Small Business Committee

The Small Business Committee is organized to assist business lawyers in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties with the practical implications of the delivery of legal services and general counseling to growing business enterprises. The Committee recognizes that small business owners look to their attorneys for advice on a wide range of subjects from structuring an initial business plan, to counseling on exit strategies.


Chair

Katayun I. Jaffari
Ballard Spahr LLP
1735 Market Street
51st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 864-8475
jaffarik@ballardspahr.com

Executive Committee Liaison

Rachel E. Branson
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
1600 Market Street, Suite 3600
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
O: 215-751-2438
rbranson@schnader.com


Recent Events

  • Choosing the "Right" Form of Business Entity

    Small Business Committee Meeting

    Featured Speakers:
    Katayun I. Jaffari, Esquire
    Ballard Spahr LLP

    At this meeting we will hear from Katayun Jaffari of Ballard Spahr, who will address the considerations with respect to choosing an entity type. She will review the advantages and disadvantages or various legal entity forms as well as discuss the considerations that are most important when choosing the form to create for a new business.

    A discussion regarding the Committee's initiatives for the new year will also be discussed. Please note the meetings are open to any member of the Philadelphia Bar Association that would like to attend, please tell your colleagues!

    Date:
    Wednesday, December 12, 2012

    Time
    8:30 a.m.

    Location:
    Ballard Spahr LLP
    1735 Market Street
    51st Floor


Past Events

  • Small Business Financing 101

    Solo and Small Firm Committee CLE Program

    This program is co-sponsored by the Small Business Committee of the Business Law Section.

    Featured Speakers:
    Darren Sudman, Esq.
    Partner, Multifunding, Broad Axe
    Barbara Anne Gardenshire-Mills
    Economic Development & Lender Relations Specialist
    Small Business Administration, King of Prussia
    Samantha Arland
    Business Express Lending Specialist
    Fox Chase Bank, West Chester

    Whether you are purchasing a new printer for your law office, or helping a client buy a fleet of company vehicles, knowing what financing options and resources are available is critical. During this informative session, industry experts will teach you how to access the capital you and your clients need for business transition and growth, including:

    • Financing options
    • The lending process
    • How to obtain the best interest rates

    The program has been approved for 1.0 Substantive CLE credit. Participants wishing to receive the CLE credit will be required to pay a fee of $25.00 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for more than five years and $20.00 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for less than five years. Interested parties not seeking CLE credit may attend and purchase lunch through the Philadelphia Bar Association. Please make CLE tuition checks payable to the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

    Date:
    Tuesday, October 9, 2012

    Time
    12:30 p.m.

    Location:
    Philadelphia Bar Association
    1101 Market Street
    11th Floor Conference Center
    Philadelphia, PA 19107

  • Succession Planning for Privately Owned Businesses

    Small Business Committee Meeting

    Featuring:
    Harold Floyd
    Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center

    At this meeting we will hear from Harold Floyd, Business Solution Advisor at the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, who will address some of the non-legal considerations with respect to succession planning for privately owned businesses. By far one of the greatest challenges in small business succession planning is the poorly planned and ultimately incorrect fashion that small businesses are handed-off to successors, including family members, who are ill prepared to handle it. Learn about the challenges and how you can assist your clients in handling them.

    We will also review our initiatives for the remainder of the year. Please note that our meetings are open to any member of the Philadelphia Bar Association that would like to attend, please tell your colleagues!

    Date:
    Thursday, July 12, 2012

    Time
    8:30 a.m.

    Location:
    Ballard Spahr LLP
    1735 Market Street
    51st Floor
    Philadelphia, PA 19103

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  • Considerations regarding the America Invents Act and how to help your clients

    Small Business Committee Meeting

    Featuring:
    Mark Vogelbacker
    Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP

    At this meeting, we will hear from Mark Vogelbacker, a patent attorney with Panitch Schwarze Belisario and Nadel. Mr. Vogelbacker will provide a brief overview of the America Invents Act signed September 16, 2011, which significantly changes many aspects of US patent laws for the first time since 1952. Parts of the act are already in effect and other parts phase in by March 16, 2013. Learn about the "first inventor to file" provisions and other important provisions that general business attorneys should be aware of to effectively counsel their clients regarding patent protection for their inventions.

    We will also review our initiatives for the remainder of the year. Please note that our meetings are open to any member of the Philadelphia Bar Association that would like to attend, please tell your colleagues!

    Date:
    Wednesday, May 23, 2012

    Time
    8:30 a.m.

    Location:
    Ballard Spahr LLP
    1735 Market Street
    51st Floor
    Philadelphia, PA 19103

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  • 2012 Planning Meeting

    Small Business Committee Meeting

    Do you represent small businesses in the areas of transactional law, litigation, real estate, intellectual property - or any other disciplines? Can you share your insights with your fellow Philadelphia Bar Association colleagues? Do you currently or hope in the future to represent small businesses in these areas?

    It is time to plan for 2012 and the work of the Small Business Committee. Current suggestions are for quarterly meetings covering new topics such as the nuts and bolts of real estate considerations for small business and litigation management and avoidance for small businesses. A business clinic is on the drawing board as well as ideas to work with other committees of the Business Law Section. Law students are the future of our profession and so consideration on getting them involved is in the works as well.

    Date:
    Wednesday, March 07, 2012

    Time
    8:30 a.m.

    Location:
    Ballard Spahr LLP
    1735 Market Street
    51st Floor
    Philadelphia, PA 19103


Past Events Archive