I’m Aaron Hall, a business attorney in Minneapolis. I represent business owners and their companies across the full range of business legal matters. Here is who I work with, how I handle matters, and how my fees work, so you can decide whether I’m the right fit.
Who I work with
I work with business owners, CEOs, and other decision-makers at established, growing Minnesota companies, generally those with up to about 250 employees. That includes companies based elsewhere that have a Minnesota connection through their sales, employees, or contractors.
Most of my clients want to understand their situation and their options, and they treat legal decisions as part of running the business.
I’m selective about the matters I take, and I refer many of the inquiries I receive to other attorneys, because I keep my practice focused on matters where I can add real value. If your matter isn’t a good fit for me, I would rather tell you that and point you toward someone better suited.
What I help with
I handle the full range of business legal matters, so most clients don’t need to assemble a roster of separate attorneys for routine work:
- Business law: entity formation, governance, and general counsel
- Employment law: policies and handbooks, workforce issues, severance, non-competes
- Intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets
- Contracts: drafting, analysis, and negotiation
- Business litigation and disputes
- Business tax planning and compliance
My focus is Minnesota business law. When a matter calls for an attorney with a narrower focus, I maintain referral relationships and will make an introduction.
How I work
You work directly with me. I’m a solo attorney. The person you talk to is the person doing the work, not a rotating team of associates.
Your goals drive the strategy. I listen to what you’re trying to accomplish, analyze your circumstances, explain your rights and options, and align the legal strategy with your goals.
Flat fees, agreed in advance. For most work (analysis, drafting, letters, and filings) I quote a single flat fee before I begin, so you have cost certainty. Work that requires real-time attorney presence, such as meetings, negotiations, hearings, and depositions, is billed separately and quoted before it is scheduled. For flat fees, you don’t pay for a running clock.
Scope is confirmed in writing. Before I start, I confirm what I’m analyzing or drafting, the documents in scope, and the governing law. If the matter grows or changes, I quote the additional work before continuing, so there are no surprises.
I equip you to decide. My job is to help you understand your situation and your options well enough to make a confident decision, not to keep you dependent on a lawyer for every question.
How my fees work
I’m not the lowest-cost option, and I don’t try to be. My fees reflect an experienced attorney handling your matter directly, without the overhead structure of a large firm. When the stakes are high, sloppy legal work is expensive; I put a premium on precision.
A few things are consistent across my work:
- Most engagements are flat fees, agreed before work begins. Flat-fee engagements typically start at $2,000 and scale with the complexity and stakes of the matter; more involved analyses and deals can run into the five figures, and litigation into the six figures. I provide quotes for specific work before you commit.
- Fees are paid in full in advance. I don’t run installment plans or finance a fee over time. If timing is a concern, you’re welcome to use your own credit card and carry the balance on your terms.
- If cost is the real obstacle, I’ll say so and offer a path. If your budget calls for it, I’m glad to introduce you to a capable attorney with lower rates.
Reviews
“If you think you can’t afford a good lawyer, wait until you see what a bad one will cost you.”
Aaron may have a higher rate, but with that comes exceptional value. He looks for ways to save you money, delegates work wisely, and always keeps billing fair and transparent.
Read on Google
“If something isn't the best use of your money, he'll tell you.”
And if your budget doesn't allow for the work you need, he'll do everything he can to connect you with someone who can help. That level of honesty and integrity speaks volumes.
Read on Google
“Aaron was thoughtful, extremely responsive and very transparent on pricing.”
Read on GoogleIf I’m not the right fit
Helping people find the right attorney is part of my practice. If what you need falls outside business law, or another provider can serve you better for a particular task, I’ll tell you plainly. Finding the right lawyer is hard: most people don’t know which area of law their matter falls under, or how to weigh a lawyer’s reputation and qualifications. I ask questions to understand what you need, and I point you to someone who fits.
Common questions
Do you handle my kind of matter?
I handle Minnesota business law: entity formation and governance, contracts, employment matters, mainly on the employer side, intellectual property, business disputes and litigation, business sales and succession, and business tax planning. I do not handle personal injury, criminal defense, family law, immigration, personal bankruptcy filings, residential landlord-tenant matters, or Social Security and disability claims. Send me your matter anyway if you are not sure where it falls. Naming the area of law is often the harder half of the problem, and I know attorneys in most of these areas.
How fast will you respond?
I read every inquiry myself and reply by email, usually within one business day, to say whether the matter is a fit and, if it is, what the work would be. The fee comes with my recommendation once I have the facts I need.
Is the first consultation free?
No. There is no free consultation and no free introductory call. The first meeting is a paid Legal Strategy Meeting, scheduled once the fee is paid, so the time goes to your situation rather than a sales conversation. What I answer at no charge, by email, is whether your matter is something I handle and what an engagement would involve.
Will you take a case on contingency?
No. I do not take business matters on a contingency fee. Work is quoted as a flat fee, or hourly where it cannot be scoped in advance, and is paid before it begins.
Can you review just one document?
Yes. Reviewing a single document, such as a severance agreement, a lease, an operating agreement, a purchase agreement, or a contractor agreement, is one of my more common engagements. It is quoted as a flat fee, and the quote states what I am analyzing and what you get.
Can you send a demand letter or cease-and-desist letter?
Yes. It is a common flat-fee engagement, quoted once I have seen the facts and documents. A letter resolves many disputes without a lawsuit, which is why it is often the first step I recommend.
Are you licensed in my state?
I am licensed in Minnesota. I represent companies based elsewhere when the matter has a Minnesota connection, such as Minnesota customers, employees, contractors, property, or a Minnesota counterparty or court. I handle federal trademark matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office regardless of where you are. For a matter governed entirely by another state’s law, I will tell you and refer you to counsel there.
Which courts are you admitted to?
I am admitted to the Minnesota Supreme Court, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Minnesota state district courts, and the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, so I handle federal cases filed here. I am also admitted to the United States Bankruptcy Court, before the United States Patent and Trademark Office for trademark matters, and before the Internal Revenue Service and the Minnesota Department of Revenue. I am not registered with the USPTO patent bar, so patent applications go to a registered patent attorney.
Do you handle mediation or arbitration?
Yes. I represent clients in mediation and private arbitration, on the same fee structure as court litigation. Mediation resolves many business disputes for far less than a lawsuit costs. Arbitration usually applies because a contract between the parties requires it. Mediator and arbitrator fees are paid to the forum and are separate from my fee.
Do you handle disputes between business partners?
Yes. Owner disputes in closely held companies, including LLC member disputes, shareholder disputes, deadlock, buyouts, oppression claims, and breach of fiduciary duty, are a central part of my practice. I represent one side, not the company and both owners together.
What is your track record in business disputes?
I have handled business disputes in Minnesota state and federal courts since 2007: owner and shareholder disputes, contract claims, non-compete and trade secret cases, franchise disputes, and commercial lease litigation. Most business disputes resolve by negotiated settlement rather than trial. Client matters are confidential, so I generally do not publish specific outcomes, and past results do not predict the outcome of another matter.
The first step
If you think we might be a fit, tell me about your situation through my contact page or by email. I’ll let you know whether it’s something I can help with, and if so, I’ll explain the work and the fee before any engagement begins. Many client relationships start with a single, well-defined matter; ongoing general counsel work can grow from there.
More about my background and credentials is on my bio page.