Running a small company in Southwestern Pennsylvania means signing contracts, hiring people, and making choices that can follow you for years. Kostrub Law Firm, PLLC is a business attorney Pittsburgh-area owners can call from our office in Cecil Township. We help founders, family companies, and growing firms in Washington and Allegheny counties set things up right and fix problems before they turn into lawsuits.
What happens after you call: we ask a few short questions about your business and your deadline, then schedule a meeting to review your documents and talk through options.
What business law is
Business law is the set of rules that govern how a company is formed, how it makes deals, how it treats workers, and how it settles disputes. For a small company, it usually comes down to four things:
- Formation. Choosing an entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC, a business that shields owners from most company debts), and filing with the state. See how we help you start a Pennsylvania company.
- Contracts. The written promises you make to customers, vendors, landlords, and partners. Learn about our contract drafting and review work.
- Employment. Offer letters, handbooks, wage rules, and restrictive covenants (contract terms that limit what a worker can do after leaving). Read about employer-side employment help for small businesses.
- Disputes. When a deal goes wrong, you may need to negotiate, mediate, or go to court. Our civil litigation page explains that process.
A small business attorney looks at all four together, because a weak contract or a missing operating agreement often shows up later as a dispute.
Pennsylvania law that matters
Most Pennsylvania business rules come from a few sources. Here are the ones owners run into most:
- Associations Code, 15 Pa.C.S.. This title covers corporations, partnerships, and LLCs. LLC rules sit in Chapter 88. An LLC comes into existence when its certificate of organization (the short public filing that creates the company) is filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State.
- Annual reports. Pennsylvania now requires most LLCs and corporations to file an annual report with the Department of State. Missing it can lead to loss of good standing.
- Contract time limits, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5525. You generally have four years to sue on a broken contract. Waiting too long can end your claim.
- Wage Payment and Collection Law, 43 P.S. § 260.1 et seq.. This law controls how and when you pay earned wages, including final paychecks.
- Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 P.S. § 951 et seq.. This anti-discrimination law reaches smaller employers than many federal laws do.
Federal rules, such as IRS tax filings, apply alongside these. Local rules can matter too. Some municipalities charge a business privilege or mercantile tax.
Common situations in Washington and Allegheny counties
Here is what local owners often bring to us:
- Starting out. Two partners in Canonsburg want to open a shop and need an LLC and an operating agreement (the internal rulebook for owners) before they sign a lease.
- Energy-related deals. A trucking or site-services company in Washington County signs a master service agreement with a gas operator and wants to understand the indemnity terms. Landowners with lease questions should see our oil and gas law overview.
- First hires. A Bethel Park company hires its first five employees and needs offer letters and a short handbook.
- Vendor problems. A Bridgeville supplier stops delivering, and the owner needs to know whether to send a demand letter or file suit.
- Passing the business on. Parents who built a company in South Fayette want to hand it to their children. Family-business succession ties business documents to wills and trusts, so we coordinate it with our estate planning services.
What happens if you don’t act
Owners who skip formation paperwork may be personally on the hook for business debts. A handshake partnership with no written terms can end with a fight over who owns the customer list. A contract signed without review may lock you into automatic renewals, one-sided indemnity, or a court in another state. On the employment side, unpaid wage claims under Pennsylvania law can carry added damages and attorney fees. An ignored lawsuit can end in a default judgment (a ruling entered because you did not respond).
Talk to a business lawyer in Pittsburgh’s South Hills and Washington County. Call (304) 982-1586 · Request a consultation · After you call, we confirm your goals and deadline, then set a meeting to review your documents.
How we handle it, step by step
- Listen first. We learn how your business makes money, who owns it, and what is worrying you.
- Review documents. We read your formation filings, key contracts, and employee paperwork.
- Explain your options. You get a plain-English summary of risks and choices, with pros and cons.
- Draft or revise. We prepare or fix the documents you need, such as an operating agreement, a vendor contract, or an offer letter template.
- Negotiate when needed. If the other side has its own lawyer, we work through the terms with them.
What to bring to your first meeting
- Your certificate of organization or articles of incorporation, if you have them
- Any operating agreement, bylaws, or partnership agreement
- Contracts you are about to sign or that are causing trouble
- Offer letters, handbooks, or non-compete agreements you use now
- Letters, emails, or court papers from anyone threatening a claim
- A short list of your questions and any deadlines
Fees
We will explain how fees work before any work begins. You will know the approach up front.
Who handles this
Business matters at Kostrub Law Firm, PLLC are handled by Daniel B. Kostrub and Heather N. Kostrub. The firm has served clients in Washington and Allegheny counties since 2006.
- Daniel B. Kostrub concentrates on energy law and oil and gas transactions, which often involve business contracts. Read Daniel B. Kostrub’s attorney profile.
- Heather N. Kostrub focuses on estate planning and family and business succession. Read Heather N. Kostrub’s attorney profile.
Frequently asked questions
When should a small business hire a business attorney?
Ideally, call before you sign something important. That includes forming the company, signing a lease, taking on a partner, hiring your first employee, or agreeing to a large customer contract. Early review usually costs less than fixing a problem later. If you already have a dispute, call as soon as you can, because Pennsylvania deadlines to respond or sue can be short.
What does a business lawyer near me in Washington County actually do day to day?
Most of the work is preventive. That means drafting and reviewing contracts, forming companies, writing operating agreements, preparing employee documents, and answering questions as they come up. When disputes happen, a business lawyer may send demand letters, negotiate settlements, or represent the company in court or mediation.
How long do I have to sue over a broken contract in Pennsylvania?
For most contract claims, Pennsylvania allows four years under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5525. Some contracts and claims have different deadlines, and the clock usually starts when the breach happens. Because the rules have exceptions, have a lawyer check your exact dates rather than assuming you have time.
Can you help plan who takes over my family business?
Yes. Succession planning connects your company documents to your personal estate plan. That may include a buy-sell agreement, updated operating agreement terms, and wills or trusts that say who receives ownership. We coordinate the business side with our estate planning work so the pieces fit together.
Do you work with businesses in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County?
Yes. Our office is in Cecil Township, Washington County, and we work with businesses in Pittsburgh, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Bridgeville, South Fayette, Canonsburg, and nearby communities. Many meetings can be handled by phone or video if driving is hard.
Ready to talk about your business?
Call (304) 982-1586 or schedule a time to meet with us. After you call, we ask a few questions about your company and timeline, then set a meeting to review your documents and next steps. We serve clients in Pittsburgh, Cecil Township and nearby communities in Washington and Allegheny counties. Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m..
This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.