Texas Based, Global Reach

     Import rules and compliance are extremely important to any company engaged in international trade. Avoiding costly delays and penalties with Customs and other governmental agencies can be the difference between a successful product import and potential seizure or loss of your goods. Using experienced international trade professionals to help you navigate the mountain of compliance duties saves you time and money, allowing you to focus on daily operations and profits.

     Should you or your business require assistance in compliance with the CBP, only a licensed customs broker can represent you before the CBP. Customs brokers are licensed specialists in import laws and compliance that can help you navigate the complexities of international trade. Coupling our customs broker’s license with our law license and business experience we can offer a full compliment of services for the importer/exporter to limit your liability and stay compliant.

     Our International Trade Law division provides legal and business guidance to businesses engaged in importing products or services. Some of the typical import compliance issues we can assist in include:

• Entry Procedures and Tariff Classification
• Customs Brokering
• Duty Preference Programs (Free Trade Agreements, NAFTA, etc.)
• Countervailing/Anti-Dumping Investigations and Litigation
• Section 337 Investigations and Litigation
• Customs detentions, forfeitures, seizures, and other penalties
• Protests

     Export rules and compliance are extremely important to any company engaged in international trade. Every year many businesses are hit with devastating penalties due to negligence in their exporting compliance requirements. Using experienced international trade professionals to help you navigate the mountain of compliance duties saves you time and money, allowing you to focus on daily operations and profits.

     Our International Trade Law Division provides legal and business guidance to businesses engaged in exporting their product or service. Some of the typical export compliance issues we can assist in include:

• BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security) Licensing, Investigations, and Penalties
• DDTC (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls) Licensing, Investigations, and Penalties
• OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) Licensing, Investigations, and Penalties
• Due Diligence for proposed transactions (contract drafting, sourcing, negotiating, etc.)
• Compliance Audits, Programs, and Training
• Foreign agent management

     Franchising offers businesses a fantastic opportunity to expand their business and brand while also attracting small business owners to a proven model and method. There are many, sometimes onerous, regulations for the franchisor. Staying in compliance is absolutely important to protect the company and future franchisees.

     Potential franchisees need to be aware and well counseled on aspects of a franchise agreement. While the chosen franchise model may be a great match for the business owner, failing to understand or dismissing an element of the franchise agreement could be the difference between a successful franchise and losing your business and personal assets.

     Reidel Law Firm can assist in counseling start up franchisors, existing franchisors, and franchisees.

Franchising Articles:

• When the Franchise Relationship Breaks Down
• Protecting Your IP as Franchisor
• How Negotiable is the Franchise Agreement?
• How to Craft a Franchise Compliance Program
• Why Have a Professional Review My FDD?
• What is Franchise Operations Manual?
• New Franchise Rules in Effect in California
• When to Franchise Your Business
• How to Franchise Your Business
• What is Franchising?

     Anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) regulations are an increasing burden, both in number of laws and in the complexity of those laws, for businesses around the globe. No longer do these significant regulations only affect banking institutions but have expanded in recent years to also include: financial institutions, fintech companies, virtual currency companies, money transmitters and currency exchangers, securities dealers, precious metal dealers/importers, insurance providers, casino and gaming operators (even online), pawnbrokers, tax advisors, and even real estate advisors. There are many, sometimes onerous regulations for the business triggering AML laws.

     Avoiding costly fines and penalties for noncompliance can be the difference between your business becoming successful or facing devastating fines or penalties. AML compliance also helps prevent fraud or other loss within your business while giving customers assurance of the security of your operations. Staying compliant under AML/KYC regulations is imperative in today’s global, highly competitive, and regulated economy.

     Utilizing experienced AML/KYC professionals to help you navigate the mountain of compliance duties saves you time and money, allowing you to focus on daily operations and profits. Our compliance professionals are ACAMS certified and experienced with the legal requirements and obligations for an international business subject to AML/KYC regulations.

