Business Formation

Overview

The choice of a business organization is one of the earliest and most important decisions facing an entrepreneur. The type of organization affects a business's day-to-day operations, its tax status, and the potential liability of its officers, directors, managers and partners in the event of a lawsuit. Dickinson's business law attorneys take time to learn about clients' new businesses. We carefully explain the pros and cons of each type of business organization available. Our business clients include limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, limited partnerships, partnerships, joint ventures, sole proprietorships and cooperatives. After the choice of a business organization has been made, we assist clients in developing business plans, providing tax planning advice, and drafting articles of incorporation, certificates of organization, bylaws, operating agreements, organizational meeting minutes, and shareholder or member agreements. Once a new business is organized, our attorneys regularly assist the business owners with ongoing needs including filing biennial reports, drafting annual and special meeting minutes, notices, and proxies, and providing general counseling about changes in the law that may impact the business. We also assist our business clients with stock options and other forms of executive compensation, employment and non-competition agreements, shareholder buy-sell agreements, and succession planning.