About the Author
Legal Lingo columnist Peter H. Tanella chairs Mandelbaum Barrett’s National Veterinary Law Center. He earned his JD from Quinnipiac University School of Law and served as a deputy attorney general with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Law, where he was general counsel to numerous state agencies. He has advised hundreds of veterinarians on practice acquisitions, sales, mergers, partnerships, joint ventures and associate buy-ins, the structuring of management service organizations, and the development of practice succession strategies. He may be emailed at ptanella@mblawfirm.com
Written By This Author

Legal Issues
Best-Kept Secrets
Nondisclosure agreements serve as deterrents to the unwanted release of critical business information.
Legal Issues
Building a Case for Construction Counsel
Being penny-wise is pound-foolish for practice owners who forgo expert contract advice.
Legal Issues
Repelling Cybercriminals
Veterinary practices encounter the same risks as other businesses and pay the same high price for not taking threats seriously.
Government/Regulations
What to Watch for in Employment Law
Noncompete agreements appear headed for extinction. Also, look for changes to independent contractor rules.
Government/Regulations
PPP Loans and Your Veterinary Practice
A fraudulent application can deliver costly ramifications before or after a hospital sale.
Human Resources
Leaving So Soon?
Quitting her practice after negotiating to stay post-sale put the former owner on the losing side of a lawsuit.
Legal Issues
How to Forge a Healthy Workplace Culture
Frequent communication, detailed job descriptions and all-encompassing employee handbooks put practice owners on firmer legal ground.

Legal Issues
How Groomer Clients Become Adversaries
Pets can be injured — or worse — through sheer negligence or unforeseen events.

Legal Issues
When an Infection Triggers a Lawsuit
A New York court case serves as a cautionary tale about hospital protocols and client communication.

Legal Issues
Fair Shares
Granting equity interest in a hospital is a great way to beef up employee compensation and enhance loyalty.
Legal Issues
Stay Away, Please
The enforceability of a restrictive covenant depends on your state’s laws.
Legal Issues
When Clients Sue
A well-publicized lawsuit can quickly ruin a veterinarian’s career and practice.
Veterinary Industry
A Virtual Reality
Investors are flocking to veterinary telehealth through management services companies despite the legal hurdles.
Legal Issues
Lease for Less
As a prospective tenant, you should learn what you can about the landlord and the building’s owner. One way to start is with a public records search.
Legal Issues
8 Mistakes You’ll Regret
Not adequately planning for the sale of your veterinary practice can cause you to miss valuable opportunities to find the right buyer.
Legal Issues
Classified Information
When veterinary employees are misclassified as independent contractors, a common reason is to avoid state and federal tax-withholding requirements and payroll taxes.
Legal Issues
Fair and Square
The competition being eliminated must be significant to constitute anti-competitive behavior.
Legal Issues
The First-Time Practice Owner
Opening a veterinary clinic is a fabulous opportunity, but planning for it is best done one step at a time.
Legal Issues
Selling Your Practice in a COVID Market
Making and closing a deal between a hospital owner and a buyer isn’t as easy as it once was. Skittish lenders, contract contingencies and even uncommitted clinical staff can gum up the process.
Finance
Succeed With a Succession Plan
The sale of your practice to a colleague or outside party when you aren’t present is fraught with trouble if detailed instructions aren’t in place.
Legal Issues
Beware the Evergreen Clause
Automatic contract renewals can leave you in a costly predicament if you fail to give proper notice of termination.
Practice Management
What’s an Employer to Do During COVID-19?
Salary advances? Paid sick leave? Unemployment compensation? Here’s what veterinary hospital administrators need to know.
Legal Issues
At Your Service
A management services organization adds a layer of structural complexity to a veterinary practice but offers non-veterinarians and even family members the opportunity to reap the financial rewards.
Legal Issues
Close the deal
When negotiating an employment agreement with an associate veterinarian, start with the basics — at-will or contract? — and go from there.