Text graphic that says Legal Lift

Legal Lift Digital Program 2026


Jump To:

 
Event Details Meet our Partners Info Sessions Panel Luncheon Resource Exhibitors Coaching Sessions

Are you a small business owner navigating taxes, changing laws, or insurance? Here is a chance to take your business to the next level!

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.

Event Details

Date: Monday, May 18
Time: 9:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Location: McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State
Cost: Free to attend

Meet our Partners

Partner logos
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.

 

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 Sessions

Info sessions presented by event partners include:

Getting Started: Company Formation, Tax Status & Capitalization Best Practices 

Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Partner: Smith Anderson
Speaker: TBD

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.

The Numbers: Business Accounting Primer 

Time: 10:40 - 11:40 a.m.
Partner: EisnerAmper
Speaker: Julie Dillon

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.

Business Insurance Essentials: Coverage, Risk & Protection

Time: 11:50 - 12:40 p.m.
Partner: Jones Advisors
Speaker: TBD

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.

Start Up and Small Business Assets: People and IP

Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Partner: Smith Anderson
Speaker: TBD

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).

Employee Ownership: Preserve Legacy & Build Resilience 

Time: 3:10 - 4:00 p.m.
Partner: North Carolina Employee Ownership Center
Speaker: Luke Hoffman

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. 

Panel Luncheon

Hosted by City of Raleigh Small Business Development:

Dollars, Decisions, and Doing Business: A Banking Conversation

Time: 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
Speakers: Mark Weldon, City of Raleigh Small Business Development Manager; Monica Molina, Carolina Small Business Development Fund; Roberta McCullough, Institute Capital; Dean Gooden, North State Bank 

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. 

Welcoming Statement from the City of Raleigh

Time: 12:55 - 1:05 p.m.
Speaker: Janet Cowell, Mayor

Raleigh’s small business community is thriving, driven by a spirit of innovation, resilience, and possibility. Today’s economic momentum creates an environment where new ideas can take root, grow, and truly flourish. Entrepreneurs who embrace these opportunities — and tap into the partnerships, resources, and financial tools available — are well‑positioned to shape the next chapter of our region’s success.

Resource Exhibitors

Meet local non-profits and organizations supporting the small business community and network with peers.

  • City of Raleigh Small Business Development
  • City of Raleigh Business Engagement and Opportunities Program 
  • City of Raleigh Planning and Development 
  • Capital Area Workforce Development 
  • Carolina Small Business Development Fund 
  • Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 
  • EisnerAmper 
  • Institute Capital 
  • Jones Advisors
  • NC Department of Transportation, Office of Economic Opportunity & Compliance 
  • NC Department of Administration, Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses 
  • NC Department of the Secretary of State
  • North Carolina Employee Ownership Center
  • North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center
  • North State Bank
  • Operation HOPE
  • Prospera
  • SCORE Raleigh
  • Smith Anderson
  • The Loading Dock
  • The Wright Village
  • Veterans Business Outreach Center
  • Wake County
  • Wake Tech Entrepreneurship and Small Business Center
  • Women's Business Center of NC 

Coaching Sessions

Attendees are eligible to sign up after the event for limited one-on-one “Ask-an-Expert” coaching sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your business with the knowledge and tools you need to succeed!

Department:
Economic and Social Advancement
Service Categories:
Small Business Development

Subscribe

 
Scroll to top