sell, or raise outside funding) in the next year? My research is computational in nature (can be done on my laptop) and doesn't require many resources.
Richard G.
The answer to this questions to some degree depends upon your tolerance for risk. If in performing your "business" you are not exposing yourself in any way to the outside world, e.g., hiring, selling, inviting investors, etc., then you may no little to no liability exposure. However, if there is any aspect of your work that would or could develop into something which does involve others, or which is relied upon by others, then the safest path would be to incorporate or form an LLC. LLC's are more expensive to maintain in Massachusetts, i.e., $500 annually, but require less paperwork (no shares to consider, etc.). An LLC should have an operating agreement, even with a single member to clearly distinguish the member as an individual from the LLC as a company. Incorporation is more expensive in the early stages as it requires you to pay your fee to the Secretary of State (about $275), which recurs annually. It is more heavy in terms of annual meeting minutes of shareholders, and other formal documents, and can be a bit more expensive as incorporating will require a shareholder's agreement and other documentation at the outset (not repeated annually).
Business
Release of Lien
Illinois
Lien on business name
My husband and I started a transportation company recently and learned a Lein has been put on the business by a company we have never heard of nor have any affiliation with
T. Phillip B.
I'm assuming this is a UCC Lien on the business assets. You can file a release yourself with the IL Secretary of State. There's also an affidavit that will go with it.
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
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