Business Law

Business Law

Starting a Business Brochure (pdf)

Business Law is one of the most expansive, complex and necessary aspects of legal practice. Our business law attorneys will assist you every step of the way – from set-up to acquisitions, asset sales, stock and labor disputes and beyond.

Business Law encompasses the law governing contracts, sales, commercial paper, agency and employment law, business organizations, duties of officers, shareholders and members, property, insurance and business succession planning. We work on the above issues, including starting, selling, or buying a business, mergers and acquisitions, managing a business, dealing with employees, drafting contract and other business-related matters.

Practicing in this area: Mark Fuhrman, Chris Dodge, Dale Gregory, Kelly J. Stohr, Emilie A. Dozer

Contracts / Contract Dispute Resolution

Contracts are agreements that are legally enforceable. A contract may involve a duty to do or refrain from doing something, and the failure to perform such duty is called a breach of contract. The law provides remedies if a promise is breached – aiming to restore the person wronged to the position they would occupy if the contract had not been breached. A contract may be express or implied, lateral or bilateral, or written or oral. However, oral contracts may be more difficult to prove and the time to sue on the contract is shorter. We focus on reviewing, drafting and enforcing all types of contracts for clients. In fact, many of the practice areas of our firm involve reviewing, drafting and enforcement of contracts.

Practicing in this area: Mark Fuhrman, Chris Dodge, Jeanne Armstrong, Dale Gregory, Kelly J. Stohr, Emilie A. Dozer

Business Succession Planning

No company can survive without an able owner or manager in control. In the event of a shareholder, owner or manager’s death, illness, or retirement, businesses are often left scrambling to find suitable replacements. Without a succession plan, an owner, manager or shareholder’s interest in the company is passed on as part of a Probate estate or absorbed by another shareholder or member. This often leads to disputes, particularly in family-owned businesses. This, in turn, leads to instability or the inability to purchase the shares or membership interest in the deceased, ill or disabled individual. The idea behind Business Succession Planning is to put in place a plan that will allow for a smooth transition in the event of death, illness or disability. Our attorneys work with the key members of the organization to devise a plan that allows the entity to move forward with as little disruption as possible.

Practicing in this area: Mark Fuhrman, Kelly J. Stohr

Intellectual Property / Trademark

Protecting brand names and logos through trademark law is a key part of a successful business. We focus on creating strong trademarks and effective strategies to protect both established and developing companies’ brands. Our attorneys guide clients through the entire trademark lifecycle, from selection, searching, application, prosecution, registration and maintenance for both federal and state trademarks.

Practicing in this area:  Kelly J. Stohr