A large share of the disputes this firm litigates trace back to documents that were never written, downloaded from a template site, or signed without anyone reading them. Formation work is cheaper than a lawsuit by an order of magnitude, and it is the same lawyer drafting it who would have to litigate it.
Formation and governance
- Michigan LLC, corporation, and professional entity formation, including the filings with LARA
- Operating agreements and shareholder agreements with real deadlock, transfer, and exit provisions
- Buy-sell terms, capital call mechanics, and member admission and withdrawal procedures
- Multi-member structures where one member contributes money and another contributes work
- Management company and MSO structures for regulated and licensed businesses
- Corporate cleanup — resolutions, consents, membership ledgers, and records that were never kept
Contracts
- Commercial services, vendor, and supply agreements
- Independent contractor agreements, NDAs, and non-solicitation terms
- Employment agreements and handbooks for small employers
- Promissory notes, guaranties, and security agreements
- Asset purchase and membership interest purchase agreements
- Contract review and redlining when the other side sent their form
Buying or selling a business
The firm represents buyers and sellers in asset sales, membership interest sales, and seller-financed transactions — including diligence on liens, licenses, leases, and liabilities that do not appear on a balance sheet. In seller-financed deals, the security package matters more than the price. A note without a guaranty, a pledge, or a recorded interest is a wish.
The three provisions most often missing from a homemade operating agreement: what happens when one member stops contributing, how a member's interest is valued on exit, and who breaks a 50/50 tie. Every one of those becomes a lawsuit.
Fees
Fee arrangements depend on the matter. The firm will explain how your matter would be billed, and what it is likely to cost, before any work begins — not after.
Ongoing outside-counsel arrangements are available for businesses that want a lawyer on call for contracts and day-to-day questions.
Common questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Michigan?
There is a state filing fee for Michigan articles of organization, set by LARA. The meaningful cost is the operating agreement, and that depends on the situation: a single-member LLC needs far less than a multi-member entity with unequal contributions. The firm will quote your matter once it knows which situation you are in.
Do I really need an operating agreement for a single-member LLC?
Michigan does not require one, but banks, lenders, licensing agencies, and buyers routinely ask for it, and it helps preserve the separation between you and the entity if a creditor ever challenges it.
Can you review a contract the other side drafted?
Yes, and that is often the highest-value hour a business spends. The firm marks up the document, explains which terms actually matter versus which are boilerplate, and can negotiate directly with the other side's counsel.
What is the difference between an asset sale and a membership interest sale?
In an asset sale the buyer picks up specific assets and generally leaves liabilities behind. In a membership interest sale the buyer takes the entity as it stands — including its debts, contracts, and history. Licenses, leases, and tax consequences usually drive the choice.
Speak with the firm about this
Describe the situation and any deadline. The firm responds to time-sensitive matters the same business day.