Personalized and Cost-Effective Legal Services for Individuals and Businesses
About Michele Raia
Ms. Raia has been providing personalized and cost-effective legal services to individuals and companies for 35+ years. Her legal practice is focused on estate planning, probate, business, employment and real estate matters.
For her estate planning clients, Ms. Raia not only prepares the standard documents (i.e., Last Will and Testament, General Durable Power of Attorney, Living Will, Healthcare Power of Attorney, Organ Donation Directives, Cremation Authorization, Transfer on Death Designation Affidavit, Survivorship Deed), but also helps them understand the estate planning process, how to title their assets to reduce the need for probate and how to organize their affairs to make it easier for their family.
Ms. Raia represents new and existing companies of all sizes and industries. As a fellow entrepreneur and business owner, she truly understands the challenges companies face in today’s environment, from both a legal and management perspective.
For clients who are starting a new business, she helps them see and understand the “big legal picture” of their business journey and guides them through each step of the process. As part of this process, Ms. Raia prepares documents such as those noted below, along with a customized corporate binder to maintain all of their business documents:
Name and entity formation documents and filings
Operating agreements, corporate regulations/by-laws
Buy-sell/shareholder agreements, membership/subscription agreements
Asset/stock purchase agreements and related loan/transaction documents
Licensing, franchise, joint venture and management agreements
Commercial real estate agreements and leases
Demonstrated Experience. Diverse Expertise.
Having worked in general practice firms and served as in-house counsel for two large corporations, Ms. Raia developed a wide array of experience and expertise. As a result, she is able to work across multiple company departments to deliver advice and counsel on most of the legal issues her business clients encounter. Ms. Raia regularly advises clients on operational and employment legal matters; she helps clients’ comply with continually changing business and employment laws/regulations; and she assists clients with their business growth, real estate and commercial transactions, acquisitions, licensing, franchising and restructuring.
She routinely handles employment and contractual matters including the negotiation and preparation of the following:
- consulting/product/service agreements with customers and clients;
- new hire documents, employment contracts, independent contractor agreements;
- employee handbooks, compliance manuals and related training;
- non-compete, non-disclosure and confidentiality documents;
- termination, separation and severance documents;
- vendor/supplier/distributor/manufacturer contracts;
As a trusted advisor, Ms. Raia has become a integral part of many of her clients’ businesses and serves as their “outside” general counsel.
Focus & Credentials
Ms. Raia is proud and thankful to have so many clients who frequently refer new clients. She credits this to providing responsive, thorough, affordable and individualized legal services to each and every client.
Call or email Ms. Raia to schedule a free consultation – 440-241-5229 or michele@micheleraia.com