Launch Loudoun Lunch and Learn: Essentials of Law for Small Business
Join us for a practical overview of the legal fundamentals every business should know. Designed for non-lawyers and targeted toward small business owners and entrepreneurs, it demystifies key legal concepts, from choosing the right business structure to protecting your assets, so you can make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and build your business on a solid legal foundation.
By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
- Identify the right business structure — Understand the differences between sole proprietorships, LLCs, partnerships, and corporations, and how each affects liability and taxes.
- Protect their business with essential contracts — Recognize which agreements (client contracts, NDAs, vendor agreements) are critical and what key clauses to look for.
- Understand employment law basics — Know the difference between employees and independent contractors, and be aware of wage, hiring, and workplace compliance obligations.
- Safeguard intellectual property — Learn the basics of trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and how to protect what makes their business unique.
- Navigate business licensing and permits — Identify the registrations, licenses, and permits commonly required to operate legally.
- Recognize when to call a lawyer — Know which legal situations require professional counsel versus what can be handled independently
Meet Your Presenter
Wright Lewis is a Partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig where he focuses his practice on mergers & acquisitions, venture capital, and outside general counsel services for entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized businesses. He advises clients across the full business lifecycle, from entity formation and capital raises to business sales, with particular depth in the government contracting, software, and technology sectors.
Wright has advised on transactions ranging from seed financings for early-stage SaaS startups to multi-million dollar private equity acquisitions, including deals totaling over $150M in transaction value. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland.
A Loudoun County native, Wright is a member of the 2024 Loudoun “40 Under 40” class and serves as General Counsel to the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. He holds a J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Virginia Tech.