Proactive legal guidance reduces exposure to regulatory penalties, contract disputes, and governance breakdowns. Sound corporate documents, well-crafted agreements, and clear ownership plans increase investor confidence and smooth transactions. Timely counsel also helps preserve financial value in sales or succession and lowers the chance of disruptive litigation that can drain resources and damage reputation.
Comprehensive counsel identifies contractual, regulatory, and governance risks and helps implement policies and documents to mitigate them. Consistent procedures, clear decision-making authority, and well-drafted agreements reduce exposure to costly litigation, penalties, and operational interruptions.
Hatcher Legal offers focused business and estate law services, with experience in corporate formation, shareholder agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial litigation. Our work seeks to align legal documents with practical business needs, preserve value in transactions, and resolve disputes efficiently while maintaining client priorities.
We remain available for post-closing matters, enforcement of contractual rights, mediation, or litigation if disputes arise. Ongoing advisory helps clients adapt governance and agreements to changing business realities and avoids legal gaps that could later become costly.
Choosing an entity depends on factors such as liability protection, tax treatment, management flexibility, funding needs, and long-term goals. An LLC often offers pass-through taxation and flexible management for smaller ventures, while a corporation can be preferable for outside investment or certain tax strategies. Each option carries compliance requirements that affect cost and administration. We evaluate your industry, investor plans, and anticipated growth to recommend a structure that balances liability protection and administrative burden. Our analysis includes discussion of formation steps, recordkeeping obligations, and how ownership transfers will be governed so the structure supports future transactions and succession planning.
Shareholder agreements govern relationships between owners, setting rules for voting, transfer of shares, distributions, and dispute resolution. They can require buy-sell mechanisms that provide predictable outcomes if an owner withdraws, becomes incapacitated, or dies, reducing uncertainty and the risk of protracted conflicts that harm the business. A well-drafted agreement also addresses valuation methods, restrictions on transfers to third parties, and deadlock resolution processes. It preserves business continuity by clarifying expectations and providing practical steps to resolve common ownership issues without resorting to costly litigation.
Governing documents should be reviewed when there are changes in ownership, management, significant financing, or regulatory shifts that affect operations. Regular reviews ensure that bylaws, operating agreements, and shareholder arrangements reflect current business realities and prevent gaps that could lead to disputes or compliance problems. Additionally, documents should be updated before major transactions like mergers or sales, during succession planning, or when adding new classes of equity. Proactive updates align legal frameworks with strategic objectives and preserve value during transitions.
Buying or selling a business typically involves preliminary negotiations and term sheets, thorough due diligence, drafting and negotiation of definitive agreements, allocation of liabilities, and regulatory or contractual consents. Each step requires careful attention to representations, warranties, indemnities, and closing conditions that allocate risk between parties. Post-closing integration and closing deliverables complete the transaction, including transfer of assets, payment of purchase price, and updating corporate records. Legal counsel coordinates these activities, advises on tax and escrow arrangements, and helps manage transition plans to preserve ongoing operations and stakeholder relationships.
Preparing for a potential dispute involves documenting governance procedures, enforcing meeting and voting protocols, and ensuring contracts clearly define decision-making and financial rights. Early steps include reviewing ownership agreements for buy-sell options and clarifying roles and responsibilities to reduce ambiguity that can fuel conflict. If disputes arise, consider negotiation or mediation to preserve relationships and limit disruption. When necessary, legal action may be required; counsel will evaluate strengths and weaknesses, gather evidence, and pursue resolution strategies that aim to protect the business and achieve a practical outcome.
Due diligence in an acquisition examines financial statements, tax returns, material contracts, corporate records, employment matters, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and pending litigation. The goal is to identify liabilities, contingent obligations, and areas needing remediation that could affect valuation or closing conditions. Buyers use due diligence findings to negotiate price adjustments, carve-outs, indemnities, and representations. Sellers should prepare accurate documentation and address foreseeable issues in advance to facilitate a smoother process and avoid surprises that could jeopardize the transaction.
Employment-related risks include wage and hour compliance, classification of workers, employment agreements, confidentiality, noncompete and non-solicitation clauses where enforceable, and wrongful termination claims. Addressing these issues proactively through clear policies and compliant agreements reduces exposure and supports fair workplace practices. When disputes emerge, early intervention and careful documentation can mitigate escalation. Legal counsel can assist in drafting compliant employment policies, responding to claims, and negotiating severance or settlement agreements to resolve matters while protecting business interests.
Mediation can be effective when parties seek a confidential, structured negotiation with a neutral mediator to reach a settlement. It is often faster and less costly than litigation and preserves relationships by focusing on negotiated solutions rather than win/lose outcomes determined in court. Mediation is appropriate when parties are willing to engage in good faith and when the dispute centers on business relationships, contractual interpretation, or valuation issues. Counsel prepares clients for mediation, frames realistic settlement objectives, and advises on potential terms to achieve a durable resolution.
Estate planning supports business succession by coordinating personal and business documents so ownership transfers occur smoothly and minimize tax and family conflict. Tools include buy-sell provisions, trusts, wills, and powers of attorney that align business continuity with personal legacy goals and financial planning considerations. Early coordination between business and estate planning helps establish valuation methods, funding mechanisms for buyouts, and contingency plans for unexpected events. Legal guidance ensures documents integrate with corporate governance to facilitate orderly transitions that protect business value and family interests.
During an initial consultation we listen to your goals, review basic facts about the business and its documents, and identify priority issues. This conversation helps us understand the scope of work, proposed timelines, and likely cost considerations so you can decide how to proceed with confidence. We will outline potential strategies, explain the next steps, and provide a clear engagement proposal describing services and fee arrangements. The objective is to give practical options and a roadmap so you can move forward with an informed plan tailored to your needs.
