Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD

A few things are certain: Death, taxesand the countless ways a practice sale can be brought to a screeching halt.

Tougher standards can improve the legal professions well-deserved reputation.

Templates make the business paperwork easy, but the catch is knowing where to look for problems.

Lawsuits and nuisance employees should give aspiring veterinary owners perspective.

To my fellow attorneys: Do good for your clients rather than derailing their plans while your meter is running.

Understanding the power granted to veterinary boards may help you navigate interaction with them.

Simple practice policy may not protect you from employees out to damage your veterinary business.

This author is sick of hearing, I want to sell my practice ASAPjust like youre sick of hearing, I knew I should have brought Max in sooner.

The employer-employee relationship holds hidden dangers for practice owners.

A greater level of flexibility in your veterinary career comes with increased responsibility.

Avoid credit cards and recognize the reality of interest-only loans.

You may know what brick-and-mortar items a clinic needs, but have you ever considered protecting your intellectual property as well?

Maybe not, but you can make selling your practice an easier prospect by making thoughtful choices today.

Economic realities and flawed assumptions mean trouble for production-based compensation models in veterinary practice.

Associates: Dont leave your contract negotiation up to chance. Understanding protectable interest and including a reasonable deferral period will get you closer to the contract you want.

Aging is inevitable, but the ability to retire is in your handsso plan ahead to avoid getting caught in false financial security.

You left your job to open your own clinic, and now your former employer wants to sue. Don't panic yet-it's time to look at the facts.I recently received the following request from a veterinarian: "I'm planning on leaving my associate position with a large veterinary corporation to open my own clinic. I'd like you to review my employment contract to make sure that I can't be sued."

Veterinarians: Don't gamble with your money-take control of it.

There's plenty of legal mumbo-jumbo out there to assertain what is a reasonable distance or period for veterinarians not to compete.

Implement this action plan to deal with your volatile veterinary clients-and avoid any dangerous situations in the process.

Veterinary owners looking to sell in the next decade face unprecedented levels of market competition from fellow baby boomers. Here's how to position your practice to sell to a new generation of buyers.

The Affordable Care Act may make it financially sensible for your small veterinary practice to stop providing an employee plan. It may also eliminate a part of ownership that was a headache anyway.

If veterinarians delegate too many tasks they risk taking themselves out of the loop. Don't delegate enough and risk inefficiencies and employee resentment. Here's how to get it just right.

There are real-world effects if a handful of veterinary clinics from the same geographic area foster an anticompetitive environment.

Massachusetts, among other states, is looking to ban these controversial clauses you may find when signing on as an associate.

Management, legal and ethical issues abound when veterinarians recommend 'emergency' procedures to hesitant pet owners.

Are you a penniless new veterinary grad? These two strategies can make a huge impact on your bank account and debt load.

A carefully planned strategy could make you a contender in the race for veterinary practice ownership.

Transitioning veterinary associates to production-based pay.

Expanding your veterinary practice into a new facility doesn't have to keep you awake at night-if you take necessary precautions ahead of time.