Business Transactions
Formation, ownership, and deals for California businesses
Deals Done Carefully
Transactional work is where most business disputes are prevented or created. A partnership without a buy-sell agreement, a purchase without real diligence, or a lease signed without reading the guarantee can cost more later than the entire deal was worth.
We handle the legal side of starting, owning, buying, and selling a business for owners across California, and we coordinate with your CPA, lender, and broker so the documents match the business terms.
What We Handle
Entity Formation
LLCs and corporations set up with the tax and ownership questions answered first.
Ownership Agreements
Operating, partnership, and shareholder agreements, including buy-sell terms.
Buying a Business
Letters of intent, due diligence, purchase agreements, and closing.
Selling a Business
Preparing the company for sale, negotiating terms, and protecting the seller after closing.
Commercial Real Estate
Purchases, leases, and the entity structures that hold property.
Investors & Financing
Investment documents, promissory notes, and security agreements.
Professional Practice Structures
Medical and licensed practice entities and management company agreements.
Succession Planning
Transitions to family members, partners, or key employees.
How a Transaction Works With Us
STEP 01
Scope and Fee
We define the deal, the documents, and a written fee before work begins.
STEP 02
Diligence and Risk
We review the records and give you a plain-English summary of the risks that matter.
STEP 03
Drafting and Negotiation
We draft or mark up the documents and negotiate the terms you care about.
STEP 04
Closing and Follow-Through
We manage signatures and filings and give you a post-closing checklist.
Common Questions
It depends on how the owners want to be taxed, whether you will raise outside investment, and how you plan to exit. LLCs are flexible and simple to run. S corporations can reduce self-employment tax for some owners. C corporations suit companies raising venture capital. The choice should be made with your CPA.
If a business has more than one owner, yes. A buy-sell agreement decides in advance what happens if an owner dies, becomes disabled, divorces, wants out, or is forced out, and how the price is set.
Start before you have a buyer. Clean up ownership records, key contracts, and leases, confirm which contracts can be assigned, and coordinate with your CPA on deal structure. Problems found early cost less than problems found in the buyer's diligence.
Page last updated September 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Related Practice Areas
Planning a Deal?
Bring us in before the letter of intent is signed. That is when the most important terms are still open.
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