Articles Posted in Partnerships

For certain licensed professionals, a AdobeStock_249826261-300x200 (LLP) offers an alternative to general and limited partnerships and limited liability companies and can offer several advantages over those business entities. The California partnerships lawyers at Structure Law Group can help you decide if an LLP is the right choice for your own business.

Only Certain Professionals Need Apply

Unlike a general partnership (GP), limited partnership (LP) or even a limited liability company (LLC), not everyone can form a limited liability partnership (LLP). California law currently limits LLPs to individuals licensed in one of the following professions:

AdobeStock_388222194-300x205If you own a business or commercial real estate in California, you should consider what will become of these assets when you are ready to retire. If you are looking to transfer your business or real property to your children or other family members, then a California family limited partnership (FLP) may be the best way to do it. But there are a number of potential legal and tax risks involved if you do not handle things correctly. The experienced Silicon Valley partnership lawyers at Structure Law Group’s San Jose office can help steer you and your family in the right direction on these issues.

What is a California Family Limited Partnership?

A business partnership occurs when two or more people agree to own property or operate a business together. In a general partnership, the partners share in the profits and losses of the businesses. This means that a creditor can go after the personal assets of any of the general partners.

AdobeStock_283587757-300x200People can create a partnership whenever two or more people agree to do business together, and there is no formal paperwork required to establish the partnership when people agree to do business with one another. It is still recommended that you hire Austin business partnership attorneys for assistance in ensuring your partnership enjoys full legal protections.

You also need to consider which kind of partnership you are forming because the general partnership that is the most common type of partnership means the partners will be personally liable for all partnership debts. Limited partnerships (LPs), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs) can all offer liability protections.

Steps to Starting a Partnership

AdobeStock_232564567-300x200Many small business owners in Texas need to account for the future of the ownership and continuity of their business, and a buy-sell agreement will often accomplish these goals. When you need help crafting a buy-sell agreement, make sure you are working with a skilled Texas business attorney.

Texas Buy-sell agreements can come into play for both unforeseen and foreseen events among owners, including a business partner dying, becoming disabled, getting divorced, or declaring bankruptcy. Other complications can include a business partner changing their vision for the company, losing interest in the business, needing a cash infusion, or acting in bad faith.

Necessary Elements of a Buy-Sell Agreement

AdobeStock_96879652-300x200When you are selling a business in California, it can be a somewhat complex but still rewarding process that requires an exit strategy to realize the gains from building and operating a successful business. The number of moving parts when selling a business makes documentation of the terms of a sale critical, and there will generally be four stages to follow.

You are going to want to make sure that you have legal counsel when you are negotiating the sale of your business. A California business attorney with Structure Law Group, LLP, can walk you through the entire process.

Preparing to Sell the Business

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

AdobeStock_183500602-300x200Business owners in Silicon Valley are well acquainted with all kinds of legal contracts. It is important to know your legal rights – as well as your obligations – under any contract. Many contractors try to bully others with threats of breach of contract and costly litigation. The experienced contract lawyers at Structure Law Group are here to help your business handle all types of breach of contract issues. Here are some of the most common disputes:

A Vendor’s Breach of Contract

Most businesses must enter into vendor contracts to get the goods and services necessary for their daily operations. If these vendors breach their contractual obligations, your business could be left unable to deliver on its own contractual duties to customers. A well-drafted vendor contract can help prevent confusion or ambiguity. Our contract attorneys can also help you determine the best course of action when a vendor breaches a contract. While litigation is sometimes necessary, it is not always worth the cost of a damaged business relationship with a trusted partner. An experienced contracts lawyer will be able to give you options for handling the problem.

AdobeStock_292580187-e1576014509781-300x183A partnership is like a marriage. It takes effective communication to meet mutual goals. You can avoid many partnership disputes by creating a clear operating agreement before the partnership starts doing business. The experienced San Jose business attorneys at Structure Law Group can help you avoid unnecessary partnership disputes. By executing a clear, binding, and specific partnership agreement, you can save time and expense that ultimately hurts your business. Call (408) 441-7500 to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled San Jose business lawyers. We have helped many Northern California businesses create effective operating agreements.

How to Create an Effective Operating Agreement

There are several important steps to follow in order to create an agreement that will effectively resolve disputes in future business transactions:

partnerships-vs-llcs-300x200When starting a new business, it is important to know what type of business entity will best protect you and your investors. The wrong entity selection could expose your business to unnecessary legal liability and tax liability. Let an experienced business formation attorney advise you on the best way to protect your new business. Call Structure Law Group at (408) 441-7500. Our experienced Silicon Valley business lawyers can help you mitigate your liability and risks to keep your new business profitable.

What to Consider When Deciding Between a Partnership and an LLC

There are many factors that can affect your choice of business entity. Here are just a few of the many important things to consider:

Fotolia_189107114_Subscription_Monthly_M-300x200Perhaps more so than any other kind of business structure, a partnership is heavily reliant upon the personal relationships among the partners. If those relationships are good, the partnership has a much better chance to function smoothly. If not, the personal nature of partnerships generally means that rocky personal relationships will lead to a rocky business relationship. All too often, partners join up based on prior personal relationships that were good, only to find they did not consider business philosophies before forming the partnership. Business differences can lead to personal differences, making it that much more unlikely that the partnership’s problems can be worked out.

Start Early to Avoid Partnership Disputes

Partnerships often are formed by people working in the same industry or friends who develop an idea together. They are common in the practice of law, as well as in a number of different small businesses. Partnerships are frequently a few individuals joining together to start a business. There are steps they should take to minimize the possibility of disputes. These steps include: