Areas of Practice
For Your Business
Business Formation and Planning
While technology has made it simple for everyone to file the right documents to start their own business, going out on your own can be frightening - there are a lot of decisions with important future legal consequences that must be made. A lawyer can be a great help in answering critical questions about choosing an entity, how the business (and you) will be taxed, proper entity governance, and any specialty issues (such as liability risk and what type of insurance you may need) that are unique to your company’s industry. Consider involving a lawyer early in the planning process to avoid expensive litigation and liability issues years down the road. It’s a lawyer’s job to think ahead and plan for what is going to put your business in the best possible position for success and growth.
business compliance
Ensuring your customers’ satisfaction and the smooth day-to-day operation of your company are the most important parts of your job as the boss. In an ever-changing legal environment, keeping up-to-date with all of the latest laws and regulation that affects your business is probably the last thing on your mind. Some industries are more susceptible to these changes than others. A lawyer who remains aware of these changes and helps implement a concise and practical course of action can help make sure your company is always above-board, leaving you free to focus on the real reasons you are in business.
intellectual property
The ideas of its owner and employees are one of the most frequently overlooked assets a business owns, and fall under a complex area of law that is constantly changing to keep up with advancements in technology. In fact, for many businesses, the intellectual property represents a significant portion of the company’s intangible value. Intellectual property ranges from your company’s name and logo all the way to any processes that give you an edge over your competition. Virtually anything original that the business and its employees create make up a company’s intellectual property. Hiring an attorney can help make sure your ideas are protected, and that protection under the law is enforced. Just as important as enforcing your company’s intellectual property rights, an attorney can help keep your business from becoming a defendant in an infringement lawsuit that claims it violated somebody else’s intellectual property rights (and of course defend you if you have been accused of infringement).
Contract advice and drafting
As a successful business owner, you understand the importance of keeping promises. As a person, you probably do not have the time (or desire) to read and fully understand the terms and conditions of every contract your business enters into, let alone draft them for your own contracts. Hire an attorney with the right training and experience to help you understand what all of the fine print and boilerplate means for you, and help negotiate and draft effective agreements to protect you and your business from costly contract disputes in the future. If there is a contract dispute, a skilled attorney can ensure those promises are kept, and defend your business from accusations that it is not upholding the bargain.
Employment Law & Human Resources
For better or for worse, there are times when it is in your company’s best interest to part ways with an employee. However, nearly every employer is caught by surprise when a former employee claims they were fired for everything but the fact they were not good at their job, or a problem in the office. As much as you may take care of your people, the fact remains that each employee is a potential lawsuit. In addition to defending accused employers, a lawyer can help review and craft HR procedures from on-boarding, training, and termination, to leave you worry-free to recruit the best talent for your organization.
Business litigation
Whether your business needs help enforcing its rights or defending its reputation, the counsel of an experienced litigator is a must if your business finds itself on the verge of going to court. From the first demand letter all the way through trial, it is important to involve an attorney to make sure your business keeps its hard-earned money, and enforces its rights. Whether it involves an internal dispute, a broken contract, your intellectual property, or a former employee, be sure to hire an attorney as soon as possible to protect what you’ve built.
For You
Personal injury
There are few things in life worse than dealing with pain caused by someone else’s carelessness. To add insult to injury, insurance companies may try to convince you to accept a settlement within weeks or even days of your injury - when you do not even know how much care your doctor will recommend, or if that care will even help. If you have been hurt because of another driver, or because you slipped/tripped over a hazard that should not have been there, you do not have to face the insurance company alone. Consult with an attorney immediately, and avoid tricky insurance adjusters who want to settle your case within weeks of your accident.Involving an experienced attorney can help combat aggressive insurance tactics and guide you through the risks of personal injury litigation from beginning to end.
Workers Compensation
While workplace injuries are similar to personal injuries, a different set of rules and benefits apply. An injury that happens at work and prevents you from being able to do your job creates a lot of stress for you and your family. Luckily, an attorney can help make sure you get what you deserve under Iowa’s workers compensation laws. These include weekly benefits, disability benefits (in the case of severe injuries) and, in most cases, providing for healthcare. The workers compensation system can be difficult to navigate. Be sure to hire a lawyer who can help secure the benefits you and your family need, leaving you to focus on your health.
Criminal defense
It goes without saying that being arrested and having to face the criminal justice system is one of the most difficult times in anyone’s life. To be blunt, it is a terrible idea to represent yourself in court. If you’ve been accused of committing a crime, it is imperative that you hire a criminal defense attorney. If you even suspect that you will be arrested and charged with a crime in the near future, hiring an attorney before the police knock provides you with a major advantage. If you have been charged with a crime, no attorney can guarantee a “not guilty” verdict or that they can get the charges will be dismissed - and you don’t need one that will. You need an attorney who will provide a straight, honest evaluation of your circumstances, and guide you to the best possible result.
General Civil Litigation
Disputes come in all shapes and sizes, and don’t necessarily fit neatly into one category. This can include an issue with a tenant or landlord, a dispute arising from an auto sale, personal property damage, or any other situation in which the law provides a solution to your problem. If you don’t see your particular issue listed above, or don’t know what legal practice area it falls under, The Law Office of John Podmeyer would love to hear you out. Even if it’s not something this office handles, an attorney will get you pointed in the right direction.
Information regarding Fees
When it comes to your business, The Law Office of John Podmeyer always focuses on the practical effects of any legal issues you have. This means your company’s continued growth and success is always in focus, and businesses need enough money on hand to stay open. With this in mind, there are several fee options available for business matters, all of which are negotiable based on the unique challenges of your case. To help with this, credit cards are accepted.
Personal injury and workers compensation matters are accepted on a contingency fee basis, meaning the firm only recovers a fee if your case is settled or you win at trial. This also means you do not pay any attorney’s fees out of your own pocket. Criminal defense representation is available on a retainer/hourly basis, which may be paid by credit card.