Juggling Work and a Lawsuit: 3 Tips for Entrepreneurs

Whether you’re navigating a personal injury lawsuit or dealing with a complex business dispute, managing legal battles while running a company can be incredibly stressful. Still, with the right strategies, there’s no reason why you can’t handle both your business and legal matters effectively.

Here are 3 such strategies.

Keep Work and Legal Stuff Separate

Mixing work with legal issues can turn into a huge mess quickly. By keeping them separate, you can give both the attention they deserve without getting overwhelmed.

So:

• You want to pick certain times of the day to deal with your legal issues, like early morning or late afternoon, so they don’t interfere with your main business hours.
• Use different email accounts or tools for business and legal matters. This means you stay organized and can mentally separate the two.
• If possible, set up different spaces for work and legal tasks. Having a designated spot for legal stuff can really help you switch gears more easily.

Get Professional Help

Trying to handle both a lawsuit and your business can be too much. Getting the right help means you don’t miss important details or opportunities.

So:

• You want to find a lawyer who specializes in your type of legal issue. Make sure they communicate well and keep you updated with clear strategies.
• A business advisor can help you keep your operations on track and offer strategies to deal with the extra pressure.
• Schedule regular meetings with your lawyer and advisor to stay on top of things. These check-ins really help you stay informed and plan your next steps.

Be Open with Your Team

Being transparent with your team and stakeholders builds trust and keeps everyone in the loop, reducing uncertainty and speculation.

So:

• You want to have meetings with key team members and stakeholders to explain what’s going on. Be clear about how the lawsuit might impact the business and any changes that might be necessary.
• Keep everyone informed with regular updates through emails, briefings, or team meetings. This means you help manage expectations and keep morale high.
• Create a space where your team feels comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns. Address their questions openly but avoid sharing sensitive legal details.
• Work with your team to develop backup plans for critical projects that might be affected by the lawsuit. This really shows leadership and helps your team feel prepared.
• Keep a record of all communications about the lawsuit, including meeting notes and emails so that things are clear and you have a reference if any issues come up.

Balancing work and a lawsuit isn’t easy, but it’s totally doable with the right approach. By keeping your work and legal matters separate, getting professional help, and being open with your team, you can get through this tough period without letting either side suffer.