Local business attorney Jeanette Bowers Weaver shares helpful details for companies who are researching legal counsel overall for their business or for specific contract matters, understanding the difference between the two and helping you to find the best legal support for your specific business.
When Do I Need a Business Attorney vs. a Contract Attorney?
Business owners often ask whether they need a business attorney or a contract attorney. In practice, the more important question is whether the legal guidance you receive reflects how your business actually operates, today and in the future.
Jeanette Bowers Weaver works directly with business owners throughout Seattle, Bellevue, and the Eastside, helping them make informed legal decisions that are practical, forward-looking, and grounded in Washington law. Many clients come to Bowers Law with a specific issue, such as a contract review, and find the invaluable nature of having an attorney who understands the full picture of their business – advising them on a diverse range of business and contract matters.
The Role of a Business Attorney: Strategic Guidance, Not Just Legal Forms
A business attorney’s role extends beyond paperwork. It involves understanding how your business functions, where risk exists, and how legal decisions today affect your ability to grow, sell, or transition the business later.
Jeanette regularly advises clients on:
- Business formation and entity selection, including helping founders weigh liability protection, tax considerations, and long-term flexibility
- Ownership structures and partner agreements that reflect real working relationships, not just ideal ones
- Ongoing legal guidance for established businesses that want consistency without maintaining in-house counsel
- Planning for changes such as bringing on investors, transferring ownership, or preparing for a future sale
For example, a Bellevue-based professional services firm may initially need help selecting the right entity. As the business grows, that same firm may need guidance on partner buy-in terms, profit distribution, and succession planning, issues that benefit from working closely with a business attorney who has been involved from the start.
The Role of a Contract Attorney: Clarity, Protection, and Leverage
Contracts often reflect the most immediate legal risk for a business. A contract attorney’s role is not just to “review language,” but to ensure the agreement accurately reflects the business deal, and protects your interests if something goes wrong.
As your local contract attorney, Jeanette works with clients on:
- Drafting and negotiating client, vendor, and service agreements
- Reviewing commercial leases and long-term commitments
- Identifying risk in contracts that were downloaded, reused, or inherited from prior relationships
- Resolving disputes when contract terms are unclear or contested
In the Seattle area, this often includes reviewing agreements shaped by fast-moving industries such as technology, consulting, real estate, or professional services where timelines are tight and assumptions can create unintended exposure.
Why the Distinction Isn’t Always Clear—and Why That Matters
In many cases, business and contract issues are inseparable.
A contract may look straightforward on its face, but the implications of that agreement i.e. liability, ownership rights and termination obligations, can directly affect the structure and future of the business. Likewise, business decisions often require contracts that reinforce those decisions.
Jeanette’s clients value having an attorney who can address both perspectives, rather than narrowly focusing on one document or issue in isolation. This integrated approach helps prevent problems that don’t appear until months or years later.
Local Insight Makes a Difference in Washington State
Washington law presents unique considerations that directly affect both business and contract matters. For example:
- Non-compete and non-solicitation agreements are subject to specific state restrictions
- Contract enforcement can depend heavily on how agreements are drafted and negotiated
- Local business practices in Seattle and the Eastside often influence how disputes are resolved, long before litigation becomes an option
Having an attorney who regularly works with businesses in King County and surrounding areas provides practical insight that generic legal resources cannot.
How Clients Decide What They Need
Clients often come to Bowers Law asking one of the following:
- “I have a contract, can you tell me if this is standard?”
- “I’m starting a business and want to make sure I’m setting it up correctly.”
- “This agreement worked fine when we were small, but it doesn’t fit anymore.”
Jeanette’s role is to help clients understand not only what the law says, but how it applies to their specific situation, and what steps will best support their goals.
If you’re unsure whether your situation calls for business counsel, contract support, or both, an initial conversation can help clarify the path forward.
Legal Guidance Designed Around Your Business
Jeanette works with business owners who want clear, thoughtful legal advice from an attorney who is personally involved in their matters. Whether you need help with a single contract or ongoing business guidance, the focus is always on protecting what you’re building—now and in the future. Contact Jeanette to learn more about her extensive business and contract law services throughout the Seattle area.