Business

How a Lawyer Can Protect Your Business Against Criminal Charges

  • October 28, 2022
  • 6 min read
How a Lawyer Can Protect Your Business Against Criminal Charges

Running a business can be difficult enough without having to worry about criminal charges. However, as a business owner, you should be aware of the risks that come with operating a company. If you are not sure how to protect your business against criminal charges, don’t worry! A lawyer can help. In this article, we will discuss how a lawyer can help your business stay out of trouble with the law.

Understand the risks

The first step in protecting your business against criminal charges is to understand the risks. Every business has different risks, so it is important to sit down with your lawyer and discuss what these are. Once you have a good understanding of the risks, you can start to put together a plan to avoid them.

One of the best ways to protect your business against criminal charges is to have a good compliance program in place. This means that you have procedures and policies in place that help to prevent illegal activity from occurring. Having a strong compliance program will show the courts that you are serious about preventing crime, which can help to reduce the penalties if your company is charged with a crime.

Develop a relationship with a lawyer

One of the best ways to protect your business against criminal charges is to develop a relationship with a lawyer. You should have a lawyer that you can call on when you need advice or help with your case. Having a lawyer on retainer can be helpful, as they will already be familiar with your company and your case. This can help to save time if you are ever charged with a crime. Namely, if you are working with a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas, TX that you have used in the past, they will be able to get started on your case right away. Your lawyer can also help you to understand the risks that your business faces and how to avoid them. They can also assist you in developing a compliance program and help you to choose the right insurance policy. If you are ever charged with a crime, your lawyer will be there to help you through the process and advocate on your behalf.

Get insurance

Another way to protect your business against criminal charges is to get insurance. There are a variety of different policies that you can purchase, and your lawyer can help you to choose the right one for your company. Insurance can help to cover the costs of defending your business if it is charged with a crime.

In addition, your insurance policy may also cover the cost of any damages that you are ordered to pay if your company is found guilty. These damages can include things like restitution to the victim, fines, and even jail time.

Take precautions

There are a number of things that you can do to protect your business against criminal charges. The best way to protect your company is to take precautions and be proactive. 

You should have a compliance program in place, get insurance, and develop a relationship with a lawyer. Taking these steps will help to reduce the chances that your business will be charged with a crime. Namely, among the most common types of crimes businesses commit are tax fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, and bribery.

Tax fraud

One of the most common types of crimes that businesses commit is tax fraud. This is when a company tries to avoid paying taxes by reporting false information on their taxes. This can include things like underreporting income, overstating expenses, or claiming deductions that they are not entitled to. If you are caught committing tax fraud, you could be subject to criminal charges.

In addition, you may also be required to pay back any taxes that you owe, plus interest and penalties. You could also face jail time if you are convicted of tax fraud.

Money laundering

Another type of crime that businesses can commit is money laundering. This is when a company tries to hide the source of its income by moving it through a series of bank accounts or shell companies. This can be done to avoid paying taxes on the income or to hide the source of the money. Money laundering is a serious crime and can lead to criminal charges. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your business does not engage in this type of activity.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is another type of crime that businesses can commit. This is when someone steals money from their employer. This can be done by taking money from the till, falsifying expenses, or stealing company property. Embezzlement is a serious crime and can lead to criminal charges. The penalties for embezzlement can include jail time and restitution. Also, the victim of the crime can sue the company for damages.

Bribery

Bribery is another type of crime that businesses can commit. This is when someone offers a bribe to influence the actions of another person. This can be done in order to get a contract or to influence a government official. Bribery is a serious crime and can lead to criminal charges.

While bribery, embezzlement, and money laundering are federal offenses, tax fraud is handled by the IRS. If you are caught committing any of these crimes, you could be subject to criminal charges.

Keep good records

Another important way to protect your business against criminal charges is to keep good records. This means that you should keep track of everything that goes on in your company. This includes financial records, employee records, and any other records that could be used to prove your innocence if your company is charged with a crime.

For instance,  if your company is accused of embezzlement, having good financial records will be essential in proving your innocence. Good records can also help to show that you have a strong compliance program in place.

As a business owner, it is important to be aware of the risks that come with operating a company. If you are not sure how to protect your business against criminal charges, you should speak with a lawyer. They can help you to understand the risks and put together a plan to avoid them. taking these steps will help to reduce the chances that your business will be charged with a crime.

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