In-house Counsel for Small Businesses
Togai Atac, Partner
Our firm caters heavily to “small businesses”, but this term is a vague one. It can mean anything from a start-up with no assets, to a multi-million dollar enterprise that has been in operation for years. No two small businesses are alike regardless of how similar their products may be. Yet, one factor many small businesses share, regardless of their size, is that they usually do not have in-house legal counsel. Often, it is simply beyond a small business’ budget to staff attorneys. Many small businesses also do not have the work volume to justify keeping an attorney on staff. However, regardless of the size of a business, it has legal needs.
Our goal at Atom Law Group is to give our clients, small businesses, the same confidence they may feel if they had an attorney on staff, but without the expense of maintaining one on staff. We do this by getting to know the ins-and-outs of each of our clients’ businesses and understanding how they individually operate. Once we understand these nuances, we can assess what their shortcomings and strengths are from a legal perspective. When a dispute arises, we can often anticipate solutions based on our knowledge of the client. When an opportunity arises, we can often anticipate pitfalls and determine how to avoid them. As a result, our small business clients tend to be with us for years. We share their vision for growth and we share in the sense of satisfaction they have from maintaining a successful venture. Of course we understand the financial limits of our clients and are conscious in avoiding needless expense. Again, our goal is to give the sense of comfort a client may have in staffing an attorney, but without the expense.
Why I Practice Law
Matt Bernstein, Senior Counsel
The other day, I was shopping in the local supermarket with my sons, and I ran into a client of mine. This particular client has been with me for over 10 years, since her original claim for political asylum was granted, and I've represented her entire family. When she first came to me, she was suffering from extreme Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and after the horrors that she experienced in her home country, had very little hope for the future. When I saw her at the store, she had a big smile on her face and was walking with her beautiful daughter. Like any new immigrant, she has had her share of challenges and obstacles, but today this vibrant young woman is a U.S Citizen who supports herself and her family, is politically and socially active, busy with her artwork and profession. She is living a life of freedom that she never could have dreamed of in her home country, and has contributed her unique gifts to our society and her circle of friends and family. I've kept in contact with her throughout her life in the United States and was proud to introduce her to my children as “my friend.” The strong connection and sense of kinship and responsibility that I have for this particular client is not unique to my practice and I know that the other lawyers in Atom Law Group feel the same way about their clients. Whether it's a small business that needs assistance with business planning, a family going through life changing events like divorce, or an individual seeking assistance with their immigration benefits, the attorneys at Atom Law genuinely care about their clients and their success. The lasting relationships that we have built with our clients are testament not only to the legal expertise of our staff, but to the attitude we have towards the practice and our clients.