: Urbom Law Offices :

Areas of Practice

BUSINESS FORMATION/CONTRACTS

Kathleen Urbom represents many types of businesses and enjoys working, planning and implementing business operations from startup through growth and expansion. She prepares the documents required for formation of numerous business entities: C and S Corporations, Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies and Trusts. At any stage of a business operation, there are needs for due diligence investigation, negotiation, negotiation support, contracts, contract review, identification of the form of legal entities best suited to bring about the client’s intentions, and many other tasks with legal and financial consequences.

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

Ms. Urbom has extensive experience working with Contractors and Subcontractors and has drafted specialized documents, which include owner agreements, subcontracts, equipment leasing, and employee hand books and contracts. She has provided legal advice regarding associated financing and some limited areas of government contracting. The men and women in construction are oriented to the bottom line, speak succinctly, and avoid legal problems wherever possible. The focus is on avoiding problems, and assisting in solving problems, using her considerable knowledge, experience and skills in developing clear contracts and identification of areas to be resolved prior to litigation, or accounted for in pricing and terms. These skill sets have also been valuable to clients in managing insurance company representation of their claims.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Another extension of Ms. Urbom’s business representation has been residential and commercial real estate transactions. In most real estate transactions, written contracts are drafted to clearly identify the terms, due diligence tasks are performed (the process of verification of various facts of the real property and the transaction terms), and documents are prepared for closing. Frequently, there are also questions related to zoning, title impediments, taxing, financing of the sale or purchase, or the intricacies of more complex transactions, such as like kind property exchanges. Commercial real property also brings up issues related to operations, including tenant improvements, leasing, maintenance, taxing, insurance, and ongoing regulatory compliance issues.

CONTRACT LITIGATION

This is the “big stick” area most clients desire to avoid. Ms. Urbom’s practice in this area has been inevitable and invaluable, as it identifies and clarifies steps to be taken to minimize or mitigate the possibility of litigation for a client. Because of the business orientation of this litigation practice, the first and final issue is cost versus value in all prosecution of litigation. Thorough and excellent preparation is the most effective foundation for a client who must contend with litigation. This preparation includes fact finding and development of persuasive evidence, as well as utilizing current legal research on the principles by which a court will determine the outcome of the litigation.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

For over 20 years, Ms. Urbom spent time representing parents of children with disabilities all over the state of Kansas to assure appropriate education plans in the least restrictive environment. Under federal and state legislation and regulations, parents and school districts are charged with the responsibility of implementing individualized education plans (IEP) for each child who qualifies. There are also those children who qualify under the Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA) and §504 plans. Resolution of these issues ranges from attorney-facilitated IEP meetings, to due process hearings, to appeal and district court case proceedings.

MISCELLANEOUS PERSONAL LAW

Evaluation of claims, referral for personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability claims; preparation of wills and simple trusts, living wills, durable power of attorney for health care decisions, and durable power of attorney for asset management; and divorce representation. Ms. Urbom evaluates each of these issues to determine whether she will personally handle them or provide a referral to another attorney.