If you are an Amazon seller, you’ve probably experienced all kinds of operational and technical issues along your journey. Maybe you’ve encountered difficulties with VAT registration, unjustified account suspensions, or had trouble with IP and trademark registration processes related to your brand. Regardless of the nature of the difficulties, all Amazon sellers can benefit from having an experienced and professional legal team to support them along the way and address issues as they arise. Having a good lawyer in your corner is also necessary if you decide to sell your business. But it’s crucial to carefully plan for this scenario in advance.
Whether you’re taking the first steps to set up a legal entity for a new e-commerce venture or need make sure that your Asset Purchase Agreement is worded exactly as it should be, finding good legal representation as early as possible is crucial. And given the multitude of lawyers and law firms in the field, it is easy to become overwhelmed. When choosing a law firm, it’s important to understand that there are many practice areas and further specialized knowledge of regulations, norms, and rulings is needed when approaching a specific industry vertical. The right partner will make sure there is no exposure to any undesired liability, align expectations with third parties, and leverage their experience and all the available tools to help you achieve the desired outcome.
NUOPTIMA’s experts have created this guide to help Amazon sellers, e-commerce retailers, and other online business owners to find legal representation. Below, you can find a list of the best law firms known for their for attention to detailed, strict adherence to timetimes, professionalism and industry expertise. We have tried to collect a variety of practices that represent different firm sizes, offering a variety of services in different areas of the law.
Founded by Kenneth Eade, a lawyer with over 30 years of experience, this practice specializes in Amazon Accounts Suspensions appeals, listings suspensions, arbitration, and more.
Conclusions
Getting a lawyer is probably one of the first tasks on an entrepreneur’s to-do list, and justifiably so. However, as a business continues to evolve, the owner’s needs will change over time. Similarly, the owner may change their vision for the company and decide to take a step in a different direction. While the original lawyer or law firm may be competent enough to still be able to effectively represent the business after the change, their skillset may not have much depth in the direction the firm has taken. Thus, it may be necessary to find new representation.
There are many instances in which having proper legal assistance can make the difference between successfully completing a business transaction and potentially having to deal with the consequences of an incorrectly written legal document that exposes you to liability. Good legal counsel acts as an insurance policy that addresses issues as they arise and ultimately protects your business from potential problems. For instance, when it comes to Amazon FBA, an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer can help you appeal unjustified account or listings suspensions.
In all likelyhood, choosing a law firm with an established presence and credibility will set your business up for success. Among the various parameters that should be taken into account, specialization in a given practice area and industry knowledge will go a long way in addressing the needs of business owners seeking council. The breadth of services offered is another important aspect that should be carefully evaluated, as you need to select a company that suits your business needs. In this regard, vertically focused practices often have a lot to offer, as usually offer a higher number of specific services within the same firm – from contract drafting to case appeals, IP litigation, corporate development, and financing structures.
In any case, each e-commerce business owner should take some time to thoroughly review all options and identify the one most suited to their needs.
FAQ
This article is intended for all business owners, but those operating in the e-commerce and Amazon FBA spaces will find it particularly insightful. Business owners lacking proper guidance can find it especially helpful, as this page presents all preeminent law firms practicing in these verticals highlighted by specialty area and vertical coverage.
With specific exceptions, the size of a law firm can be considered a proxy for the breadth of the services offered and verticals covered. It is advisable to find the right balance based on the specific needs of the business. A business operating solely in the Amazon FBA space may have little use for a larger firm covering the entire e-commerce space. Certain practices may offer more relevant services given their specialization in addition to what’s standard for law firms in the industry. However, a global e-commerce focused law practice may be a better choice should the business owners decide to start selling beyond Amazon FBA at some point in the future.
Generally speaking, no. There may be a few exceptions (such as in the case of court appearances) when relying on a local partner will likely be the optimal choice, but for the average e-commerce seller, the geography of the legal council should not matter too much if they handle platform-specific issues. But if you experience issues with a specific division of a marketplace, for example, Amazon.de, it may be advisable to seek local representation.
