Business & Commercial Law Services
We can handle representation of businesses on any issue that arises, from startup to day-to-day corporate governance.
When necessary, we represent clients in matters involving divestment and dissolution matters, along with resolving disputes that threaten to cost companies valuable time and financial resources.
We Will Help You With Any Business Need Or Dispute
We have represented Fortune 500 companies across the country as well as small, local companies here in Lexington, Kentucky, in all types of business matters and disputes, including:
- Protecting trade secrets and intellectual property
- Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, including noncompete and severance agreements
- Expansion matters, including stock and asset purchases
- Business formation and planning, including entity selection, partnership agreements, franchise agreements and supplier agreements
- Real estate matters, including commercial leases and purchase agreements
- Resolving shareholder disputes
- Employment law counseling on discrimination, wage and hour and termination issues
- Regulatory compliance and fiduciary duties
We always seek to avoid litigation to save our clients time and money and our team of attorneys has many years of experience in handling even the most complex of commercial legal disputes.
Nevertheless, we live in a litigious society. Our attorneys have tried numerous cases in state and federal courts. We have also litigated cases outside of Kentucky for many of our clients, including appearing before federal agencies. We also have experience handling appeals in Kentucky and several federal circuits.
Healthcare Law Services
Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC has diverse experience in the healthcare arena. Our clients include Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, Primary Care Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Public Health Departments and School Boards, Case Management Providers, provider groups, physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists, physical therapists, dentists, and medical practice management and billing companies.
From regulatory law to practice management – and everything in between – we know how to best handle each issue our clients encounter because we have a practical understanding of the healthcare industry. We work diligently with our clients to identify, address, and correct actions or oversights that could hinder your practice or business. When our clients are confronted with a legal problem, we quickly triage the situation, make preliminary diagnoses, prescribe a therapy, measure the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy, make any necessary judgments, and make the necessary recommendations to ensure that the problem does not reoccur.
Diverse Experience In Supporting All Types of Healthcare Organizations
In addition to providing legal counsel to healthcare businesses throughout the Commonwealth, we have a wide range of experience in Certificate of Need law and representing clients before state licensing boards, peer review entities, insurance credentialing committees, and investigative agencies.
Possible areas of healthcare for which you are seeking representation:
- Corporate Healthcare
- Healthcare Investigation and Litigation
- Medical Corporate Compliance
- Medical Practice Mergers and Acquisitions
- Healthcare Information Technology and Discovery Solutions
Employment Law Services
The laws governing employment grow more complicated and confusing every day. That means avoidable mistakes can cost your business a great deal of time and money in costly litigation and settlements.
At Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC, of Lexington, Kentucky, our business is helping you stay in business. We help businesses of all sizes navigate these laws in a time-sensitive and economical manner so they can focus on their work.
Experience In All Types Of Potential Employment Disputes
Our lawyers handle a wide variety of employment matters from pre-hire through termination and all issues in between. Our primary goal is to avoid litigation through sound human resource counseling. We guide our clients on a wide variety of matters, including issues involving
- Hiring
- Drafting and reviewing employment contracts and employee handbooks
- Attendance and wage and hour policies
- Performance reviews
- Workplace injuries and safety investigations
- Discrimination and sexual harassment claims, including compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Kentucky Civil Rights Act
- Termination and severance negotiation
We have extensive experience in using alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation and arbitration, to find effective solutions. If cases must go to litigation, our attorneys have the knowledge and experience to handle your matter before any federal or state court or agency, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission and the Kentucky Mine Safety Review Commission.
Professional Licensure Defense
It takes years of hard work to complete the education required to become a medical professional. Whether a physician, physician assistant, nurse, APRN, CRNA, dentist, dental hygienist, pharmacist, or pharmacy technician, the last thing you want to do when your professional license or professional reputation is on the line is sit on the sidelines.
Unfortunately, many don’t know that is exactly what they do when missing crucial state licensing board hearings. Professional licensure hearings determine the fate of medical professionals, can have devastating and lasting effects on a professional’s ability to practice, as well as reach across state lines. Having legal representation is crucial!
Here are five reasons hiring a qualified and skilled attorney is the key to surviving professional licensing board matters:
- Representation Matters.
As with taxation, representation matters at these hearings. Representation in a medical licensing board defense matter requires more communication than revolution. Representation will provide you with many protections, such as an advocate on your side and a guide for the proceedings.
- Unknown Lasting Consequences.
Without representation you could face lasting consequences. Signing a document without fully understanding your rights could harm you and your ability to practice in both Kentucky and other states where you hold a license. If you fail to hire a reputable attorney with experience in medical board defense or professional license defense, you are setting your self up for failure. You could lose your license in an emergency action or have your ability to practice your trade severely restricted. An experienced healthcare licensure defense attorney knows how to navigate disciplinary proceedings and negotiate favorable resolutions.
- Understanding the Proceedings.
Standing in front of the healthcare licensure board can be daunting. The proceedings are technical and confusing. Don't face potential professional license revocation alone. Hire an attorney with experience in healthcare licensure defense. With an experience licensure defense attorney, you will have someone by your side that understands the process. Experienced licensure defense attorneys understand the procedure, know how to address the matters before your licensure board, and obtain the best resolution for you.
- Peace of Mind.
Notification from a licensure board of a pending action against your license may not advise you of the importance of attending all meetings concerning your license (and may even state that you are not “required” to attend). It is imperative that you appear at every stage of the proceedings and bring your attorney with you. With legal representation you gain a valuable ally. Never sign any statement, Consent Order, Certification Agreement, Agreed Order or other legal document unless your attorney has reviewed it and instructed you to sign it. With an experienced professional licensure defense attorney, you can be certain the terms listed in any agreement are fair and just. Protect yourself and your patients with the representation you need.
