Consultant's Legal Guide

ELAINE BIECH, the author of more than a dozen articles and books, is president and managing principal of ebb associates inc. Biech has been in the consulting field for seventeen years and has developed training packages for health care institutions; the insurance, banking, and shipbuilding industries; manufacturing companies; and government and nonprofit organizations.LINDA SWINDLING is a workplace communication expert. She began negotiating work drama first as a successful attorney and mediator and later as a keynote speaker, executive coach, and strategic consultant. A Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and president of Journey On, she is the author of the popular Passports to Success series, which offers thirteen titles on workplace and communication issues. Visit her at www.StopComplainers.com.

"A well thought out, practical approach to dealing effectively with lawyers and other consultants. If followed, it should help all parties be better prepared and do a better job." —Rita Reuss, attorney, former vice president, Land O' Lakes "The Consultant's Legal Guide is better than an MBA in business relationships. Clear, concise, thoughtful and thorough . . . after reading this book, consultants will sleep better at night!" —Pamela J. Schmidt, vice president, American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)"I beg you, do not start your own consulting business without first reading The Consultant's Legal Guide. And if you already have, read it now! I assure you that when you put into practice the sound advice of Elaine Biech and Linda Byars Swindling you will save yourself the heartache and headache of needless legal hassel. . . . The Consultant's Legal Guide will help you every day of your business life." —James M. Kouzes, chairman, Tom Peters Group/Learning Systems, co-author of The Leadership Challenge and Encouraging the Heart"A great flight plan to avoid turbulence.... Whether you are a consultant or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, this book should be on your desk for a reference in so many areas." —Howard Putnam, Former CEO, Southwest Airlines and Braniff International, author of The Winds of Turbulence"Ah-ha-the missing piece to the puzzle. Biech and Swindling have filled the hole (and an important one I might add) in all the reference books on consulting. Don't start your business without it." —Dianna Booher, CEO, Booher Consultants, Inc., author of 37 books including, Communicate with Confidence!"Elaine's earlier book, The Business of Consulting, is an incredible resource and handbook that I've used extensively. This companion piece on the legal aspects of consulting continues the tradition-a practical handbook that hits the mark from an experienced practitioner who has learned these lessons in the trenches!" —Linda Growney, assistant vice president, CUNA Mutual Insurance Group

• List of Exhibits. Ackowledgements. Introduction. Selecting an Attorney. The Relationship of Ethics and the Law. Setting up a Consulting Practice. Starting Your Office. Contracts and the Law. Employment Issues. Working with Other Consultants. Client Issues. Clients Outside the Corporate Arena. Unique Consulting Situations. Protecting Work Product, Trade Secrets, and Intellectual Property. Giving Credit Where Credit is Due. Protecting Assets Through Insurance. Buying or Selling a Consulting Practice. Avoiding Legal Problems. What to Do When You Have a Legal Problem.