by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
In an effort to educate new and veteran business owners on their business needs, the First Coast Lawyers Forum will host a seminar this week for business professionals called, “Is Your Business Bulletproof?”
The half-day seminar will include a comprehensive business law presentation on issues in different business and industries the FCLF considers to be the most pressing to owners.
According to the group’s co-founder, attorney Gregg Gerlach, business owners may not know where to turn for help with legal issues like negotiating contracts, developing patents or managing worker’s compensation insurance. The seminar will offer a low cost and relatively quick opportunity for professionals to have their legal questions answered.
“The problem is that the law has become very specialized,” said Gerlach. “For example, a business may have been formed by a corporate lawyer but then what does the owner of that business do if they have a problem that that lawyer can’t handle? This seminar allows businesses to go to one place and meet different attorneys who specialize in different areas of the law to meet (the business owner’s) needs.”
The First Coast Lawyers Forum was organized five years ago as a resource for each other’s clients. The group focuses on different areas of law is now expanding its reach outside of just the legal field and Thursday’s forum is designed to begin that outreach.
Gerlach said the event is intended for business owners, executives, accountants, human resource professionals and medical professionals and will explore 11 different areas of law: workers’ compensation, health care, trademark and copyright, immigration, mergers and acquisitions, environment, labor relations, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, collections and patent law.
An example of how the group serves as an internal resource: Ann Bittinger is a health care attorney. Hypothetically, she may have a client that owns a surgical center. That client may need legal advice concerning labor law or collection. Bittinger would then either consult with a labor law attorney or refer that attorney to her client.
During the forum, members of the FCLF will explore each of the 11 areas of law in a 15-minute presentation followed by an open question and answer session and then lunch.
“Hopefully, after this seminar, business owners will make some contacts, see some new faces and learn a few new things,” said Gerlach.
Other attorneys participating include Jerry Akel, Howard Caplan, Stephen Davis, G. Ray Driver, William Finger, Lee Kellison, Nina LaFleur, Fran Landau, and Mark Young.
“Is Your Business Bulletproof?” is Thursday at the Wyndam from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event registration fee is $100 and includes lunch. Those unable to attend can purchase a handbook of the presentations for $50. To register, call 296-7000.