![\"Andreas](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Andreas-Schrettl.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nAn article by Dr. Andreas B. Schrettl<\/span><\/p>\n When starting a business, there are countless things to consider. Naturally, the focus is on those that directly contribute to bringing the business idea to life. To this end, it\u2019s almost second nature to seek advice from business or startup consultants, coaches, and the like, and to exchange ideas with other experienced entrepreneurs. During this creative startup phase, one (usually) feels far removed from legal \u201cproblems\u201d or even conflicts; rather, the goal is to prevent such issues from arising in the first place or, if disputes do arise, to find solutions through business-oriented means whenever possible.<\/span><\/p>\n However, in order to establish and maintain this freedom to conduct business (from a legal standpoint), it is important to set up the company in a legally \u201csound\u201d manner across all its divisions from the very beginning and to lay a solid legal foundation. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Starting a business is simply unthinkable without making decisions that are inevitably legally relevant and fundamental. For example, whether you\u2019re starting a new business or taking the next step, you\u2019ll need to choose the appropriate legal structure (and thus the corresponding liability regime), secure trademark and other intellectual property rights, rent office space, hire staff, enter into contracts with suppliers and service providers, and much more. <\/span><\/p>\n So while you\u2019re working with great dedication and enthusiasm to turn your business idea into a reality, you\u2019re\u2014consciously or unconsciously\u2014setting the course for your future legal starting point and negotiating position in a wide variety of areas, such as corporate, labor, commercial, trademark, copyright, patent, distribution, and contract law, as well as in the context of public law\u2014for example, when permits, approvals, registrations, or similar must be initiated or obtained. <\/span><\/p>\n To lay this legal foundation for your company in a way that is \u201crobust\u201d and tailored to your specific operational needs, it is strongly recommended that you seek legal advice\u2014completely independent of any potential conflicts or \u201ctrouble\u201d\u2014 \u2014to seek legal advice. This is the only way to ensure that you establish key legal positions for the future development of your business or secure existing rights (e.g., when drafting contracts with lenders, landlords, employees, suppliers, service providers, customers, etc., or when filing trademark and other registrations). <\/span><\/p>\n Of course, you can also \u201cjust go ahead and do it\u201d and only seek legal assistance once legal difficulties have actually arisen. But often, the lawyer can then only try\u2014figuratively speaking\u2014to pump out the water that has already seeped in and seal the exterior walls; a technically sound and reliable foundation, on the other hand, can usually only be \u201claid\u201d retroactively with significantly greater effort. An article by Dr. Andreas B. Schrettl When starting … <\/p>\n
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