Areas of Practice

Abbott, Thomson & Beer, PLC is a general practice law firm, which serves its clients in most areas of the law. If you need assistance in an area of the law which we do not handle, we will refer you to another firm specializing in that area. Although we have experience in most legal matters, our expertise lies in the following specific areas:

business & Corporate:

Abbott, Thomson & Beer, PLC has extensive experience representing business clients in all stages of development, from start-up ventures to large corporations, with respect to a wide range of business transactions and relationships. The firm cultivates among its attorneys an aggressive, innovative and practical approach to business consulting and problem solving for clients. This includes, but is not limited to Business Finance, Formation and Organization, Employee Benefits, Environmental Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Non-Profit Organizations, and Taxation. The firm represents a number of business clients with interests in Asia, Central and South America and Europe. Please contact us for more information.

labor & Employment:

Our firm emphasizes the representation of employer interests in both private and public sectors. Our attorneys work with employers to develop employment practices and policies that comply with the numerous federal, state and local employment related statutes, such as Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA), Title VII and other civil rights statutes. The firm’s practice includes the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, arbitration of contract disputes and representation of clients with respect to unfair labor practice charges. When needed, the firm represents clients in administrative proceedings and federal or state lawsuits.

We also advise and consult our clients with respect to the design, implementation and administration of employee pension and welfare benefit plans governed by ERISA, including 401(k), pension and profit sharing plans, self funded and insured health and dental plans, cafeteria plans, long term disability plans, dependent care plans, life insurance plans, and severance plans and programs. The firm advises clients with respect to compliance with COBRA, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and other federal and state laws affecting employee benefits. The firm also represents clients with disputed claims for benefits, from the administrative process through litigation, if necessary. Please contact us for more information.

commercial litigation:

A significant portion of our litigation practice is devoted to business and commercial litigation. With decades of combined litigation experience, we have handled a wide range of disputes, including but not limited to the following: commercial and business disputes; contract and Uniform Commercial Code; non-compete, confidentiality and other restrictive covenants; unfair competition and business defamation; misappropriation of trade secret and proprietary information and real estate and/or construction disputes.

Avoiding court by limiting or preventing liability is a key element of our approach to business disputes. To fully address our clients and their particular business needs, our attorneys also explore the risks and benefits associated with cost-effective strategies, such as alternative dispute resolution, mediation and arbitration. Our attorneys have the expertise and skills necessary to effectively represent your interests in any administrative tribunal, state or federal trial court, or in an appeals court. Please contact us for more information.

Collections:

We represent local, regional, and national creditors and provide both pre-legal and legal services. Our collections practice includes retail and commercial collections, purchased account collections, subrogation, and bankruptcy proceedings. Please contact us for more information.

Real estate:

Abbott, Thomson & Beer, PLC has a comprehensive real estate practice and represents residential and commercial real estate developers, residential and commercial landlords and tenants, farmers, real estate brokers and agents, property managers, and various mortgage lenders. Services that the firm provides include counseling, planning and drafting documentation in the acquisition or disposition of properties, including: § 1031 tax deferred like-kind exchanges; commercial and residential leasing, development of condominium projects, platting, zoning, property tax assessment, condemnations, and construction projects. The firm regularly provides title opinions to purchasers of property, lenders, and title insurance companies. Our real estate practice also involves litigation in the foreclosure of mortgages, enforcement of leases, property tax assessment disputes, easement and title disputes, and condemnation proceedings. Please contact us for more information.

construction Law:

Abbott, Thomson & Beer, PLC has broad experience representing owners, design professionals, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. The firm has defended and prosecuted claims on behalf of owners, engineers, architects, general contractors, and suppliers. The firm also represents many of these persons with respect to the negotiation and drafting of construction contracts, performance and payment bonds, mechanic liens, and other construction matters.  Please contact us for more information.

estate planning:

Our attorneys provide personalized counseling to help our clients develop estate plans that minimize gift, estate, generation-skipping and income taxes consistent with each client’s financial situation and desire for disposition of their estate. Our attorneys have extensive experience in the preparation of estate plans for estates of all sizes and levels of sophistication. Our estate planning services include preparation of wills, revocable trusts, insurance trusts, charitable remainder or lead trusts, business control succession planning, retirement plan distribution planning, asset ownership and preservation recommendations, and the formation and operation of private foundations. As part of the estate planning process, our attorneys also advise clients with respect to mental disability planning, including the preparation of powers of attorney for business affairs and health care and living wills, and the establishment and administration of guardianships and conservatorships. Please contact us if we can help you or a loved one.

School and Education Law:

Abbott, Thomson & Beer, PLC, provides a full range of legal services to schools and educational institutions, representing the majority of school districts in Jackson County. This experience allows us to provide our clients with comprehensive and knowledgeable legal analysis of the issues facing local school boards and administrators. As a local law firm with local attorneys, our lawyer’s families and friends are frequently directly affected by the counsel we provide. Consequently, our level of dedication to the success of local educational institutions cannot be matched by other law firms. Please contact us if we can be of assistance to you.