Mercer Law PLLC specializes in advising businesses on all aspects of independent contractor law including:
- Compliance Counseling
- Audits Representation – L&I, ESD, IRS
- Agency Appeals – L&I, ESD, IRS
- Contract/Document Preparation
Bottomline, we help our clients safely navigate audits and appeals and other legal issues, resulting in thousands of dollars in savings and peace of mind that they are doing things correctly.
Compliance Counseling
Our firm has extensive experience counseling businesses on every aspect of working with independent contractors, including choosing whether the independent contractor classification is appropriate; preparing compliant contracts and legal documentation; customizing compliance strategies based on types of independent contractors and operational needs; converting independent contractors to employees as needed, or implementing hybrid independent contractor strategies.
Check out 10 Common Mistakes Businesses With Independent Contractors Make
Audit Representation
Mercer Law has extensive experience representing businesses that are being audited by state and federal agencies, including Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (“L&I”), Washington State Employment Security Department (“ESD”), and the IRS. Over the years, we have represented hundreds of Washington companies in ESD, L&I and IRS audits.
Representative clients include: hospitals and clinics; group therapy practices; interpreter and translation agencies; tutoring agencies; orchestras and theater companies; general contractors (new construction, remodeling, painting, drywall, carpentry, roofing, etc.); janitorial franchises; window-cleaning companies; landscaping services; delivery/messenger services; restaurants; barber shops and salons; trucking companies; contractor referral companies; HR consulting services; law firms; etc.
Check out Biggest Mistakes you can Make in an Audit.
Agency Appeals
Mercer Law is particularly and uniquely experienced in representing companies in L&I, ESD and IRS appeals, with more than 75 percent of our work involving representing businesses in audits or appeals. In the last 10 years, we’ve handled hundreds of audits and appeals. We therefore know the process, we often know the agency personnel involved, and we of course know the applicable law and the arguments and strategies that can lead to the best chances of success.
Having represented clients in hundreds of independent contractor audits and appeals, our principal attorney is also a go-to legal counsel in Washington State for attorneys whose clients need experienced audit and/or appeal counsel.
Check out Things to Consider When Appealing an L&I Audit Decision (Parts 1– 4)
Contract/Document Preparation
Independent contractor agreements are not simply helpful to have. They are a crucial element of compliance. Our firm has extensive experience drafting independent contractor agreements that have over the years successfully stood the test of independent contractor audits and appeals.
Check out Independent Contractor Agreements – What Should They Include?