- Know What To Do Next.
So your case has been reviewed by your licensure board, now what? Do you know what to do next and what other steps you will need to take to protect your interests, your license, and your practice? An experienced healthcare licensure defense attorney will know the process and what steps to take to insure your interests are protected.
Time is not on your side if you feel your medical, nursing, physician assistant, dental, dental hygienist, pharmacy, or pharmacy technician license is threatened. Act fast and contact a professional license defense attorney who can advocate for your rights. Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC attorneys have close to two decades of experience as healthcare defense attorneys and have handled matters before the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, the Kentucky Nursing Board, the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. Tricia is conveniently located in Lexington, Kentucky and serves clients throughout the Commonwealth.
Maintaining Workplace Safety & Health
For a business owner, one of your greatest sources of headaches and runaway costs can be a workplace accident or illness. While workers' compensation insurance may cover the employee's losses, you could face numerous citations through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
In Kentucky, this is an especially widespread problem. Kentucky receives the second-highest amount of OSHA violations per employer in the country. At Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC, our lawyers use their in-depth knowledge of federal and state workplace health and safety regulations and procedures to help you maintain a safe workplace, saving you time and money.
Our Attorneys Have The Background You Need
The lawyers at our firm have over 60 years of combined experience, including representing large, publicly traded corporations and small- and medium-sized businesses, in all types of legal matters. When it comes to workplace health and safety, we can:
- Represent you in accident investigations
- Contest OSHA enforcement actions and maintain regulatory compliance
- Defend your business in civil litigation after workplace accidents
- Advise and counsel your business on safety and health procedures
We have extensive experience protecting business owners' interests in front of federal and state agencies. We also have a long track record of success in federal and state trial and appellate courts.
Early Intervention Is Key. Call Our Lawyers Today.
Mine Safety & Health
The mining and energy industry has been a dominant part of our region for decades. Supporting the industry through representation of mineral and energy producers was one of the main reasons behind the founding of Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC.
Located in Lexington, Kentucky, we represent operators throughout the United States, including Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Alabama, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Utah. Our clients include large publicly held corporations and regional operators, as well as small operators and industry service providers.
Experienced Lawyers Staying On Top Of A Changing Industry
There have been few times as turbulent as these in the mining industry's history. Many regulations and laws are changing, and new producers are entering the marketplace. Attorney John Williams has more than 30 years of experience working with the industry. Melanie Kilpatrick has devoted much of her legal career to representing the mining industry, as well.
Due to our experience, our attorneys have a unique understanding of all aspects of mining and mining regulations. We can assist your mine with:
- Accident investigations and representing mining operations before federal and state administrative agencies like the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
- Conducting on-site mine safety training for management and rank-and-file workers on compliance, preparing for inspections, addressing and mitigating violations and regulatory compliance
- The details of the mining process, including ground control plans, ventilation plans, roof control plans, blast plans, dust control and reclamation
- Civil litigation regarding property rights, permitting, broker agreements, mineral rights, coal supply agreements, contractor disputes and injury and wrongful death claims
While we started as a firm representing coal companies, we have broadened our reach over the years, using our knowledge of the mining industry and federal and state regulatory regimes to also represent metal/nonmetal mines in all of the same ways we serve coal mines.
Construction Law Services
Large construction projects are fraught with potential pitfalls that can cost numerous parties and businesses unnecessary time delays and money. Knowing where those issues can arise ahead of time can help you avoid these problems, keeping projects on time and on budget.
At the Lexington, Kentucky-based law firm of Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC, our attorneys have experience handling a wide variety of issues that affect contractors and design professionals in today's complex world. We have represented owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, insurance carriers, government agencies and homeowners on many different types of projects and issues.
Proven Litigators And Problem Solvers
Our firm counts among its partners a licensed professional engineer and other experienced attorneys in this area of law. Our attorneys understand the complex issues involved in the design and construction process.
We have handled issues ranging from:
- Workplace safety and health investigations
- Insurance coverage issues
- Mechanic's and materialman's liens
- Performance and payment bonds
- Contract disputes
- Professional liability
- Prevailing wage
We understand that deadlines are critical in the construction industry and can affect your bottom line. That is why we pride ourselves in delivering legal solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner. Although we always seek to avoid long and protracted litigation through value-added pretrial resolutions, our construction attorneys have the understanding and ability to see your case through trial and appeal.
Representing Education & Religious Institutions
While churches and schools serve important functions in our communities, many people do not think about the hard work that goes into running them and helping them grow. In many ways, these institutions have to run like businesses.
At Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC, our attorneys combine their decades of experience serving small-, medium- and large-sized businesses with our firm's commitment to helping churches and schools thrive here in Lexington and throughout Kentucky.
Resolving Any Legal Needs That You Face
While no one wants to think about a costly dispute affecting a church or school's ability to fulfill its mission, it is a reality. Our attorneys have experience in serving as outside counsel and providing litigation representation in matters involving:
- Real estate purchases, including negotiating leases and completing buy/sell agreements
- Employment law counseling, including discrimination, sexual harassment and hiring policies
- Contract negotiation, drafting and review
- Financing, including renegotiating loans
- School discipline and bullying
- Civil rights disputes
When disputes arise, our lawyers are skilled at first attempting to find a discrete, out-of-court resolution that will protect your institution's interests, reputation, time and finances. When necessary, our attorneys have successfully handled trial and appellate cases in both federal and commonwealth courts.
Talk to Our Lawyers Today
At Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC, we focus on providing every client with the quality of large law firm representation for a fraction of the price without having to sacrifice access to our experienced partners. To learn more about how you can benefit from the combined experience and skills of our attorneys, contact us online or by calling our office in Lexington at 859-245-1059.