Professional business and corporate legal services protect ownership interests, clarify responsibilities, and create enforceable agreements that reduce litigation risk. From shareholder arrangements to purchase agreements and succession planning, strong legal foundations improve financing prospects, strengthen relationships with investors and partners, and preserve company value through predictable governance.
Consistent legal oversight reduces surprises by ensuring contracts include appropriate protections, governance documents reflect current ownership dynamics, and compliance obligations are monitored. This predictability supports better financial planning and reduces the likelihood of costly legal disputes.
Hatcher Legal, PLLC brings a combination of transactional experience, attention to detail, and a client-centered approach to business matters. We prioritize straightforward communication, pragmatic drafting, and cost-effective strategies that protect client interests while supporting operational needs and growth plans.
Periodic review of governance documents and contracts helps ensure continued alignment with business operations. We recommend scheduled check-ins to update agreements, address ownership changes, and verify regulatory compliance as the business evolves.
Form a separate legal entity when liability protection, tax planning, or investor considerations make it advisable. A formal entity such as an LLC or corporation separates personal assets from business obligations, clarifies ownership interests, and simplifies capital raising and contract relationships.Early formation also aids in establishing governance, creating necessary agreements, and positioning the business for future financing or sale. Discussing anticipated growth and investment plans helps choose the structure that best aligns with operational and tax objectives.
An asset purchase transfers specific assets and selected liabilities of the business, allowing buyers to avoid unknown company liabilities, while a stock purchase transfers ownership interests and the entity’s entire obligations. The choice affects tax treatment, indemnity obligations, and contract assignment procedures.Sellers and buyers weigh these tradeoffs against financing, tax consequences, and the continuity of contracts. Legal counsel helps structure terms, negotiate indemnities, and address assignment or consent requirements to protect both parties’ interests.
Yes, a shareholder or operating agreement is important because it documents ownership rights, decision-making authority, transfer restrictions, buyout mechanisms, and dispute resolution processes. These provisions reduce uncertainty and provide predictable solutions when ownership or management questions arise.Well-drafted agreements protect minority owners, set valuation methods for transfers, and establish processes for addressing deadlocks. Creating these documents early prevents escalating conflicts and preserves the business’s value and operational stability over time.
Protect your business when admitting partners or investors by documenting capital contributions, ownership percentages, voting rights, and exit terms. Include representations, warranties, and indemnities to allocate risk and consider restrictive covenants to safeguard confidential information and customer relationships.Use clear buy-sell provisions and valuation mechanisms to address future transfers, and require investor due diligence and disclosure to reduce surprises. Structured agreements improve transparency and provide remedies if expectations are not met during the partnership.
Before selling, organize financial records, contracts, employee arrangements, and corporate governance documents to make due diligence efficient and increase buyer confidence. Address outstanding liabilities and ensure compliance with tax and regulatory obligations to minimize surprises during negotiation.Consider pre-sale restructuring, valuation planning, and remediation of contractual issues to improve transaction value. Early legal involvement helps identify transfer requirements, necessary consents, and optimal transaction structure for tax and liability purposes.
Governance documents should be reviewed whenever significant changes occur, such as ownership transfers, financing events, or regulatory shifts. Even without major events, an annual or biennial review helps ensure that documents reflect current operations, control structures, and legal requirements.Regular review reduces the risk of internal disputes and ensures that provisions for decision-making, capital calls, and transfers remain effective as the business grows and market conditions evolve.
Yes, legal counsel can assist with contract disputes through negotiation, mediation, or litigation if necessary. Early intervention often resolves disputes more effectively; counsel can assess contractual obligations, propose settlement terms, and pursue remedies while protecting business relationships when possible.Documentation, performance records, and clear contractual clauses determine available remedies. Counsel helps preserve critical evidence, craft demand letters, and recommend dispute resolution pathways that are aligned with commercial priorities and cost considerations.
Due diligence in a sale or acquisition involves reviewing financial statements, contracts, employee agreements, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and potential liabilities. This process helps buyers validate representations and identify risks that affect price and deal structure.Sellers prepare by organizing documents, addressing compliance gaps, and disclosing material issues. Legal due diligence supports drafting of purchase agreements, indemnity clauses, and escrows to allocate risk and facilitate a smoother closing process.
Succession planning for family-owned businesses requires clear buy-sell provisions, valuation methods, and governance arrangements that address leadership transition and ownership transfers. Formal documents reduce emotional conflict and create predictable steps for transferring control or distributing proceeds.Plans should consider tax implications, long-term business viability, and family dynamics. Combining legal structuring with financial and estate planning ensures continuity of operations and aligns ownership transitions with broader family goals.
Whether to retain ongoing counsel or use limited-scope services depends on the frequency of legal needs and the complexity of operations. Companies with regular transactional activity or multiple stakeholders typically benefit from continuous counsel for governance and compliance oversight.For discrete matters such as a single contract review or one-off transaction, limited-scope services offer cost efficiency. Discussing anticipated needs with counsel helps determine the right engagement model to balance cost and access to legal guidance.
