Business law counsel
We provide business law counsel to businesses at all stages. From startups to established enterprises, we assist in business entity creation and management to exit or sale. This involves navigating formation, ensuring regulatory compliance, handling commercial transactions and negotiations, and drafting contracts. We help clients navigate the legal landscape to achieve goals and strategically plan for challenges in operations, growth, and competition.
Starting a Business
If you’re embarking on the journey of starting a new business, there are crucial steps for laying a robust foundation. Before diving into this exciting venture, let us guide you towards the right path. We guide critical decisions like franchising, ideal business entity (LLC, corporation, partnership, joint venture), and tax elections like S-Corp. We also advise on securing funding and investors, commercial lease agreements, mitigating risks, minimizing tax burdens, and ensuring long-term viability. This includes preparing your business for growth, a successful sale, or transition when the time is right.
When forming your entity, we draft essential documents like articles of incorporation, bylaws, and resolutions. We also prepare shareholder agreements, stock plans, Board policies, operating agreements, and partnership agreements. These documents are legally sound and customized to align with your business interests.
The world of franchise, whether as a franchisor or franchisee, involves navigating complex legal considerations. Our comprehensive legal franchise services are designed to support both parties, ensuring compliance and protecting interests.
For franchisors, we prepare and ensure compliance with the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and draft and review franchise agreements. We also handle trademark registration and protection and help navigate regulatory compliance with the FTC and state laws. Further, we provide ongoing compliance support and intellectual property protection to safeguard your brand and proprietary systems.
For franchisees, we evaluate franchise opportunities by reviewing the FDD and franchise agreement, identifying risks, and negotiating favorable terms. We offer guidance on financing options, lease agreements, and other legal matters related to establishing and operating your franchise. Our services ensure you understand your rights and obligations, securing your investment.
Operating and Growing Your Business
Operating and growing a business requires navigating a complex landscape to ensure compliance, protect assets, and position for future growth. Our legal services encompass a wide range of solutions designed to support every stage of your business journey. We provide ongoing legal support. This involves addressing day-to-day business matters, keeping you updated on legal changes, and advising on all legal concerns.
We offer comprehensive compliance and regulatory advice to keep your business aligned with local, state, and federal regulations. We also stay updated on industry-specific requirements. As your company expands or pursues investments, we excel in negotiating and drafting key documents. These include investment agreements, entity modifications, and conversions. In short, our goal is to ensure that you maintain the desired equity and decision-making control throughout these processes.
Protecting your business intellectual property is crucial. We advise you on branding and IP assets and assist in securing trademarks, copyrights, and patents. In addition, we providing strategies for IP enforcement, licensing, royalties, and handling infringement disputes.
We guide you on best practices in employment law, ensuring compliance with labor laws and handling disputes. We also manage wrongful termination claims and workplace investigations. Risk management and liability reduction are key aspects of our service. We help identify legal risks, advise on insurance needs, and structure agreements to limit liability exposure.
We also draft client, vendor, partner, and contractor agreements specific to your business. Our goal in this regard is to ensure legal compliance, soundness, efficiency, and minimization of risks and liabilities.
Tax planning and strategy form a key component of our offering. We collaborate with your tax advisors on efficient structures, assist with compliance, and develop strategies to minimize liabilities.
As your business law counsel, we implement necessary protections and safeguards in your agreements. This proactive approach ensures that when transactions face challenges, your company can swiftly resolve issues. We act quickly to prevent potential impacts on your company, strategic partnerships, and investments. Our focus is on fortifying your business against potential risks as well as fostering resilience in the face of uncertainties. While our goal is to help you avoid litigation, when the need arises, we have skilled business litigators. Our dispute resolution and litigation services represent your business in legal disputes. We explore alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and arbitration, and protecting your interests in court.
With our comprehensive legal services, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the legal complexities. Our experienced team is dedicated to safeguarding your interests and helping you achieve long-term success.
Selling or Transitioning Your Business Using Business Law Counsel
Selling a business, merging with another entity, or planning an exit strategy involves intricate legal processes that require expert guidance. Our comprehensive legal services are designed to navigate these complexities. We ensure a smooth transition and safeguarding your interests throughout the process.
When it comes to selling a business, we provide end-to-end support with business law counsel. Start with preparing your business for sale, we then conduct thorough due diligence. This helps identify and address any potential issues that could impact the transaction. Our team assists in properly valuing your business. We also prepare all necessary documentation, including financial statements, operational records, and legal compliance reports. We draft and negotiate the sale agreement, ensuring that your interests are protected and that terms are favorable. Throughout the process, we work closely with you to manage negotiations, structure the deal, and facilitate a seamless closing.
In the case of mergers, our legal services cover every aspect of the merger process. We conduct comprehensive due diligence on the target company, evaluating its financial health, legal standing, and potential risks. Our team drafts and reviews all merger-related documents, including letters of intent, merger agreements, and shareholder agreements. We guide you through regulatory approvals and compliance requirements, ensuring that the merger aligns with legal standards. Our aim is to structure the merger in a way that maximizes synergies, minimizes risks, and achieves your strategic goals.
In considering an exit strategy, we offer tailored legal advice to create a roadmap that aligns with your long-term objectives. This includes developing a comprehensive succession plan to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and ownership. We work with you to identify potential successors, whether they are family members, key employees, or external buyers. We assist in drafting succession planning documents. These include buy-sell agreements, shareholder agreements, and estate planning instruments. These documents facilitate transfer of ownership in a manner that preserves the value of the business and minimizes tax liabilities.
We also provide guidance on various other exit strategies. These include selling to a third party, merging with another company, or implementing an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Our team evaluates the pros and cons of each option, assesses market conditions, and advises on the most advantageous strategy.
Throughout the business life, our experienced team is dedicated to protecting your interests, ensuring compliance, and achieving the best outcomes. With our guidance, you can confidently navigate the complexities of selling, merging, or exiting your business.
