Practice Area
Commercial Litigation
The AH Law Group attorneys represent local, regional, national and international clients throughout state and federal court systems, and are steeped in commercial litigation experience in all stages from pre-litigation counseling through trial and appeal. The firm represents plaintiffs and defendants, both individuals and corporate clients, engaged in litigation concerning a variety of subjects including contract disputes, foreclosures, employment issues, intellectual property and real estate. The Firm's attorneys have a combined history of trying more than 100 jury trials which enables them to bring an uncommon, seasoned perspective to each courtroom and for each client.Trademarks
No matter what the nature of your business is, a strong brand name is critical for the success of your products or services. The nationwide registration of your company's trademarks or service marks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is essential to ensuring the integrity of your brand and to protecting against infringement or misuse of the marks by others. Firm attorney Asa Hutchinson III served as an Associate Solicitor for the USPTO and has been involved with scores of trademark registration matters before the Office. He routinely handles trademark registration applications for clients and has as also served as local counsel for a national client successfully prosecuting several trademark infringement actions against companies who abused the client's marks on the internet.White-Collar Criminal Defense
The AH Law Group brings a wealth of experience in successfully representing individuals and corporations being investigated by federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of State Office of Defense Trade Controls, the National Security Division of the Department of Justice and various United States Attorney’s Offices. With two former federal prosecutors in the Firm, the AH Law Group knows that one key to success in defending complex federal investigations is the early engagement of legal counsel. The AH Law Group has the resources and experience to oversee internal investigations and pursue an early resolution, if possible. In those cases that are pursued to trial, the attorneys of the AH Law Group have an excellent record of success.Business Formation and Organizational Transactions
From organizing limited liability companies to incorporating for-profit and non-profit corporations, the AH Law Group has the requisite experience to form the right entity for each client. It is important, especially in the current economic climate, for each person conducting business or contemplating an entry into the world of commercial transactions to obtain the liability protection LLCs and corporations afford their members and shareholders. The AH Law Group can also prepare the appropriate buy-sell agreement, ownership interest transfer agreement and other documents reflecting organizational transactions tailored for each client's needs.Corporate Investigations and Compliance
The responses of corporate executives and board members to allegations of wrongdoing by high-level employees and of corporate malfeasance are examined closely by federal and state regulators responsible for enforcing criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and by shareholders and trial lawyers looking to file class action lawsuits. One focus of the AH Law Group is to lead proactive, internal investigations for private and publicly held corporations facing such allegations. With a broad spectrum of experience ranging from leading major federal law enforcement agencies to prosecuting and defending both criminal and civil actions, the attorneys of the AH Law Group are prepared to respond quickly and thoroughly to companies in need of internal investigations to identify and implement any necessary remedial measures. In addition to the law enforcement experience and relationships, the senior partner for the Firm, Asa Hutchinson, has served for years as a member of the boards of directors of medium cap public companies. This unique perspective well qualifies the Firm to conduct internal investigations with experience critical to their successful conclusion.Labor and Employment
Recognizing that one of the areas seeing the greatest increase in litigation is labor and employment law, the Firm's attorneys counsel employers to prevent and solve problems in the workplace in order to avoid litigation. The AH Law Group advises and represents employers on a variety of workplace issues, including personnel policies, EEO claims, employee handbooks, wrongful discharge claims and trade secrets/non-compete litigation. The law of trade secrets and employment agreements has greatly expanded in recent years. Our attorneys have prepared numerous agreements to protect employers' intellectual property and have litigated on behalf of employers regarding this vital issue. Where appropriate, we have the resources to seek immediate injunctive relief in court to prevent or stop misappropriation of trade secrets or to defend against attempts to restrict legitimate competition through the use of temporary restraining orders.
Court Martial Defense
Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a defendant who is convicted or pleads guilty at a court martial will most likely be incarcerated, receive a punitive discharge from the military, and/or suffer a loss of rank and pay. Most military lawyers assigned to defend a court martial defendant, along with the defendant, are outranked by the Judge, the Chief of Military Justice, the Staff Judge Advocate, most of the jury, the Convening Authority that decides whether or not to commence a court martial and then selects the jury, and the Article 32 officer. For these reasons, among others, it is critical to have an aggressive and seasoned civilian defense lawyer. AH Law Group attorney Dak Kees has successfully represented service members stationed throughout the world, both as a member of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corp and as a civilian attorney. His cases have been aired on a variety of media outlets including CNN, Fox News, and The Army Times.
Attorney Ethics Defense
The AH Law Group has significant experience defending allegations of attorney ethical misconduct before the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Committee on Professional Conduct. The Office of Professional Conduct vigorously prosecutes ethical complaints against attorneys as part of the Office’s vigilant role in policing the profession, and attorney respondents unfamiliar with the Arkansas Procedures Regulating Professional Conduct are at a great disadvantage in constructing and executing an effective defense. Our attorneys have had success in this arena involving cases with allegations of excessive fees, conflicts of interest, financial assistance to clients, fraud, sexual misconduct, incompetent representation, claims of improperly influencing government officials, and more.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
From working with the Department of Justice on advisory opinions to representing individuals and corporations being investigated by federal grand juries, the AH Law Group is prepared to assist U.S. businesses facing the unique challenges of doing business in the international arena. As the Department of Justice increases its oversight of U.S. businesses with an international reach, the prudent manager must be prepared to seek legal counsel in advance and should not hesitate to initiate internal investigations when violations of the FCPA are alleged. The AH Law Group has successfully represented clients doing business across the globe from Abu Dhabi to Latin America to the Far East.Homeland Security
The new field of Homeland Security Law was created post 9-11 with the emergence of the newly created Department of Homeland Security exercising jurisdiction over immigration enforcement, transportation security and customs enforcement. The attorneys of the AH Law Group have successfully represented major trucking companies which have been denied C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partners Against Terrorism) and FAST (Free And Secure Trade) lane privileges under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. The AH Law Group attorneys also have experience in representing major national companies working to comply with new immigration enforcement laws and increasingly complex customs rules and regulations.
© 2010 The Asa Hutchinson Law Group,PLC.