Corporate Law

Smith & Johnson Attorneys has a strong corporate law focus serving business entities throughout Northwest Michigan. Business and Corporate law remain at the core of our firm’s practice.

Smith & Johnson, Attorneys has unparalleled experience in all aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, restructuring and corporate governance. We routinely advise businesses in all areas of commercial transactions, franchising, dealership and distributor law, and licensing. We regularly advise general counsel and boards of directors on non-transactional matters, including disclosure issues, executive compensation and fiduciary duties.

Our lawyers have the skill and experience to assist commercial, industrial, or professional businesses of any size. We regularly advise large companies as well as small entrepreneurs. Our expertise is invaluable in organizing and operating corporations, limited-liability companies, partnerships, proprietorships and other business entities. We are experienced in handling commercial finance, mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations. We represent buyers, sellers and bankers in transactions of any size, character and complexity.

We serve as general counsel for many corporate entities, both large and small. As general counsel we provide a wide range of services including maintaining and updating corporate records, assisting in short and long term planning and ongoing advice and counsel regarding all legal issues which might arise.

BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LAW AREAS OF SERVICE

  • Business Start Ups/Structuring and Organization
  • Business Entity Formation
  • Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Contract & Document Preparation
  • Leases (commercial & residential)
  • Liquor License Transfers
  • Bank & Credit Union Representation
  • Negotiating, Documenting, & Closing Loans (commercial and real estate)
  • Reorganization and Workouts
  • Tax Matters

Case Studies

We helped two young entrepreneurs negotiate the sale of advanced technology they had developed for the oil and gas industry. With our assistance in setting up a consulting arrangement with a Fortune 500 company, they have maximized their profits.

We saved one client nearly $70,000 by convincing a federal agency that a lump sum pension plan payment was tax-exempt.

We assisted a wholesale entity in acquiring a competitor’s business. Through use of consulting and non-competition agreements our client was able to double its market share with a minimal cash investment.

We successfully represented a tier 1 automobile supply company negotiating the sale of its business to a Fortune 500 Corporation.

The firm represented a distribution company in an initial public offering (IPO). The firm’s client merged with ten (10) other distribution companies and went public forming a national distribution service organization.