Whistle blowing laws and protection in Virginia

Posted on : February 15, 2016

How much do you know about federal whistleblower law in Virginia? Is there protection available for whistleblowers? As a matter of fact, there is no general whistleblower protection statute in Virginia, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot be protected under Virginia law when in such a situation. In fact, the Federal Government encourages and incentivizes legitimate whistle blowing. Virginia law ensures that whistleblowers, who suffer retaliation as a result of whistle blowing, are entitled to recover under the False Claims Act.

Let’s take a look at the facts about whistle blowing law and the process involved:

  • The Federal False Claims Act entitles all whistle blowers to file a law suit against wrongdoers who are committing fraud against the Federal Government.
  • The personal details of the whistle blower are kept private and confidential during all investigations.
  • After prosecution proceedings have been carried out and a win has achieved in favor of the government, the whistle blower can be awarded between 15% and 30% of the settlement or verdict amount.

This particular type of whistleblower case is referred to as a “Qui Tam” lawsuit. It is where whistle blowers are rewarded for recovering money that rightfully belongs to the government.

Experienced Qui Tam lawyers, or whistleblower lawyers, are typically used when reporting fraud against the federal or state government. These lawyers are expected to advise you on your legal rights and ensure that your identity and personal details are protected during the process.

Schleifman Law provides legal advice on whistle blowing

If you are ready to blow the whistle on fraudulent activity against the federal or state government, ensure that you obtain legal advice from one of our whistleblower attorneys. We will advise you on the process involved and ensure that we are there to represent you every step of the way.

For more information and advice on whistle blowing laws and protection for whistle blowers in Virginia, contact us via email or telephone at Schleifman Law today.

What can a civil litigation attorney assist you with?

Posted on : February 8, 2016

Having breach of contract problems? Faced with a dispute over a commercial lease? Who do you turn to? In the business world it can be hard to know just what type of lawyer or attorney you need, when faced with these types of situations. Our business attorneys at Schleifman Law often encounter clients looking to find an attorney, without understanding the services offered by each type of attorney. This can lead to wasted time and frustration.

Let’s take a look at civil litigation attorneys. A civil litigation attorney can assist you with a variety of disputes and scenarios as follows:

  • Whistleblower, false claims and Qui Tam litigation.
  • Breach of contract, material breach of contract, breach of contract damages.
  • Commercial lease disputes.
  • Real estate and construction litigation.
  • Unfair trade practices and business torts.

As such, civil litigation attorneys deal with non-criminal law suits. Their job is to ensure that all the correct legal steps are taken when filing and pursuing a law suit of a business or commercial nature. They are qualified to provide legal advice and ensure that you are advised as to whether your specific case is best taken to court or settled outside of court. Your civil litigation attorney will also be able to represent you in court – which is certainly advised when encountered by any of the abovementioned legal issues.

Civil litigation services offered by Schleifman Law in Fairfax County 

At Schleifman Law in Fairfax County we provide our clients with professional civil litigation services provided by qualified and experienced civil litigation lawyers. Simply bring your legal situation or claim to us and we will ensure that it is legally handled and processed correctly. With the assistance of one of our business attorneys on your side, you stand to achieve a more suitable outcome.

If you would like to discuss your case and gain legal advice from one of our business law attorneys, contact us via email or telephone at Schleifman Law today.

A legal guide to selling your business

Posted on : February 1, 2016

Advice on selling your business from qualified and experienced business law attorneys: Selling your business might be the ideal exit strategy for you, but there are various requirements and legal obligations that you must meet before the sale can be successfully processed. Ensuring that all of your bases are covered should be your very first step. You can do this by preparing a sales agreement. The sales agreement is essential to the purchaser as it contains all of the terms of the purchase including a list of stocks and assets being handed over. It is important that you have your dedicated business attorneys read the document over or handle its preparation on your behalf.

A typical business sales agreement should address / include the following:

  • Name of the business as well as the full details of the seller and buyer.
  • Background information on all parties.
  • List of assets and inventory included in the sale.
  • The sale cost expected from the purchaser and terms of the payment (how the amount will be paid over to you).
  • Non-compete agreement to protect the interests of the purchaser.
  • Representation and warranties of both buyer and seller.
  • Contingencies.
  • List of all fees involved, including that of broker’s commissions.
  • Date that the business will officially close or change ownership.

Below are a few tips on selling your business:

  • Set a reasonable price in place – be realistic or you will frighten potential buyers away with the cost.
  • Keep tax deductions in mind. Many people are surprised to find a large chunk of their earnings must go to tax. How your business is set up legally (is it a CC, LLC or similar?) and whether you sell it inclusive of assets or not, will affect the tax amount due. Chat with a CPA to find out just how much you will lose to tax, before you look for a buyer.
  • Ensure that you have your legal documentation in order for the sale. You need to be prepared if you find a suitable buyer. Ensure that you have a sales agreement already roughly drawn up by your small business attorney.

Get legal advice for selling your business from Fairfax County business attorneys, Schleifman Law

If you would like to sell your business, there are steps to be followed to ensure that everything is handled legally. At Schleifman Law we are experienced in business law and have prepared many buy/sell agreements and negotiated, drafted and counseled on a multitude of sales and purchase agreements. We have experience in working with large multi-national companies as well as small businesses.

For more information and legal advice on selling your Fairfax County business, contact us via email or telephone at Schleifman Law today.

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