Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 N OV E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S L AW "ey have limited budgets," he notes. "We saw that, often, the businesses were not able to afford a lawyer for matters they identified as legal needs." Although some of the legal issues facing food producers have evolved over time, such as food safety regulation, generally speaking the legal landscape isn't much different from any other type of business, Turner notes. "I think it's more that the profit margins remain small or perhaps are even shrinking among farmers and food entrepreneurs, so they're dealing with limited resources and have to make choices," he continues. at might result in food producers not being able to retain legal counsel to deal with standard matters. "Cases we're placing through the Legal Food Hub in Maine typically involve contracts, leases for land or business space, purchase and sale agreements related to real estate, and conservation and agricultural ease- ments," he says. "ere are also cases involving entity formation — how a business chooses to structure itself and protect itself in terms of liability, along with related tax implications. ere are employment and labor issues — making sure they conform with minimum wage and overtime requirements, or know how to work with apprentices and seasonal work- ers. ere are state and federal laws they have to navigate." Intellectual property and trademark law apply to food entrepreneurs — people making value-added products like Rowbottom's specialty cheeses. "ey're often seeking to protect their recipes, their name and their logo," Turner says. "Ideally, you seek to protect those early on so you're not facing an issue later where someone else starts using your recipe, name or logo." Dramatic need In Maine, the hub has placed 165 cases over the past five years. "We've seen a dramatic need and it's not tapering off," Turner says. e hub spreads awareness of its service through outreach to the food and farm community — setting up a table at the Maine Agricultural Trade Show, for example. "We also constantly try to grow our network of volunteer attorneys," says Turner. "We want to reach as many farms and entrepreneurs as we can, and we need a range of lawyer expertise and also lawyers who are geographically available throughout the state." Gain control—estate and financial planning in times of transition Our independent wealth management advisors guide individuals and families in financial matters through life's changing circumstances. Our services include: • FINANCIAL PLANNING • INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT • INSURANCE • ESTATE PLANNING • BUSINESS TRANSITIONS • RETIREMENT PLANS Learn more at berrydunnwm.com Securities offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA / SIPC. Investment advisory services may be offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, a Registered Investment Adviser, and/or BerryDunn Wealth Management, LLC, a Maine and New Hampshire licensed investment adviser. Advisory services offered by BerryDunn Wealth Management, LLC are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Fixed insurance products and services offered through CES Insurance Agency or BerryDunn Wealth Management, LLC. 100 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101. 207-541-2200 Perkins Thompson and Maine Center for Elder Law Join Together to Offer Expanded Services Portland | Kennebunk | perkinsthompson.com Elder Law Bringing together the strengths of two dynamic firms and creating greater value for current and future clients by offering expanded services in elder law, trusts and estates, and special needs planning. Now with convenient offices in Portland and Kennebunk. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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