Business Law

Many of our clients are small or closely held businesses, including single-member limited liability companies (LLCs) and mom-and-pop businesses. We understand the satisfaction of being your own boss and the challenges small business owners face. We assist clients in choosing the best business structure, whether it's a limited liability company, corporation, or another form. We also help determine the optimal tax status, such as C-corporation, S-corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship.

Our corporate and LLC law practice focuses on the formation, structure, and operation of business entities. Business owners must understand and carefully choose the structure that best matches the needs of their company while ensuring they are sufficiently insulated from personal liability. We are particularly knowledgeable about LLCs and can guide you through the complexities of LLC formation and management. Our services include:

• Drafting and filing articles of organization
• Creating operating agreements
• Advising on the roles, rights, and responsibilities of LLC members and mangers or corporate shareholders, directors, and officers
• Ensuring compliance with state regulations

We also provide ongoing support to help businesses navigate changes and growth, including converting from one business structure to another, mergers, buying or selling a business, financing, and addressing issues related to corporate governance and compliance.

We provide comprehensive legal services for business and commercial transactions. Our services include:

• Drafting and reviewing contracts
• Negotiating agreements
• Advising on mergers and acquisitions
• Assisting with financing and investment transactions

Our business attorneys rely on their extensive experience in business law, contract law, and commercial transactions to help business owners fashion contracts that lead to successful, profitable business transactions and relationships. We assist clients with contracts related to:

• Buying or selling a business
• Franchise agreements
• Commercial leases
• Construction contracts
• Confidentiality agreements
• Noncompete agreements
• Copyright and trademark licenses
• Security interests
• Personal guaranties
• Loans and financing

Our goal is to ensure that your business transactions are legally sound and aligned with your business objectives.

Unfortunately, despite the best of intentions, businesses sometimes find themselves in disputes. We represent clients in a wide range of business disputes, including:

• Breach of contract
• Disputes between business owners including corporate shareholders and LLC members
• Employment issues
• Disputes regarding noncompete agreements, confidentiality agreements, and licensing

We work diligently to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively. We prefer to resolve disputes informally, through negotiation or informal alternative dispute resolution processes, but when litigation is necessary, we are there to help.

Planning for the future is crucial for any business. Our business law attorneys and estate planning attorneys work together to develop comprehensive business succession plans for small and closely held businesses, ensuring a smooth transition of ownership and management. Our services include:

• Creating buy-sell agreements
• Advising on estate planning
• Structuring family business transitions

We often find it useful to designate LLC interests or corporate stock as transfer-on-death property. This approach helps ensure that ownership transfers smoothly without the need for probate. Additionally, we assist in organizing businesses in a way that allows for ownership to be shared among future generations without dividing the assets. For more information on our estate planning services, please visit our Estate Planning and Probate page.

We also provide legal services to nonprofit organizations. Our attorneys assist with:

• Formation and incorporation
• Obtaining tax-exempt status
• Compliance with state and federal regulations
• Governance and operational issues

Our experience can help your organization acquire and maintain its tax-exempt status. We represent new organizations, including the formation of nonprofit corporations (including articles of incorporation, bylaws, and organizational meetings and resolutions of the board of directors) and in obtaining recognition of tax-exempt status through Form 1023 or Form 1024. We also assist established nonprofits with ongoing compliance and governance matters, ensuring they continue to meet regulatory requirements and operate effectively.

We are committed to supporting the important work of nonprofit organizations and ensuring they have the legal foundation needed to thrive.