Central Florida and Pennsylvania Business Lawyers

Formed by two renowned attorneys, Melody Lankford and Lori Sandman, the law firm of Sandman & Lankford, PLLC was founded in 2016, with an emphasis on providing assistance with business law and intellectual property or IP law.

From the new entrepreneur with a startup venture to medium-sized enterprises and large corporations serving customers worldwide, our legal team is prepared to assist with all aspects of your business. Whether you need help developing a business plan and forming a corporation or other business entity, or require help filing a lawsuit, writing contracts, trademarking your company logo (and defending it from unauthorized usage), patenting an invention or dealing with government contracts and bids, then you’ve come to the right place because our legal team is prepared to assist.

When it comes to your company’s legal needs, the experienced Florida and Pennsylvania lawyers of Sandman & Lankford, PLLC will guide you through the process from start to finish. Our goal is to protect your company and your interests while helping you avoid and minimize any losses (financial or otherwise.) 

Our legal team serves clients throughout Daytona Beach and the surrounding communities of Central Florida, including Volusia County, Brevard County, Flagler County, Orange County or Seminole County. Additionally, licensed patent attorney Lori J. Sandman offers intellectual property and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services throughout central Pennsylvania, the U.S. and internationally.

If you need help for your business, the experienced lawyers at Sandman & Lankford, PLLC are here to help. Contact one of the nation’s top business law firms by phone at 386-206-2898.

Meet the Attorneys of Sandman & Lankford, PLLC

In practice since 2004, Attorney Melody Lankford deals with all aspects of business law. She earned her law degree from Florida State University’s College of Law, graduating in 2004 and passing the bar exam shortly thereafter. Melody started her law career with the Raydon Corporation, where she served as the company’s in-house legal counsel until 2012. Then, she went into private practice, establishing The Lankford Law Firm and ultimately, Sandman & Lankford, PLLC.

Law firm co-founder Attorney Lori Sandman primarily serves as an intellectual property lawyer and alternative dispute resolution practitioner, licensed in Pennsylvania and Florida. She is a licensed patent law attorney through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In addition, she also holds certifications in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Collaborative Law Practice (PACP). Attorney Sandman is also an adjunct professor, teaching transactional law, business law and patent law. Lori founded The Sandman Law Office, PLLC before going on to co-found this newest firm with Melody Lankford.

Common Concerns and Questions: What Does a Business Attorney Do? 

A business attorney and intellectual property (IP) lawyer can prove to be essential allies for you as an independent contractor or for your company. Our legal team handles a variety of different matters, including:

• Assisting with the development of a comprehensive business plan;
• Helping you choose the right business entity, such as a corporation, partnership or LLC and then overseeing the business formation process;
• Negotiating business deals and drafting formal written agreements and contracts;
• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts and work for hire agreements;
• Overseeing risk management plans, helping you minimize losses and mitigate risks;
• Drafting and reviewing non-compete and non-disclosure agreements to protect your business, your trade secrets and other proprietary information;
• Trademarking, patenting, copyrighting and defending this intellectual property from unauthorized use and infringement;
• Seeking compensation and filling lawsuits in cases where you have a viable legal claim against another party;
• Negotiating, drafting and reviewing government contracts and bid proposals;
• Addressing landlord-tenant issues and evictions for property owners and real estate investors;
• Assisting with the drafting and review of asset purchase agreements (also called an APA) when buying or selling company assets;
• Business-to-business agreements (also known as B2B agreements) and partnership agreements;
• Negotiating and resolving disputes with current and former employees, suppliers, customers or clients, and others whom you may encounter during the course of your business dealings; and
• Negotiating, drafting and reviewing licensing agreements, usage rights or transfer of full rights and ownership for intellectual property, such as trademarked or copyrighted materials.

Business Law FAQ: Why Can’t I Use Generic Business Agreements and Contracts? 

The web is home to many generic forms and even entire websites that are dedicated to providing the public with generic contracts, agreements and even tools to help you form your own business. Many entrepreneurs and business owners are tempted to utilize these resources in an attempt to save money, but in the end, the cost can be significant and far higher than if you had hired a business lawyer to assist.

While it’s possible to form a company online without the help of an attorney, it can be a time consuming and confusing process and ultimately, many entrepreneurs choose the wrong type of business entity for their needs. This can result in a costly reorganization down the road. And you may also miss out on certain tax benefits and other advantages that you would see if you had selected a different type of business entity. 

Generic forms, contracts and written agreements are of little practical use and they too can carry a high price tag when all is said and done. The problem: a good contract or agreement is one that is specific, non-ambiguous and unique to your precise circumstances. If your contract is too vague, general and non-specific, it may lead to a situation where you suffer losses because the court rules against you. There are few things worse than realizing that you have no legal grounds upon which to base a claim due to a generic, poorly written contract. Or, you may sustain losses as because the document contained a loophole or other terms that made the document unenforceable. 

In short, these generic forms, agreements, and contracts can create more problems than they solve, offering little – if any – protection to you and your business. The same is true of other legal documents, such as a last will and testament.

Common Questions: How Much Will it Cost to Hire a Lawyer for My Company? 

Each case is unique, so the precise legal fees associated with resolving one client’s case may differ significantly, depending upon factors such as:

• what documents are required and the complexity of those documents;
• the amount of time involved with resolving your legal issue;
• the complexity of your case or legal needs as a whole;
• whether your case will require investigation, depositions or other proceedings;
• what phone calls, letters, emails and other communications are required; and
• whether there are any third-party expenses (i.e. a trademark registration fee).

We recommend calling our law offices to discuss your case with one of our attorneys in a confidential evaluation of your case.

Sandman & Lankford, PLLC Will Assist With All Your Business Law and IP Law Needs

Whether you need help with forming a company, writing a business contract, require legal advice for your company or are seeking to protect your copyrighted materials or other intellectual property, the legal team at Sandman & Lankford, PLLC can assist.

Our legal team understands what goes into owning, operating and managing your own business. So, if you cannot meet at our law offices during typical business hours, one of our attorneys can come to your office, even providing appointments outside of the traditional 9-to-5 business day.

Trust your IP and business law matters to Attorneys Melody Lankford and Lori Sandman. For a fully confidential consultation session to discuss your case. Call today at 386-206-2898.