Creating clear shareholder and partnership agreements helps prevent disputes by documenting roles, rights, and obligations. It supports orderly governance, establishes buy-sell rules to avoid deadlock, and provides a framework for valuations and transfers during sale, retirement, or exit events, reducing uncertainty and facilitating smoother operations.
A holistic agreement clarifies who controls major decisions, how votes are counted, and how conflicts are resolved. This reduces ambiguity, enhances accountability, and speeds decision-making during critical moments like financing rounds, leadership changes, or strategic pivots.
Hatcher Legal, PLLC brings responsive, practical advice tailored to North Carolina businesses. We work with startups, family-owned companies, and growing firms in Wake Forest and surrounding areas to draft agreements that protect value, clarify governance, and support confident decision-making.
We offer periodic reviews to adjust terms for changes in ownership, law, taxes, or business strategy, helping you stay compliant and prepared for future developments. Our team coordinates updates, amends schedules, and communicates implications to all stakeholders.
A shareholder agreement governs ownership, voting, and transfer rules. It helps prevent disputes by documenting expectations and providing a clear decision-making framework. This reduces surprises during growth, financing rounds, or leadership changes. Additionally, it offers remedies and buy-sell options that support orderly transitions and protect both minority and majority interests.
A partnership agreement applies to partnerships and LLCs with member-managed governance or partner-driven control. It outlines profit sharing, decision rights, and dissolution procedures, ensuring members understand their roles and remedies when disagreements occur. A shareholder agreement governs stock, voting, buy-sell arrangements, and the relationship with the board and management. It provides mechanisms for transfers, valuations, and dispute resolution that align with corporate objectives.
Signatories typically include founders, current owners, and key investors. When minors are involved or trusts hold interests, updates may be needed to address those holders. In many NC cases, counsel facilitates execution and ensures compliance with securities and corporate rules.
Agreements should be reviewed and updated after major events—funding rounds, new partners, or leadership changes. A periodic review helps maintain relevance and enforceability.
Deadlock situations occur when two sides disagree on critical matters. A buy-sell clause, mediation, or third-party appraisal can provide a release valve. Structured remedies help preserve operations while preserving relationships.
A buy-sell provision sets when and how ownership can transfer, including pricing methods. It protects founders and investors from unwanted entrants and ensures continuity. It also creates a predictable process for liquidity events, reducing the risk of forced sales and preserving business value.
Drafting time depends on complexity. A simple agreement can take a few weeks; larger deals may require more time. We prioritize clarity, stakeholder input, and compliance with NC law. Our process balances speed with thoroughness, delivering a practical document ready for execution.
Before a lawyer meeting, gather ownership details, roles, prospective investor terms, and goals. Collect corporate documents, current agreements, and any looming timelines. Having existing financial information and a negotiation posture helps the drafting team create a tailored, enforceable agreement.
Yes, these agreements are central to succession planning by clarifying who takes control and how interests transfer. They set timelines, compensations, and governance changes that sustain continuity.
Yes, ongoing updates are common as ownership, strategy, or laws change. We recommend annual reviews and ad hoc amendments when needed. Regular updates keep terms enforceable and aligned with business evolution, financing goals, and regulatory requirements.
