New York, NY business attorney Richard S. Green talks about some of the most common and avoidable legal mistakes businesses make. He notes that discussions frequently begin with the issue of clients not consulting lawyers early enough. He compares an early legal consultation to preventive medicine: it is far more effective to identify and address potential problems at the outset and gain a clear understanding of the path ahead than to confront issues later.

He observes that clients can sometimes be overly optimistic about the expectations they have of their counterparties. One of the most challenging consequences arises when clients overestimate the capabilities or performance of others. When a counterparty fails to meet these expectations, clients often experience disappointment and seek legal assistance, asking lawyers to identify a legal remedy to address the difficulties they encounter.