Some of the typical compliance issues we can assist with include:

• AML/KYC Risk Assessments and Consulting
• Out-of-House AML Compliance Officer
• Independent AML Audits
• AML/KYC Compliance Programs
• Employee Training
• Government Investigation Defense and Penalty Remediation

     Today’s small and medium businesses generally cannot afford expensive in-house attorneys to guide them daily. Small and medium sized businesses deal with the same issues that large corporations confront and need skilled legal counsel to protect the business and owners. Reidel Law Firm has developed a cost effective and simple solution for small and medium businesses. Our Out-Of-House Counsel service gives business owners the same tools that multi-national corporations have at a fraction of the cost.

     With an Out-Of-House counsel your business can have legal advice/analysis, government or corporate filings/compliance, liability audits, and more; affordable and as needed.

Reidel Law Firm’s Out-Of-House Counsel package includes:

• Management of Legal Issues
• Virtual General Counsel
• Contract Drafting and Review
• Other Business Documents (Letters of intent, shareholder agreements, etc)
• Regulatory Compliance
• Digital Minute Books
• Corporate/Employment Policy Audits
• Liability Audits
• Patent, Trademark, and Copyright
• Negotiations/Representation

     Understanding your rights and obligations as a franchisee is an important step before joining a franchise system. Often, potential franchisees neglect to carefully read their franchise documents before committing to a long term franchise deal. Having a dedicated franchise attorney provide a thorough review of your franchise documents will help you better understand the obligations, costs, benefits, and other terms and conditions you should be aware of.

     We can help review your Franchise Disclosure Document, Franchise Agreement, real estate control documents, and any other required agreements before committing your time and assets to a franchise system. We routinely represent both franchisee and franchisors and can offer a unique insight into your franchise documents.

Articles about FDD Reviews:

• How Negotiable is a Franchise Agreement?
• Franchising and the E-2 Visa
• Why Have a Professional Review My FDD?
• Do I Need My FDD Review?
• How to Read Your FDD

     Placing your business within an entity helps protect your personal assets/wealth and can have personal tax benefits. Businesses within an entity can take risks to grow while protecting the owners from personal liability. Many Texas small businesses forgo entity formation and act as an unincorporated entity, a dangerous step to take jeopardizing your business and personal assets. Small businesses that fail to place the business within an entity put each owner’s personal wealth at stake, don’t put your livelihood, family, and business in jeopardy by failing to act. You will also take advantage of the personal tax benefits and a professional image by forming a business entity. Our entity formation services are offered as a package with flat fees.

Our LLC package includes:

• Consultation
• Drafting a custom operating agreement
• Name search and reservation
• Transfer of currently owned non-title property to the LLC
• Filing necessary paperwork w/ Secretary of State
• Secure EIN

Add-On Services for LLC:

• Advanced LLC or personal asset protection
• Registered agent service
• Corporate counsel service
• Annual LLC maintenance

The incorporation package includes:

• Consultation
• Drafting an operating agreement
• Name search and reservation
• Custom articles of incorporation
• Transfer of currently owned non-title property to the corporation
• Filing necessary paperwork w/ Secretary of State
• Securing EIN

Add-On Services for Incorporation:

• Advanced corporate or personal asset protection
• Registered agent service
• Corporate counsel service
• Annual corporate maintenance/annual meetings

Articles about LLCs:

What To Do After You Formed Your Entity?

Doing Business in Texas: Business Entities

What is a Series LLC?

How to Sign a Contract as an LLC

What is an LLC?

What is the Corporate Tax Rate in Texas?

Articles About Corporations:

How to Start a Business in a Week

Doing Business in Texas: Business Entities

What is a Close Corporation?

What is the Difference Between a C Corporation and an S Corporation?

What is a Corporation?

What is the Corporate Tax Rate in Texas?

Should I Form My Startup in Texas or Delaware?

     Small business owners have plenty on their mind everyday, drafting and reviewing contracts should not be one of them. Drafting or reviewing mundane contract filler takes time and energy away from promoting your business/product and pushing profits up. Using legal professionals to review/draft contracts saves you time and money, allowing you to focus on daily operations and profits.

     We offer flat fee contract drafting and review, we aim to save small businesses time and money, giving you to the tools to survive and thrive. Our flat fee services allows you to eliminate time killers like contract reviewing and focus on the pressing matters of the day for your business.

Articles about Contracts:

• What is a Liquidated Damages Clause?
• Do I Need Terms and Conditions for My Website?
• How to Sign a Contract as an LLC
• Business Contracts: The Basics