Business
Worden Williams represents closely-held businesses, family-owned enterprises, professional practices, and real estate entities throughout their lifecycle — from formation and entity selection through ongoing operations, ownership transitions, and eventual sale or succession. We function as outside general counsel for many of our business clients, providing the kind of relationship-based advisory work that smaller closely-held businesses need but rarely get from large transactional firms.
Formation, Structure, and Day-to-Day Counsel
The firm advises on business formation and entity selection (LLCs, S corporations, C corporations, limited partnerships, and joint ventures), organizational documents (operating agreements, partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, and bylaws), and the structuring choices that affect tax treatment, liability protection, and operational flexibility. For ongoing clients, we serve as outside counsel for the recurring legal questions that arise in business operations — vendor and customer contracts, employment policies and handbooks, regulatory compliance questions, and the wrinkles and one-off issues that don’t justify full-time in-house counsel but need real legal judgment when they come up.
Business Succession, Ownership Transitions, and Tax-Aware Planning
Many of our business clients eventually face an ownership transition — a sale to a third party, a transfer to family members, a buyout of a departing partner, or the sudden death or incapacity of an owner. The firm has substantive depth in planning these transitions with full attention to the tax and estate planning consequences. We work closely with clients’ CPAs and financial advisors to integrate business planning with personal estate plans, and to ensure that ownership structures, buy-sell agreements, and operating documents anticipate the events that often determine whether a closely-held business survives a change in ownership.
Sales, Acquisitions, and Restructuring
The firm handles small-business sales, acquisitions, and restructuring when they arise within our existing client relationships. While we are not primarily an M&A practice, we have the experience to advise owner-clients through the sale of their business, the acquisition of a competitor, an internal restructuring, or a partner buyout — and to coordinate with specialist counsel where the deal warrants it.
Disputes
When business disputes arise between partners, with vendors or customers, or among shareholders, the firm represents clients through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation as appropriate. As with our other practice areas, we approach disputes pragmatically — looking for the resolution that best serves the client’s broader business interests, not just the immediate matter.
Representative Areas of Practice
Entity Formation and Structuring
- LLC Formation
- S Corporation and C Corporation Formation
- Limited Partnership and Joint Venture Formation
- Operating Agreements
- Partnership Agreements
- Shareholder Agreements
- Bylaws
- Entity Selection and Structuring Advice
Ongoing Business Counsel
- Outside General Counsel Services
- Vendor and Customer Contracts
- Employment Policies and Handbooks
- Regulatory Compliance Questions
- Day-to-Day Legal Advisory
Business Succession and Ownership Transitions
- Business Succession Planning
- Buy-Sell Agreements
- Family Business Transfers
- Owner-Death and Incapacity Planning
- Coordination with Estate Plans
- Tax-Efficient Ownership Transition Structures
Transactions and Restructuring
- Business Sales and Acquisitions
- Asset and Stock Purchase Agreements
- Partner and Shareholder Buyouts
- Business Restructuring
- Real Estate Joint Ventures and Entity Structuring
Disputes
- Partner and Shareholder Disputes
- Contract Disputes
- Business Litigation Support
Business
Worden Williams helps clients in every aspect of their business, from formation of an entity to operation of an established company. The firm offers a broad range of legal services to resolve the complex challenges faced by today’s entrepreneurs and business owners.
Forming New Business Entities
The business and corporate attorneys at Worden Williams guide their clients through the business formation process, starting with selection of the appropriate business entity, such as a limited liability company, corporation, non-profit or partnership. The firm will prepare and submit all of the necessary business filings with governmental agencies including: registrations, fictitious business name statements, licenses, and notices. The firm will prepare the initial business operating documents, including bylaws, operating agreements, minutes, initial resolutions, and employment policies. In addition, the firm will advise on state and federal tax laws and regulations as they apply to your particular business needs. When required, the firm also will assist the client with land use and business permitting requirements.
Advising on Business Operations, Employment
and Transactions
Worden Williams serves as an extension of the business team, and its attorneys are available to assist clients with the full spectrum of legal issues, such as: preparation and negotiation of business contracts and leases, compliance with local land use and regulatory requirements, license compliance, trademark and copyright filings, protecting trade secrets, handling personnel matters, mergers and acquisitions, real property transactions, insurance disputes, preventing and defending litigation, and providing general counsel on day-to-day issues that arise.
Worden Williams takes pride in its successful representation of its business clients in the following areas:
Limited Liability Company, Corporate and Non-Profit Formation
LLC Operating Agreements
Corporate Resolutions and Bylaws
Partnership Agreements
Lease Negotiations and Agreements
Business License Requirements
Business Transactions
Employment Policies and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Business and Employment Litigation
Identifying Sources of Financing
State and Federal Tax Planning
Purchasing and Selling a Business