Business Details
16 Years
experience
Portland Business Legal Services
James M. Hillas, P.C, P.C. is a Portland-based legal practice dedicated to empowering small business owners through comprehensive legal guidance. With over two decades of experience practicing law in Oregon and Washington, our firm specializes in business formation, operational risk management, and strategic transitions. Our founder, Jim Hillas, combines extensive litigation experience with a client-centric approach rooted in proactive legal planning. We provide tailored solutions for entity selection, contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and business succession planning.Our practice philosophy emphasizes practical advice, cost-effective strategies, and personalized service to help businesses navigate legal complexities while focusing on growth. As trusted advisors, we maintain active involvement in continuing legal education and industry networking to deliver up-to-date counsel. Our commitment to integrity and strategic foresight has earned recognition from peers and clients across diverse industries.
Services
Business Formation
Legal Risk Management
Contract Negotiation
Business Sales
Succession Planning
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of business law experience in Oregon and Washington
- Our attorney provides personalized legal strategies for small businesses
- We offer comprehensive services covering all business lifecycle stages
- Our practice combines litigation expertise with proactive risk management
- We maintain active involvement in legal education and industry networking
What people say
Responsive to my needs
Solution-based approach
Great to work with
High level of integrity
Comprehensive knowledge
Services
Business Formation
Our business formation service helps entrepreneurs establish companies with proper legal structures. We guide clients through entity selection, partnership agreements, and document preparation. This service ensures compliance with state regulations while protecting personal assets through appropriate business structures like LLCs and S-Corporations.
Legal Risk Management
We develop customized risk management strategies to protect businesses from potential legal threats. Our approach includes contract review, dispute prevention, and operational policy development. This service helps businesses identify and address legal vulnerabilities while maintaining compliance with employment and commercial regulations.
Contract Negotiation
Our contract negotiation service covers business agreements, employment contracts, and vendor arrangements. We ensure clear terms, enforceable provisions, and protection of client interests. This service includes document drafting, clause analysis, and negotiation support for various commercial relationships.
Business Sales
We facilitate business sales through comprehensive transaction support. Our services include buyer qualification, agreement drafting, and post-sale planning. This service ensures smooth transitions while addressing tax implications, intellectual property transfers, and competitive restrictions through enforceable legal documentation.
Succession Planning
Our succession planning service prepares businesses for ownership changes. We develop exit strategies, draft transition documents, and structure buy-sell agreements. This service addresses valuation, ownership transfer mechanics, and ongoing business viability during leadership changes.
People
Jim Hillas
Attorney
Jim Hillas is an Oregon-licensed attorney with 20+ years of business law experience. Former partner at a major Portland firm, he now provides personalized legal counsel for small businesses. He specializes in business formation, contract law, and corporate transactions.
Questions
What legal services do you offer for small businesses?
We provide business formation, contract negotiation, risk management, employment law guidance, and business transition planning services for small businesses in Oregon and Washington.
How can you help with starting a new business?
We assist with entity selection, partnership agreements, licensing requirements, and initial documentation to establish your business on solid legal footing while protecting personal assets.
Do you handle business contract disputes?
Yes, we provide dispute resolution services including contract enforcement, negotiation mediation, and litigation support for business agreement conflicts and commercial disputes.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Portland metro area businesses and clients throughout Oregon and Washington states for business law matters.
How do you approach business succession planning?
We develop customized transition strategies including buy-sell agreements, ownership transfer documentation, and post-sale arrangements to ensure smooth business succession.
Can you help with employee management documents?
Yes, we create employment agreements, handbooks, non-compete clauses, and other personnel documents to establish clear expectations and protect business interests.
