CORPORATE LAW
A corporation is a legal entity created under state law, usually for the purpose of conducting business. The law treats a corporation as a person that can sue or be sued. A corporation is separate from its individual owners, or shareholders, who own stock in the company.
Corporate law encompasses all of the legal issues that corporations can face. Corporations are subject to numerous regulations they must follow in order to enoy the tax and other benefits corporations receive. Most states require corporations to conduct annual meetings with their shareholders, and many require more frequent meetings of the board of directors and the corporation's officers. Most corporations have an attorney present at all of these meetings to ensure that the corporation complies with all state and federal requirements.
In addition to these unique corporate law issues, corporations also face all of the legal issues that other businesses face. These issues can include employment law issues, contract disputes, product liability, intellectual property management, and others. Smaller corporations may be able to hire a single attorney with broad experience to handle all of the corporation's legal issues. Larger corporations, however, may need a team of lawyers with different specialties to handle daily contract, employment, and business issues.