- Child SupportSeale & Ross can assist you with any paternity matters that you are faced with. This includes filing the appropriate matters for a determination of paternity. This crucial determination of whether you are the biological parent of a child comes with many responsibilities. Seale & Ross' family law attorneys can assist you with any child support matters and custody matters as well. Our attorneys will fight for you when necessary to ensure you have your day in court and a determination is made in the best interest of your child. In addition to child support, spousal support may also be an issue in your case. Our attorneys can advise you what outcomes to expect and will prepare you for trial on all issues including support.
- Paternity
- Premarital AgreementSeale & Ross' family law attorneys can provide you sound legal advice including pre-planning for an upcoming marriage by ensuring that you are advised of Louisiana law before you say, “I do!” Our attorneys advise you about, then draft and file prenuptial agreements, declarations of paraphernality. We provide exemplary legal advice on how to maintain any separate assets you have prior to your nuptials or even how to handle separate debts of your soon-to-be spouse before you are married.
- Spousal Support
- Theft
- Embezzlement
- Corporate LawWhen businesses reach the level of success where they are considering expansion by acquiring other businesses, Seale & Ross' corporate law attorneys can guide the process of negotiation and due diligence investigation of the acquisition target, working with management and the firm’s accounting and banking advisors.
- Business DisputesCommercial litigation involves virtually every type of dispute that can arise in the business context, including breach of contract cases, partnership or joint business venture disputes, class actions, business torts, civil RICO claims, breach of fiduciary duty allegations, commercial contract litigation, and shareholder issues. We use an efficient and creative approach to intelligently position these disputes on behalf of our clients, whether they are “bet-the-company” cases or more discrete matters. Our firm handles everything from small to complex business disputes, including shareholder derivative lawsuits, commercial contract litigation, and claims against officers and directors.
- Business TransactionsBecause so many business transactions have tax implications, we have a board-certified tax specialist who provides counsel to business clients on federal and state taxation, and credits and incentives that may be available to them, such as the Angel Investor Tax Credit, Restoration Tax Abatement, Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, Enterprise Zone credits, and research and development credits.
- Limited Liability Companies
- Trade Secrets
- Intellectual Property
- Unfair Competition
- Workers Compensation
- Employment Discrimination
- Employment ContractWe provide general consulting and legal counsel to a variety of businesses, both small and large. Companies in the start-up phase may need counsel related to entity formation. We guide clients in the development of corporate governance documents such as by-laws or operating agreements. We also advise on employment contracts for critical employees. Even experienced businesses often need guidance to review contracts or draft business agreements. Both new and existing businesses benefit from our knowledge of banking; we often negotiate improved credit arrangements with our clients’ existing lenders, or assist those clients in finding new or additional lenders to help them expand their businesses.
- Employment LitigationSeale & Ross helps businesses defend lawsuits by current or former employees, including claims of discrimination (based on disability, age, race, etc.), retaliation, equal pay violations, harassment, and whistleblower and other federal and state law violations. We also represent employers who must institute litigation against a former employee for various acts, including violation of a non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreements, or improper use of confidential information and trade secrets.
- Sexual Harassment
- Real Estate LitigationWe have experience litigating a wide array of real estate matters, such as boundary disputes, subdivision regulations and restrictions, and title or possessory actions.
- Construction LitigationWhen negotiation fails, we resolve issues involving all of these areas in court. Past lawsuits have worked to resolve boundary disputes, neighbor disagreements, spite strips, right to cross neighbor’s property, lease rights, damage to property, construction defects, foreclosure, drainage disputes, and trespass. We further protect our clients’ real estate interests as co- owners and creditors in bankruptcy court.
- Eminent Domain
- Land Use and Zoning
- Personal InjurySeale & Ross handles personal injury claims on behalf of clients who have been injured, whether it be in a car accident, a slip and fall, or any other type of injury.
- Auto Accidents
- Disability Discrimination
- Estate PlanningDo you need estate planning? The state of Louisiana has a default estate plan for all of us, but it’s not ideal for most.
- Wills. Louisiana’s inheritance tax was repealed, but the federal transfer or estate tax is still with us. A Last Will and Testament (or properly-drafted revocable or living trust) is the only mechanism by which you can defer the estate tax by making use of the marital deduction. We have many more tools in the toolbox here, as well, that can be employed depending on the client’s circumstances.
- Trusts. A power of attorney or comprehensive revocable or living trust can provide for an agent to step in should you become unable to manage your affairs. Powers granted to the agent can be limited or they may be general, covering all matters. Together with a medical power of attorney, the general power will provide for continuity of affairs should you become unable to manage.
- Power of AttorneyDuring the initial stage of acquisition, we give extensive attention to the title and our clients’ intended use of the target real estate to determine early on any issues which may adversely affect our client’s plans. Such work includes examination and determination of issues including ownership, title, wetlands, environmental issues, subdivision, survey, zoning, construction, driveways, title insurance, utility and road access, and flood matters. We prepare documents to complete the acquisition of real estate, including sales, purchase agreements, deeds, property use agreements, mortgages, ownership agreements, donations, quitclaims, bonds for deed, resolutions, and powers of attorney. We design and implement transfers of real estate holdings to the next business or family generation by use of holding companies, limited liability companies, trusts, wills, 1031 exchanges, and inter-company transfers. After acquisition, we assist in construction of improvements, obtaining zoning and planning approval, and lien avoidance.
- Probate
- Bankruptcy
- ForeclosureOur attorneys are also experienced in litigation in the real estate arena. We have represented real estate owners, buyers, sellers, lessors, lenders, homeowners and condominium associations and developers in litigation involving contract disputes, mechanics liens and construction disputes, title disputes, loan service and foreclosure issues, and bankruptcy.
- Tax Law
- Debt CollectionOnce a bankruptcy petition is filed, the law imposes an automatic stay of all debt collection activities. This automatic stay acts as an injunction against creditors, preventing even state court actions already in progress from going forward. An unrepresented creditor may find itself in violation of the automatic stay because of its seemingly innocent acts.