Corporate Finance Lawyers

• Corporate finance law is the area of law relating to the funding of businesses. Specifically, the term "corporate" finance refers to the financing of corporations. Generally, the subject includes banking laws and regulations, investment models and financial matters. Corporate lawyers perform legal functions relating to corporate law. Thus, corporate lawyers handle the creation of corporations, the structuring of corporate transactions, the related tax implications of any corporate dealings and the negotiation and advisement of all legal matters stemming from the corporation's business.
  
  

Background and Education

• Corporate finance lawyers have juris doctorate degrees and a license to practice law in the state in which they practice. Some corporate finance lawyers have an advanced law degree, referred to as a "Master of Laws" in related subjects such as taxation, business law or international law. Corporate finance lawyers take specialized continuing legal education courses.
  
  

Specifics

• Corporate finance lawyers also do more specific tasks which relate to the finances of the business. These lawyers also manage state and federal securities laws triggered by the corporation's business affairs. The lawyer advises the corporation on how to raise capital in order to fund the business.
  
  

Types of Corporate Finance Cases

• Corporate finance attorneys handle various types of issues and cases. For instance, cases involving how a not-for-profit corporation can invest in a for-profit entity while maintaining its IRS tax-exempt status is one example of a corporate finance case. Additionally, a case relating to the accounting methods used by a banking institution is an area which a corporate finance attorney handles.
  
  

Compensation

• Corporate finance lawyers are compensated in several ways. Initially, they could work on an hourly basis. Secondly, corporate finance lawyers could be compensated pursuant to a retainer agreement. A retainer agreement is a contract in which there are a set number of hours during which the lawyer provides a particular agreed-upon level of services for his client. Finally, while not the norm, corporate finance lawyers could work on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is used when there is an underlying court litigation in which a monetary recovery is expected. If the client receives a certain amount of money, the lawyer receives a percentage of this amount.