Legal Lift 2026

Calling all local small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs! Join us for a FREE event designed to empower and help you navigate common legal, accounting, banking, and insurance concerns that all businesses face every day.

Meet Our Partners!

Smith Anderson

Smith Anderson is the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle. Smith Anderson is a combination of legal innovators with a culture and heritage that has been shaped for more than 100 years.

EisnerAmper

EisnerAmper services large enterprises, privately owned companies, governmental entities, and high-net-worth individuals that have complex short- and long-term financial and accounting needs. These clients rely on EisnerAmper for comprehensive audit, accounting, advisory, consulting and tax services, delivered with integrity, reliability, and expert insights.

Jones Advisors

Jones Advisors is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency proudly serving the Triangle and surrounding communities since 1956. As the largest independent agency in the Triangle, we provide comprehensive personal and commercial insurance solutions backed by a dedicated team of more than 50 experienced agents. As a full-service risk management firm, we go beyond policies, we build partnerships.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund

Carolina Small Business Development Fund is a nonprofit and U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution that fosters economic development in underserved communities through access to capital, technical assistance, and policy research to light the way for small businesses.

Institute Capital

Institute Capital is a certified Community Development Financial Institution that provides debt and investment capital to affordable housing developers, community-based development organizations and small businesses, with a goal to revitalize and transform diverse communities through access to capital for small businesses and access to affordable housing.

North State Bank

North State Bank is an independent community bank headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, with seven offices across Wake and New Hanover counties. In addition to comprehensive personal and business banking, North State Bank houses divisions dedicated to community association banking, mortgage lending, government‑guaranteed lending, and a specialized lending group that serves local home builders.

North Carolina Employee Ownership Center

North Carolina Employee Ownership Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand the number of employee-owned companies in North Carolina. No cost services include educating business owners and trusted advisors on employee ownership options including Employee Stock Ownership Plans, Employee Owned Trusts, and Worker Cooperatives.

City of Raleigh Small Business Development

The City of Raleigh Small Business Development team serves as an ally to small businesses throughout our community. The Small Business Development team recognizes the challenges and rewards of starting or expanding a business. We are committed to offering a range of resources to strengthen the small business ecosystem and promote equity and interconnectedness.

***Legal Disclaimer***

Smith Anderson's involvement in this event and the information its professionals cover at the event will be provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The issues discussed at the event will be general in nature and do not reflect or address any specific individual situation. Involvement by Smith Anderson, its professionals, the City of Raleigh, and your attendance at the event, will not create any attorney-client relationship between you and Smith Anderson or any of its professionals. The City of Raleigh and its staff are not, in any way, engaged in the practice of law at this event.

Info: Smith Anderson will provide a summary of the fundamentals of choosing the appropriate entity for your business and basic tax effects of each. In addition to learning about differences between corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, you will also receive a general introduction to key issues and best practices you should be aware of when raising capital.

Info: EisnerAmper will provide insight into the accounting dos and don’ts for small businesses.  We will cover topics such as basic accounting, accounting software, 1099 compliance, an overview of sales tax, how and when estimated payments play a part, and some of the tax consequences of choosing various entities.

Info: Jones Advisors will break down essential coverages, highlight common risks, and explore how thoughtfully tailored insurance solutions can help safeguard income and operations at every stage of your business in a clear, practical way.

Info: Small business owners are eager to understand how banks assess business needs, what financing options support different stages of growth, and how to build lasting relationships with financial partners. This lunch panel discussion will equip entrepreneurs with practical insights to support long‑term financial resilience and success. Topics of discussion will include guidance on strengthening cash‑flow management, improving financial preparedness, and accessing available resources.

Info: Smith Anderson will cover issues related to maintaining and protecting two types of assets critical to the success of any business at any level: People (employees, advisors and consultants) and Intellectual Property (copyrights, patents, and trademarks).

Info: The North Carolina Employee Ownership Center will cover the primary methods of employee ownership: Employee Stock Ownership Plans, Employee Ownership Trusts, and Worker Cooperatives. Employee ownership is a succession planning tool that keeps businesses open and locally owned while providing employees with a powerful wealth-building capability: ownership in a thriving business.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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