Business and Contract Consulting

Legal issues rarely come up at the right time in business. A customer threatens to call a lawyer. A service provider wants to use your data for its own purposes.

There are two obvious ways to handle such situations:

Having an in-house attorney means paying a salary and payroll taxes from day one—even in months when nothing legally significant happens. For a small business, that’s not cost-effective.

Hiring a lawyer on a case-by-case basis is cheaper, but you have to start from scratch every time: explain the business model, send the same documents, and negotiate the fee. And because every question costs money, you don’t even ask the small ones—the ones that will later turn into big ones.

The alternative: a legal advisor. That’s exactly what this service offers: a set number of hours each month during which I’m available to your company—for contracts, disputes, and any questions in between.

You’re always talking to me throughout the process. That might sound obvious, but it’s not: After a few months, I’ll be familiar with your contracts, your clients, and your risk tolerance. From that point on, I won’t need to ask questions anymore—I’ll be able to provide answers. And a contract review takes less than two weeks—which isn’t much help if your client wants to sign today.

And if you'd like to give it a try first, send me your case.

How much long-term counseling costs (approximately)

This is not a price list, but rather a rough estimate—we'll determine what you actually need beforehand, and your consulting contract will be tailored accordingly.

How the Collaboration Works

Unused hours do not expire immediately. They carry over to the following month and do not expire until a period specified in our agreement has elapsed. Realistically, smaller companies do not use their full allocation every month, and we do not want that to be to your disadvantage.

If the amount exceeds the limit, it will roll over to the following month. No penalty fee, no additional charges based on the individual rate.

The flat fee applies only up to the point of litigation. It covers consultation and out-of-court work. Any litigation must be agreed upon separately—this is required under fee regulations. However, litigation can often be prevented with good legal advice.

Availability: I'll respond as soon as possible—and in any case, within one business day. I'll assess the legal urgency and relevance of your issue so you don't have to.

If you want to see what it's like first

Before you commit, we should get to know each other—perhaps through a legal review or a one-time engagement. After that, you can decide whether long-term consulting is right for you.

Contracts and Terms and Conditions

Contracts specify who owes what, when payments are due, and who bears the risk. This usually only becomes apparent once the working relationship has already broken down—that’s when people read the contract thoroughly for the first time.

I draft and review contracts, revise existing templates, and negotiate with customers, suppliers, and partners. When it comes to general terms and conditions, there is one particular point that many companies learn about too late: An invalid clause is not limited to the permissible extent, but is eliminated entirely—and the law takes its place. Those who overreach end up worse off than if they had opted for a more moderate provision.

What matters in each individual case depends on the transaction: scope of services and acceptance, payment terms, limitation of liability, term and termination, and rights to the results of the work. It’s most helpful to do this work before signing the contract.

Employment Contracts

Anyone who employs people needs contracts that hold up. Fixed-term contracts, probationary periods, overtime, compensation components, statutes of limitations, post-contractual provisions—most of the standard templates in circulation contain clauses that won’t stand up to scrutiny. This only becomes apparent when it really matters.

I draft and review employment contracts and address ongoing questions regarding labor law issues, particularly to prevent disputes from escalating.

Claims

Unpaid invoices drain cash flow and fray your nerves. The process for handling them is well-defined, but there are several points along the way where you can derail it.

I review due dates, delinquency, and enforceability; issue out-of-court payment demands; negotiate installment agreements; and pursue judicial collection proceedings. I also defend against unjustified claims made against your company.

Not every dispute belongs in court. Whether it’s worth pursuing depends on the evidence, the cost risk, and whether you want to continue doing business with the other party. You’ll receive this assessment in advance.

Privacy Policy

No management system, no directories, no training. Three areas where disputes actually arise.

In the contract. The data processing agreement and transfers to third countries—properly incorporated into your contracts—rather than as an attachment that no one has read. The most important practical question here is: Does your service provider really act solely on your behalf, or does it also use the data for its own analysis and training purposes?

Before the regulatory authority. If a notice of hearing is issued, a fine is threatened, or an order is issued, this constitutes an administrative proceeding with deadlines and avenues for appeal—and is not a matter of self-assessment. The first detailed statement becomes the factual basis for all subsequent proceedings.

In the event of a crisis. In the case of a data breach, the 72-hour period begins when you become aware of it, not when the damage is discovered. It is during these 72 hours that mistakes occur that will prove costly later on. Call us early—don’t wait until the third day.

Technology and Platforms

Software and SaaS contracts, rights to development results, trademark applications, suspended platform accounts, and cease-and-desist letters in antitrust matters: I cover these topics in detail under Technology and Media Law. These topics are also covered under a consulting agreement—I’m just mentioning this here so the page doesn’t repeat what’s already stated there.

Decisions and Crises

The part you don't usually ask a lawyer about because you don't know you can.

Before making a major decision—such as adopting a new sales model, switching service providers, ending a partnership, or accepting an offer that sounds too good to be true—it’s worth seeking legal advice while your options are still open. After that, it’s all about damage control.

The same applies to difficult situations: when a customer becomes aggressive, an employee takes data with them upon leaving the company, or an incident involves insurance companies, government agencies, and the district attorney’s office all at once. The fact that I’m familiar with both sides—civil and criminal law—makes all the difference in precisely these kinds of situations.

What I don't do is take business decisions out of your hands. I make sure you make them on a solid foundation.