Practice area 03
Business + Corporate Counsel
What we handle
- Entity formation — LLCs, corporations, partnerships
- Operating and shareholder agreements
- Commercial contract drafting and review
- Non-competes, NDAs, and IP assignment agreements
- Partnership and shareholder disputes
- Asset and equity acquisitions
How we approach business + corporate counsel
Most business disputes are contract disputes. Most contract disputes were avoidable. Our preventive work — formation documents, operating agreements, vendor contracts — is structured to eliminate the ambiguities that generate litigation three years later.
When disputes arise, we evaluate them the same way we draft: with the end in mind. Before we send a demand letter, we know how the case looks at trial. That perspective shapes every negotiation.
We do not charge enterprise rates for small-business work. Our clients include sole proprietors finalizing their first operating agreement and mid-market businesses managing complex multi-party transactions. The preparation standard is the same in both cases.
Example matters
Situation
Three co-founders of a technology services company disagreed on equity allocation after the company's first profitable year. No operating agreement had been finalized.
Outcome
We mediated the dispute and drafted a retroactive operating agreement that allocated equity based on contributed capital and work history, preserving the business and the working relationship.
All case descriptions are anonymized. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each matter depends on its specific facts and applicable law.
Related results
Permanent injunction
Trade secret matter
Common questions
- Do I need an operating agreement if I'm the only member of my LLC?
- Yes. A single-member operating agreement establishes your ownership, protects the liability shield, and defines what happens if you bring in investors or a co-owner later. It also governs what happens to the business if you become incapacitated.
- Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Texas?
- Under the Texas Covenants Not to Compete Act, they are — if they meet specific requirements for consideration, geographic scope, and time period. Courts regularly modify overreaching clauses rather than void them entirely. We draft them to be enforceable and review them to identify weaknesses.
- What is involved in buying or selling a small business?
- Asset vs. equity acquisition structure, due diligence (reviewing the target's contracts, liabilities, and IP), representations and warranties, escrow arrangements, and post-closing obligations. We represent buyers and sellers. The earlier we're involved, the fewer surprises at closing.