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AdobeStock_204199356-300x169The prospect of buying an existing business in California can be an extraordinarily exciting time for all types of people, but there will be several concerns of which a prospective business owner needs to be aware. You do not want to leap into any business venture without performing due diligence when it comes to research and preparation.

Structure Law Group, LLP is a business law firm that has offices in both Silicon Valley and Los Angeles to help focus on all kinds of business transactions and litigation for clients throughout California. When you are considering buying any business in the Golden State, be sure you are working with an experienced Los Angeles business attorney.

Get Full and Complete Disclosure

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AdobeStock_399603265-scaled-e1661534259751-300x195Here is a checklist for buyer’s counsel to use when conducting a legal due diligence review of intellectual property (IP) and information technology (IT) matters as part of a merger or acquisition (an M&A transaction). The checklist covers common areas of due diligence concerning intellectual property (IP) and information technology (IT) matters in relation to a merger or acquisition (an M&A transaction).

When you are preparing for any kind of M&A transaction, you will want to be sure that you retain legal counsel for assistance with many of these concerns. A Silicon Valley business law attorney with Structure Law Group, LLP can be by your side the entire time and ensure that you achieve the most favorable end result.

Common Pitfalls or Deal Breakers

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AdobeStock_445476294-300x200When entrepreneurs are starting a business involving a partner or multiple partners, a buy-sell agreement will be a must-have because the agreement will establish protections for every party and the company if something happens or an exit event occurs with any of the business partners. Without this agreement, several variables may emerge, including a family member or other party taking ownership or a controlling stake without any concern for business success.

Formulating a buy-sell agreement can be a big demand, but you can get competent legal help in formulating this agreement. A Los Angeles business attorney with Structure Law Group, LLP can help you craft a buy-sell agreement that will focus on protecting your business for the long run.

When You Need a Buy-Sell Agreement

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AdobeStock_516820932-300x200There are many risks involved with entering into any contract. Business litigation costs time and money that interferes with efficient business operations. The best way to mitigate the risk of a business contract is to hire an experienced Los Angeles business attorney to draft your contract with as much protection as possible. At Structure Law Group, our skilled Los Angeles business litigation lawyers know how to prevent disputes in the drafting phase, negotiate dispute resolution during the contract performance, and litigate disputes in court when necessary.

Financial Protections

Some contract provisions provide financial protection. Insurance requirements, for example, can provide financial security against the risk of loss. Los Angeles business owners can also create financial protection with a liquidated damages clause. This contract provision imposes a set monetary fee, that a breaching party is required to pay in the event that they breach the contract. It is not designed to be a penalty, so courts will usually not enforce liquidated damages provisions that are not closely tailored to the party’s actual financial losses. But setting the amount of these financial losses ahead of time provides one party with financial security in the event that the other party breaches the contract. It also sets a financial incentive to encourage both parties to comply with the contract.

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AdobeStock_289024304-300x200When you are thinking about starting your own business, there can be a number of reasons that incorporating in Delaware may seem attractive. Delaware is a particularly attractive state for the incorporation of large corporations because it offers the best franchise tax rules and has typically been the most pro-management. It provides the best protection for board members against derivative lawsuits, there is less protection for minority shareholders than in California, and Delaware also offers limited statutory protection against hostile takeovers.

While all of these concerns can certainly be important, they may mean very little when your company is not ready for an initial public offering (IPO) or stock launch, or later rounds of equity financing. When you are debating this type of decision, be sure to speak with a California startup attorney at Structure Law Group, LLP.

Advantages of Incorporating in Delaware

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AdobeStock_503784636-300x202Business litigation is a major expense for many California entrepreneurs. You can save your business time and money by preventing contractual disputes. The California business litigation attorneys at Structure Law Group provide proactive legal advice to prevent contractual disputes whenever possible. Having your business contracts reviewed by an attorney is an important investment that can pay dividends in the long run.

How Business Contracts Affect Every Area of Your Business

You might not realize just how many areas of your business are affected by contracts. Your customers, vendors, and employees can all subject your business to liability in contractual disputes.

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AdobeStock_410226771-300x200The U.S. real estate market has been drastically changed by the effects of COVID-19. In the years before the pandemic, demand had already begun to outpace supply, but this problem became much worse very quickly when a global pandemic upended the market. The strong seller’s market is likely to continue throughout 2022. Learn more about interest rates, the factors that affect a real estate market, and how the corporate lawyers at Structure Law Group can help your business navigate these challenges.

Interest Rates

One of the key factors driving the real estate market has been low interest rates. Interest rates have, in fact, been at record lows for several years now. Low interest rates allow homeowners to borrow money at a low cost. Low mortgage rates lead to more homebuyers, which has slowly tipped the real estate market in favor of sellers. But there has also been inflation in 2022. For the first time in years, interest rates across the economy are starting to rise. So how will this impact the real estate market in 2022? Forbes spoke with three economic experts about their predictions for mortgage interest rates in 2022. Though their estimates ranged between 3.4 percent and 4.0 percent, all three experts predicted an increase in mortgage interest rates by the end of 2022. Rising interest rates tend to discourage some sellers from buying. While the rates can take some of the pressure off the current sellers’ market, it is important to understand that it is just one factor in a complex economy. Other factors will also determine whether 2022 sees a weak or strong real estate market.

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Untitled-design-22-300x200A limited liability company (LLC) is an option for people wishing to start a business in California that combines the tax advantages and flexibility of partnerships with the liability protection that comes with a corporation.

Starting an LLC in California still requires rigorous oversight. Make sure you are working with a Silicon Valley start-up company attorney at the best start-up law firm in Silicon Valley, Structure Law Group, LLP.

Limited Liability

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AdobeStock_386942563-300x131Entrepreneurs of all kinds face a daunting choice when trying to determine whether to establish their businesses as limited liability companies (LLCs) or S Corporations (S-corps). While an LLC will be a separate business structure, an S Corporation is actually a tax status, so forming an LLC involves filing paperwork with the state of California, while an S Corporation will involve filing paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The decision between LLC and S-Corp status is not an easy one to make, so make sure you have proper legal guidance every step of the way. You will want to work with a San Jose business formation attorney at Structure Law Group, LLP.

Advantages and Disadvantages of LLCs

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Top-7-Ways-to-Avoid-Post-Closing-Merger-Litigation-1-scaled-e1656629461956-300x214Not all corporate mergers and acquisitions are amicable arrangements; most notably, the hostile takeover. There are various types of mergers and acquisitions in California. Even merger discussions that begin amicably may result in a perceivably unfair closing agreement, triggering expensive post-closing litigation. Oral promises may never translate into a written contract or diluted shareholders may protest. No matter the reason, California business litigation is often complex, time-consuming, and expensive.

The oldest and wisest way of avoiding costly post-closing M&A litigation is by anticipating and planning for the same. The experienced business litigation and M&A attorneys at Structure Law Group, LLP are familiar with the most common areas of post-closing M&A litigation and may help you avoid or greatly reduce the cost of business litigation.

Most Common Post-Closing Merger Lawsuits

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