Free expert advice for local businesses in Trail
By Contributor
The Kootenay-Boundary region is a hotbed of entrepreneurial spirit, talent and creativity that continues to hatch innovative small businesses. While great ideas and enterprise are here in abundance, the legal steps required to translate ideas into a fully operational and functional businesses can be a major hurdle. In September, the “Ask An Expert” program kicked off, focussing initially on assisting Kootenay-Boundary entrepreneurs and start-ups with free legal advice sessions. The initial session in Nelson held in September was a great success. The second session in the series will be held on Nov. 14 in Trail.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 14;
What: Half hour (per client) appointments available between 8:30a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: CFDC Trail: 825 Spokane St. in Trail (2nd floor of the post office building, across from Trail City Hall)
Appointments must be booked in advance. To book an appt, clients can call 250-364-2595 ext. 23 or email info@communityfutures.com.
During the first session in Nelson, Leon Pigott of Pigott & Co provided valuable advice to eight businesses and two new start-ups from sectors including digital media, manufacturing, finance, construction, professional services and tourism.
The program itself is designed to provide a helping hand for small businesses, companies and start-ups that traditionally may not see their issues as being substantial enough to motivate them to pay a lawyer but are critical to their venture. The first Nelson session provided valuable advice on a range of issues including business structure, licensing agreements, incorporation, IP protection, bad debt collection and more.
“It was rewarding,” explained Pigott. “People often don’t know the extent of the resources and assistance for small businesses that are available. Right now, some of these ideas are in the business conception stage, but could turn into a great business and a great thing for the area. I see the Ask An Expert program as a long term investment, to grow the region and build on an existing startup community.”
Ask An Expert: LEGAL is a partnership project between the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST), Community Futures of Greater Trail, Community Futures Central Kootenay and Leon Pigott of Pigott & Co, designed to ease legal barriers for entrepreneurs and young companies by providing free access to expert advice.
“We deal with a host of immensely talented people who have excellent business ideas and are very good at what they do,” explained KAST’s Executive Director Kelvin Saldern. “One of the common challenges we hear from start-ups is that the legal aspect of the business is not their strength and can be challenging. As an organization with a strong focus on assisting and accelerating entrepreneurial growth in the region, implementing the “Ask An Expert” program, starting with legal services, was a natural fit for KAST to help provide one more small boost to emerging local companies.”
Ask an Expert: Legal will be holding its next event in Trail on November 14th at the CFDC Trail office on 825 Spokane St. KAST, the CFDC and Pigott & Co are now putting out the call to small businesses to take advantage of the opportunity for a free half hour with an experienced lawyer to ask the questions that may have been holding them back and get the advice they need to move forward successfully.
“I was motivated to start offering the Business Law Clinics because my experience in my practice is that many start-up and small business owners leave getting legal advice too late in the process,” said Pigott. “Often, some early advice from a lawyer would help to build a strong foundation for growth. I hope that offering a free clinic on business law issues will encourage business owners or anyone with an idea for a business to get some early input on any prospective legal issues and help to demystify the legal process. “
Four Ask An Expert: LEGAL sessions will be held in total in Nelson, Castlegar and Trail, where participants will receive a thirty minute session at no cost to discuss and receive advice on their legal needs.
“This will be a great program for the small business clients we work with,” said Community Futures Central Kootenay’s General Manager, Paul Wiest. “We currently offer free business counselling sessions throughout the region, which is very popular with local entrepreneurs. The “Ask an Expert” program will be a great valued add to this existing service.”
The program’s next event takes place on Wednesday, November 14th with sessions held from 8:30 to 4:30 pm at the CFDC Trail office at 825 Spokane St.
Appointments must be booked in advance.. To book an appointment, clients can call 250-364.-595 ext. 23 or email info@communityfutures.com.
Future sessions will be held in, Castlegar in March 2013 and June 2013 in Nelson.
About the Partners:
Leon Pigott:Leon has been a corporate and commercial lawyer for 15 years. He started his practice at Macleod Dixon, an international law firm based in Calgary. Leon practised in the areas of banking, securities, energy and corporate and commercial transactions. In 2000, Leon left Calgary to pursue a business degree in London, England. In 2002, he obtained an MBA from the London Business School. In 2004, after a brief time spent with Davis & Company, a large Vancouver law firm, Leon joined Powerex Corp., the power marketing arm of BC Hydro. Leon worked at Powerex Corp. for four years and was the head of the company`s commercial law group. Leon moved to Nelson with his family in 2007 and returned to private practice with a focus on corporate and real estate matters. He loves living and working in the Kootenays and is here to stay.
Community Futures Central Kootenayis a not-for-profit community economic development organization
committed to helping people in the Central Kootenay region who are either operating or are planning to start
their own business. CFCK assists new and existing businesses with training, loans, counselling, and resources. They provide income support for eligible individuals contemplating self-employment as a career option. CFCK strives to bring together key community partners and the region as a whole to work toward the common goal of sustainable community economic development. www.futures.bc.ca
KASTis a registered non-profit society advocating for science and technology in the West and Central
Kootenay and Boundary regions. KAST whose members live and work in the region, and represent a
broad range of interests in local industry, business, education and government. KAST works to foster an
educational, business and community culture that values science, technology, innovation and
entrepreneurship as activities vital to maintaining and enhancing the competitiveness of the region.
www.KAST.com
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