Robust corporate legal support reduces business risk, clarifies governance, and creates predictable frameworks for transactions and disputes. By addressing compliance, contract terms and ownership structures early, companies avoid costly litigation and operational disruption. Sound legal planning enhances credibility with investors, lenders and partners, and positions a business to scale with fewer legal surprises.
Maintaining an ongoing legal relationship reduces legal uncertainty through regular document updates, compliance checks and proactive dispute management. Predictable legal processes help owners and managers plan investments, operations and strategic initiatives with a clearer understanding of potential liabilities and enforcement risks.
Clients choose Hatcher Legal for straightforward, business-focused counsel that emphasizes problem-solving and measurable results. Our attorneys combine transactional and litigation skills to provide balanced guidance whether negotiating deals or addressing disputes, and we aim to deliver practical solutions aligned with each client’s commercial objectives.
When conflicts develop, we assess dispute resolution options and prepare a strategy that balances cost, timing and business consequences. We pursue negotiated settlements where feasible and prepare for litigation when necessary to preserve the client’s legal rights and company value.
Choosing between an LLC and a corporation depends on tax treatment, ownership structure, investor expectations and management needs. An LLC often provides pass-through taxation and operational flexibility, while corporations may be preferable for outside investment, stock issuance and certain tax planning strategies; the right choice aligns with long-term business and financing plans. Assess your goals, planned capital structure, and potential investor requirements with legal counsel before deciding. Consider governance formalities, anticipated equity compensation, and state-specific filing rules. A tailored analysis helps select the entity that balances liability protection, tax efficiency and operational practicality for your company’s lifecycle.
A shareholder or operating agreement should cover ownership percentages, voting rights, transfer restrictions, buy-sell mechanisms, dispute resolution procedures, capital contribution expectations and management roles. Clear terms reduce ambiguity among owners and establish processes for decision-making, transfers, and handling departures or incapacity. Including buyout formulas, valuation methods and deadlock resolution mechanisms helps avoid protracted conflicts. Tailor the agreement to reflect the business’s day-to-day needs and contingency planning, and update it as ownership or strategic priorities change to keep protections effective over time.
Due diligence in an acquisition involves systematic review of corporate records, contracts, employment matters, financial statements, compliance history and potential liabilities. The goal is to identify risks, confirm representations and allocate responsibilities through warranties, indemnities and price adjustments in the purchase agreement. Buyers use findings to negotiate terms, request remedies, or adjust price and structure. Sellers should prepare by organizing documents, addressing known issues in advance, and providing transparent disclosures to streamline the process and reduce the risk of post-closing disputes.
Business succession planning coordinates ownership transition, tax considerations and governance changes to ensure continuity when an owner retires, becomes incapacitated or exits. Effective planning uses buy-sell agreements, estate coordination and operational succession strategies to align expectations and provide liquidity or ownership transfer mechanisms. Early planning allows tax-efficient approaches, orderly leadership transfer, and predictable outcomes for employees and family members. Working with legal counsel and financial advisors ensures the plan addresses liability protection, valuation methods and operational transition details to preserve business value.
To reduce contract disputes, use clear, unambiguous language detailing obligations, deliverables, timelines, payment terms and remedies for breach. Include dispute resolution clauses such as mediation or arbitration and define termination and notice procedures to limit uncertainty and provide structured escalation paths. Regular contract reviews, version control and consistent approval processes minimize conflicting commitments. Training staff on contract policies and centralizing contract management can prevent unauthorized agreements that expose the company to unintended risks or inconsistent obligations.
Mediation can be a cost-effective and confidential option when parties seek a negotiated resolution without the expense and public exposure of litigation. It often preserves business relationships and allows creative solutions that a court might not order, making it attractive for commercial disputes between partners or contracting parties. Mediation is most effective when both sides are willing to engage in good faith and the dispute revolves around negotiable commercial terms. Counsel can prepare negotiation positions, identify settlement zones and support the client through the mediation process to achieve practical outcomes.
Preparing a company for sale involves organizing corporate records, addressing outstanding liabilities, standardizing contracts, and ensuring financial statements are in order. Clean governance, clear ownership documentation and resolved employment issues improve buyer confidence and can enhance valuation during negotiations. Advance planning, including pre-sale due diligence, addressing regulatory or contract concerns, and implementing consistent operational controls, reduces transaction friction. Legal counsel helps structure the sale, draft transaction documents, and manage closing conditions to protect seller proceeds and limit post-closing exposure.
Good governance practices include clear decision-making authority, documented roles and responsibilities, regular meetings with minutes, and transparent financial reporting. These practices reduce misunderstandings among owners, promote accountability and make it easier to identify and address conflicts before they escalate. Adopting conflict resolution procedures, such as internal mediation or escalation paths, and updating governance documents as the business evolves, further reduces friction. Consistent application of governance rules fosters trust among stakeholders and supports stability during growth or transition.
Employment issues in transactions often involve transfer of staff, retention incentives, non-compete considerations and compliance with wage and benefit obligations. Addressing these matters in transaction documents and coordinating communication reduces employee disruption and legal risk associated with terminations or change-in-control events. Due diligence should evaluate employment contracts, independent contractor arrangements and pending claims. Structuring transition arrangements and aligning post-closing employment practices helps preserve key personnel, clarify obligations, and reduce the likelihood of employment-related disputes after a sale or merger.
Fee arrangements vary based on scope and complexity, including flat fees for discrete tasks, hourly billing for ongoing matters, and phased pricing for transactions. We discuss likely fee structures during the initial consultation and provide engagement letters that outline fees, billing practices and estimated costs for transparency and budgeting. For larger or longer engagements, alternative arrangements such as capped fees or blended rates may be possible. Clear communication about expectations and regular billing updates help clients manage legal expenses while ensuring necessary work is completed efficiently.
