Practice Areas

• Estate Planning - Our firm handles a variety of estate planning matters, including planning for the distribution of an individual's property at his or her death and taking into account wills, taxes, insurance, property, and trusts so as to gain the maximum benefit of all laws, while, at the same time, carrying out the person's wishes.
  
  
• Business and Commercial Law - We provide a wide variety of services to our business clients from assisting in selecting the type of organizational entity under which to operate, preparation of agreements, sale and purchase of businesses, obtaining financing and funding for business operations, and employee relations, to dissolution.
  
  
• Mergers and Acquisitions - Corporate growth must be handled in conjunction with state and federal law. When the entity built by your hard work is expanding or being acquired, you need to protect your future while obtaining the right deal. We have years of experience in mergers and acquisitions with companies of varying size. In addition to achieving the best transaction, we stress preventative lawyering, so you need not worry about problems down the road.
  
  
• Financing - We have served as counsel in numerous securities offerings, including registered public offerings ranging in size for $2,000,000 to $25,000,000. We have also served as counsel with respect to numerous private financings, venture capital investments, and private placements of securities. We provide advice on general securities law compliance, investment advisory and mutual fund matters, and franchise regulation.
  
  
• Trusts - In order to establish a secure and regular income for loved ones left behind, many clients seek advice on Trust establishment and administration. By maintaining your assets in a Trust, you can minimize taxes and leave a larger inheritance. The use of a Trust is also a way to provide a steady income to the Beneficiary over the course of time, rather than distribution in a lump sum. This strategy can reduce the Beneficiary's tax and allow the Trust to grow through investment. Trusts can also be established that allow charitable organizations to benefit.
  
  
• Wills - A will is a person's declaration of how one wants their property dispersed after death. Because there are complex regulations regarding the validity of any will, it is important to hire an attorney with knowledge and experience. It is also true that these regulations vary from state to state. Be sure to hire an attorney who continually seeks out changes in the rules to be sure your wishes can be honored after your death.
  
  
• Probate and Estate Administration - Probate is the legal process by which a person's debts are paid and assets are distributed upon her or his death. Estate Administration includes the probate process as well as non-probate transfers of the deceased's assets. Individual state laws direct the probate court how to distribute the deceased's estate. State laws and procedures vary greatly, so, it is important to consult a firm with expertise in this area of the law to ensure that the deceased's assets are distributed correctly.
  
  
• Business Organizations - The form of a business affects every aspect of its operation. Very often, closely held businesses are instrumental in estate plans. Our firm assists clients in formation and business planning in deciding whether they want to operate as a closely held business, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation. We advise clients about directors' and officers' liability, dissolution, franchising, reorganization, trade association membership and activity, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, business successions, and shareholders' rights.
  
  
• Elder Law - As the population grows older and lives longer, new legal challenges arise. Issues such as financial planning and long term care arrangements can prove to be daunting. Our attorneys are skilled at reviewing every client's goals and assets to determine the best choices for each individual.
  
  
• Taxation - Our firm represents individuals and commercial clients in matters with tax implications, identifying and addressing state and federal tax issues, structuring transactions in such a way as to minimize taxes and avoid inherent tax problems.