Legal Lingo

The pandemic upended how veterinary care is provided. Make sure your business is adequately protected.

COVID-19, the little virus responsible for so much tragedy, changed our collective future in a few short months. We are at a crossroads today. On one hand, we mourn the unprecedented loss. On the other, we rejoice in an incredible scientific achievement: Modern science and technology delivered multiple highly effective vaccines within a time frame […]

Employers pay the price if they don’t follow the rules on who is and isn’t an independent contractor.

Are they employees of yours or 1099 independent contractors? On Jan. 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor clarified the guidelines for classifying workers as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which among other things establishes minimum wage and overtime pay for private-sector employees. The final rule, which went into effect March 8, […]

Veterinarians should have a basic understanding of the rules of competition. You don’t want to run afoul of antitrust laws.

Federal antitrust laws are discussed when transactions between corporate titans are in the news, such as the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. Such laws, however, are the foundation of modern American capitalism and a subject that veterinary businesses need to understand, at least in principle. In a truly free market — one with no regulations […]

What you need to know about arbitration clauses in employment contracts.

Many practice owners require associate veterinarians to sign employment agreements that include arbitration provisions. One reason is that arbitration is generally touted as a good way for an employer to avoid the financial risk associated with taking litigation to a jury trial. That said, arbitration is not always cheaper than a court proceeding and not […]

Opening a veterinary clinic is a fabulous opportunity, but planning for it is best done one step at a time.

Starting a veterinary practice is an exciting endeavor for any clinician, but trials and tribulations are a normal part of the process. I’ve found that the following seven steps will help establish the foundation for a successful start-up. 1. Develop an Airtight Business Plan Creating a business plan — the framework for opening a practice […]

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.

So, you’ve decided to sell your veterinary practice after a lifetime of hard work, but the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally impacted the process. From new contractual provisions and buyer financing delays to due diligence issues, you’ve encountered numerous roadblocks. However, with better planning and the right team in place, a sale can be successfully achieved. […]

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.

One of the most challenging exercises that veterinarians go through is planning for what will happen to their business if they die unexpectedly or become disabled. Emotional considerations and the stress of detailing a future business transaction can cloud the process. Unfortunately, COVID-19 highlighted the importance of having both a succession plan and a business […]

Automatic contract renewals can leave you in a costly predicament if you fail to give proper notice of termination.

Veterinarians will enter into dozens of contractual relationships throughout their professional careers. They can reasonably expect to sign employment agreements, purchase orders, client payment and IT service contracts, property and equipment leases, real estate deals, and so on. The paperwork can vary in sophistication and complexity, ranging from a straightforward one-page document to a highly […]

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.

Veterinarians, investors and executives who want to form a management services organization (MSO) often do so without fully exploring the reasons. One revolutionary change in the veterinary industry over the last decade was heightened interest in MSOs, which resulted in a lot of newer market entrants, including, but not limited to, private equity. The problem […]

When negotiating an employment agreement with an associate veterinarian, start with the basics — at-will or contract? — and go from there.

Managing your veterinary practice can be overwhelming, but protecting your business is of the utmost importance. That’s why having a solid employment agreement with an associate veterinarian — one delineating pay and responsibilities — is critical. For an employment agreement to be enforceable, what need to exist are a clear job offer, an acceptance of […]