Business Law Group

Since 1905, the business and corporate attorneys at Lathrop & Clark have assisted a wide array of entrepreneurs and businesses with organizational, operational, contract, transaction, and compliance issues.

Our assistance to businesses begins at inception. We offer guidance on the choice of entity and the practical and legal implications of each choice. Throughout the life of a sole proprietorship, an S or C corporation, partnership or limited liability company or partnership, we provide counsel on regulatory compliance, leases, tax issues, contracts and related matters. In addition, we offer advice on the sale of goods and services, dealerships, franchising, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, unfair competition, antitrust issues, and buy and sell contracts.

In our practice, we work with small and family-owned businesses, corporations and business organizations of all sizes. The level of service we provide depends on the needs of the client. In some cases, business owners do not have in-house counsel and rely on us to provide all of their legal needs. In other cases, we work with in-house counsel to address those legal needs requiring skills or experience not available in-house.

We help all of our business clients achieve stability and growth. For example, when additional capital is needed, we offer advice on mergers, ESOPs, and other methods of financing. To ensure the continuation of family owned businesses, we work with business owners to develop and implement succession plans that are fair and equitable to all potential heirs, whether or not they are actively involved in the business. In addition, we assist business owners with “cashing out” of their business entities.

The purchase or sale of a business often gives rise to a host of new issues, including liability for and the resolution of pending claims and litigation, the continuation of employee benefits, compliance with existing employment contracts, tax consequences, the structuring of financing, and the ownership of intellectual property. We work with our clients to ensure that each of these issues is resolved to their benefit.

When a business entity has run its course, we provide assistance with dissolution and the legal issues that may arise, such as the settlement of all claims and debt, shareholder or member rights, and the distribution of assets.

Members of the Business Law Group also counsel nonprofit entities on organizational and operational matters.

In addition, our attorneys represent financial institutions and borrowers in commercial and banking transactions, including secured transactions, and the documentation and collection of commercial loans and other financial obligations.

Due to the diversity of issues that often arise in business law, it is frequently necessary to draw on other resources available from Lathrop & Clark, including attorneys in our patent, trademark and copyright, real estate, labor and employment, tax and litigation groups.

We believe that the success of a business is closely related to the quality of its legal counsel. It is a source of great pride that we have provided our business clients with the advice and counsel necessary for them to grow and thrive.

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