BUSINESS LAW AND TAX LAW
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX DILEMMAS
Whether you are forming your first startup, running an established business, or preparing to pass your business on to the next generation, you will encounter a variety of situations requiring the guidance of a seasoned attorney. At Friedman, Dever & Merlin, our attorneys have more than 80 years of combined experience representing clients from small- to medium-sized businesses. With our experience and expertise in business and tax law, we can handle both complicated and routine business law and tax matters and let you focus on running your business.
HANDLING A WIDE ARRAY OF BUSINESS AND TAX LAW MATTERS
From entity selection through operation to dissolution, our firm can provide the insight and representation necessary to guide our business clients in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
In addition to our business law expertise, all of our business attorneys also have advanced degrees and/or or substantial experience in tax law. This combination of business and tax law backgrounds means that our business clients receive exceptional guidance in the structuring of business transactions.
With decades of experience, our business attorneys work closely with business owners and principals on a full range of business and tax matters, including:
- Choice of business entity and ownership structures
- Formation of corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships
- Raising capital and corporate financing
- Shareholder Agreements, Operating Agreements, and Limited Partnership Agreements
- Negotiating, drafting and reviewing business contracts and agreements
- Counseling and advice on business and tax matters
- Corporate governance, including shareholder and board minutes
- Mergers, acquisitions and restructuring
- Purchases and Sales of Businesses
- Spin-offs and business separations
- Business succession and estate planning
- Business divorce
- Employment Agreements and Independent Contractor Agreements
- Financing
- Tax Issues affecting all of the above business matters
- Business Restructuring transactions
- Stock Options and other Nonqualified Incentive Plans
- Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Restrictive Covenants
- Purchase and Sale of Commercial Real Property
From offices in Atlanta, our attorneys are prepared to represent clients in communities throughout Georgia and the United States. Call or email Friedman, Dever & Merlin, to schedule a confidential consultation.
BUSINESS TAX LAW
“Any one may so arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.” – Judge Learned Hand, Helvering v. Gregory, 69 F.2d 809 (1934)
In addition to providing business law counsel, the attorneys at Friedman, Dever & Merlin also provide business tax and tax planning counsel for our clients. All of our business attorneys have advanced degrees (LL.M’s) and/or or substantial experience in tax law, and we approach all business transactions with a keen sensitivity to tax issues. This expertise allows us to structure business transactions in a manner that will accomplish our clients’ business goals, while minimizing adverse tax consequences.
Our tax attorneys routinely advise our clients on the federal and state tax treatment of various business transactions, and strategies for accomplishing business goals in a tax-efficient manner.
Tax planning assistance frequently includes:
- Advising on choice of business entities such as C corporations, S corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs)
- Tax planning relating to the purchase and sale of the stock and/or assets of a business
- Structuring non-taxable reorganizations such as mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs, and other tax-free exchanges
- Drafting complex limited partnership and LLC agreements for operating businesses and investment funds.
- Advising on corporate and partnership tax issues
- Creating nonqualified incentive compensation plans such as stock options, stock appreciation and phantom stock plans, and bonus programs
- Obtaining tax-exempt charity status for nonprofit organizations
- Tax appeals and U.S. Tax Court litigation
- Drafting private letter ruling requests on corporate and nonprofit tax issues
Before you make a business decision that could trigger tax problems, talk to us first. From offices in Atlanta, our attorneys are prepared to represent clients in communities throughout Georgia and the United States. Call or email Friedman, Dever & Merlin, to schedule a confidential consultation.