Business & Real Estate Transactions
Whether you choose to invest your money in a new project or property or sell your life’s work, it’s important to have someone by your side who has been through the process before and can help guide you along the way. We have worked with clients buying and selling professional practices, technology businesses, food service franchises, development tracts, industrial authority parcels and many other forms of business and real estate transactions. Richard Barnes has over 30 years’ experience in transactions for public and private companies, including time spent as an in-house lawyer for a publicly traded technology company. We will work with you and your team of advisors in acting quickly to draft and negotiate contracts that protect your interests and fairly represent the business deal.
We can also assist you in the formation of new limited liability companies, corporations and partnerships and will work closely with you and your tax advisor in choosing the best structure for your new endeavor. We draft buy/sell, employment, noncompetition and other agreements that are designed to protect your interests.
Litigation
We work with business owners and individuals to enforce their rights through litigation, arbitration and mediation.
Business clients call on us for disputes relating to acquisitions or goods and services, as well as internal conflicts with their partners over buy/sell and noncompetition agreements.
We also help individuals who are forced to take action to protect their inheritances. We recognize that disputes within a family are often the most contentious and that compassionate assistance is needed. We work with family members when a loved one is no longer able to look after herself or her money and a guardianship or conservatorship is needed.
Planning & Estate Administration
Because we serve clients on both the litigation and transaction sides, we are able to use this experience in crafting estate plans for individuals and business owners. We have seen what tends to work well and what tends to invite conflict.
You may have spent a lifetime building your wealth. When you’re ready to take steps to pass it on, we can consult with you to put in place a plan that implements your wishes, while lessening the chances of challenges down the road. Richard Barnes is the author of a book covering the issues raised in blended families. We also work with families with loved ones with special needs.
We assist clients whose loved ones have passed away to guide them through the probate process in administering an estate.
Charities/Non-profits
We are proud to have worked with a number of national charities, local 501(c)(3) organizations and private foundations. Our work includes obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status and enforcing charities’ rights under wills and trusts. Often, charity doesn’t mean “easy” when it comes to legal issues. We cherish our work with charities in furthering their missions.
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