5 Times Your Business Should Call A Criminal Lawyer

While managing a business often translates to overseeing employees and focusing on sales, problems can quickly enter the mix of responsibilities. 

Even the most compliant businesses can run into legal challenges that put their reputation on the line. 

If you find yourself in a situation where your business faces a legal threat, you’ll need a business criminal lawyer at your side right away.  

Attempting to fix the problem yourself, especially when you don’t know the legal requirements, can potentially derail your business. Don’t take that risk. 

Stay with us as we unpack the five critical times when your business should call a business criminal lawyer, plus essential do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.

When Should You Contact A Business Criminal Lawyer? 

These are the instances when you must definitely hire a business criminal lawyer. 

1. A Team Member Arrest After A Workplace Incident

Was one of your team members arrested? Maybe there was an altercation with a fellow employee or customer. 

Or perhaps there was an accident at your company or a financial argument. Whatever triggered the arrest, it’s important to take legal protective action. After all, your company could become entangled in the problem.

Reach out to an experienced criminal lawyer and look at your incident reporting policies right away. 

Capture details about the situation through written notes, photographs, and security footage. 

These written and visual details can serve as evidence while demonstrating that you acted responsibly in a fraught moment. 

And ask your lawyer about what rights apply to both you and your employee. You don’t want to state more than you need to when interacting with investigators, for example. 

And you don’t want to make any rash responses. Don’t fire an employee, even if you suspect that they’re complicit in a problem, until you know more. 

2. A DWI Arrest For A Company Driver

When you head a business with a fleet of vehicles, you’ll encounter another set of risks. 

Whether an employee is driving heavy equipment or a delivery truck, they’ll need to practice safe driving habits. 

But if one of your team members is arrested for a DWI, that can result in liability concerns when they’re using one of your company vehicles. You can’t afford to look the other way.

Plan on calling a criminal lawyer with experience in these scenarios. Calling Tad Law defense attorney in League City, for instance, can help you navigate the situation if you’re in Texas. 

Let your insurance company know about what happened, too, and start collecting relevant details, including maintenance documents and driver training information. 

Avoid making public statements since it’s too easy to overstate your involvement or pin blame. 

You’ll want to consult with your lawyer first and be careful with your words. And remember that communicating with insurance and the police is essential. 

Even if you weren’t directly involved in the DWI, your business will be linked to the case.

3. Cybercrime Accusations

The last thing any company wants is to be at the center of a cybercrime scandal. 

Anything from billing issues to fraud and hacking can lead to accusations that harm your business operations. 

You’ll need an attorney working on your behalf quickly in these instances to protect your business’s reputation. 

Make sure your IT networks are secure to keep any breaches from escalating or happening again. 

Keep all records of financial transactions or email correspondence connected to the accusation. 

Gather evidence of employee IT training sessions, IT security protocols, and other indicators of compliance. 

In short, the more documents you have in your support, the better. Just avoid the temptation to try to mend a cybercrime situation before the authorities have had the chance to review all details. 

You don’t want to end up with a tampering accusation, too. 

4. A Target Letter Or Subpoena 

Receiving a target letter is a formal notification that you or your business is under investigation for criminal activity. Worse yet, you could be facing criminal charges. 

When you receive a target letter or subpoena, it’s time to reach out to an experienced legal team. 

Being charged with fraud or a financial crime can tarnish your business’s reputation and cause irreversible damage. 

When you work with an attorney, they’ll be able to decode the letter and explain whether you’re a witness or target within the investigation. 

You’ll need to reach out to employees, too, to alert them to the situation. And you’ll want to gather all physical and electronic documents, such as financial records and emails.  

Yes, a subpoena can be scary, but it’s important to heed the deadlines in your letter and comply with the requests. 

Just be sure to limit what you share with investigators until you have a lawyer at your side.

5. You’re Faced With A Search Warrant

No one wants to see a police officer arrive at your doorstep carrying a search warrant. 

Especially if you’re blindsided by the experience, it’s too easy to respond defensively or say the wrong thing. 

You don’t want to offer any unsolicited opinions or statements that could implicate you or be misinterpreted. 

And if you try to delete any content from your computer or other spaces during a search, you could wind up facing additional problems. 

Instead, request a copy of the warrant to verify that it is real. Cooperate with the federal agents or officers. 

And get a hold of a reliable criminal defense attorney immediately. They should be able to guide you through the situation over the phone if they are unable to join you at the scene. 

Write down everything you witness, including the names of other employees present, as well. 

Know When to Seek Legal Help From A Business Criminal Lawyer

As a business owner, you don’t want to be involved in messy legal situations. 

But sometimes they happen despite your best efforts to run a clean, safe operation. 

You’ll need legal help as soon as the authorities serve you with a:

• Warrant
• Target letter
• Cybercrime accusation

Similarly, if an employee is cited for a workplace incident or DWI, you don’t want to face the legal repercussions alone. 

Stay calm, reach out to an attorney, and be prepared to follow their advice so you can handle the situation well and preserve your business.