Articles Posted in Business Transactions

AdobeStock_102097403-300x200As of January 1, 2024, all entities that are not exempt in California must file reports on their “beneficial ownership” with the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). These reporting rules were part of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which itself was enacted by Congress as part of the 2021 Department of Defense authorization bill. The Los Angeles corporate law attorneys at Structure Law Group, LLP, can advise you on your company’s obligation under the new rules and how to avoid potential regulatory issues with FinCEN.

New Requirements for Disclosing “Beneficial Owners” of Foreign and Domestic Companies

At its core, the CTA is an effort to enhance the Treasury Department’s ability to identify and take legal action against potential money laundering activities. In adopting the CTA, Congress determined that many actors involved in illegal activities like terrorist and tax fraud used “shell” companies to conceal their identities and move their illegally obtained proceeds through the U.S. financial system undetected. Given that corporation law varies from state-to-state, there were no uniform national requirements for reporting the actual or “beneficial” owners of many corporate entities.

AdobeStock_520992702-300x170For many business owners, there comes a day when it is time to sell their company. When it is your time to sell our business, make sure that you have a Texas M&A attorney by your side to ensure you take all steps necessary to protect your interests and maximize the value of your business.

Your business may be worth more than just the total value of their assets, and this may impact how you sell your business. You will need to decide whether you want your sale to be an asset sale, where you sell the business’s assets but not the entity that owns them, or an ownership sale, where you sell your ownership stake in the entity, which continues to own all of the assets.

Preparing for the Sale of a Business

AdobeStock_537418940-300x169Texas has been one of the nation’s hottest commercial real estate markets in recent years. Many companies are looking to relocate to the Lone Star State – especially in tech-friendly areas like Austin. This creates many opportunities for both buyers and sellers and the Texas real estate lawyers at Structure Law Group can help you in this process.

Commercial real estate transactions involve a lot of rules, contracts, and other moving parts. It is not something to be entered into lightly.

Know Your Goals–And Your Finances

AdobeStock_600446247-300x200Contracts are the lifeblood of California’s economy. Every business, no matter its size, depends on the mutual performance of contractual obligations with individuals and other business entities. When there is a breach of contract, the Los Angeles business litigation attorneys at Structure Law Group can advise you of your rights and represent you in taking (or defending against) legal action to assert those rights.

How Much Time Do You Have to File a Breach of Contract Lawsuit in Los Angeles?

California law imposes a deadline–known as a statute of limitations–on most types of civil actions. For alleged breaches of written contracts, the statute of limitations is four years under Section 337 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. But for most oral contracts, the limitation period is just two years under Section 339. In certain cases, a breach of contract for the sale of goods may instead be by Section 2725 of the Commercial Code, which has a four-year statute of limitations regardless of whether the contract itself was written or oral.

AdobeStock_554619254-300x200Numerous businesses all over Texas are for sale every day, and people need to understand market dynamics and other concerns whenever they are considering buying or selling any business in the state. If you are currently trying to buy or sell a business in Texas, be sure that you have a Texas business attorney assisting you with all of the legal requirements that will be involved.

Buying an existing business can seem like a safer career path than beginning their own company, and people who are ready to move on can become willing to sell their businesses when they believe the time is right. It is important to begin by knowing whether you will be involved in an asset sale or an entity sale, with the former involving some or all of a business rather than an entire business itself and the latter being an entire business entity outright.

Buying a Business in Texas

AdobeStock_559781410-300x200While many entrepreneurs choose to start their own businesses, others prefer to acquire an existing business. Acquiring an existing business can also be a good path for established businesses to expand. Regardless of which scenario you are looking at, the Los Angeles mergers and acquisitions lawyers at SLG can represent you through each stage of the process.

Business acquisition is a fairly complex legal process. It is not something you should enter into lightly or attempt without experienced legal counsel.

Here is just a brief overview of the acquisition process and some key considerations for you as a potential buyer:

AdobeStock_56492391-300x200Whether you are looking to fund your next startup or you have an existing business that is well on its way to financial success, it is always a good idea to work with an experienced business attorney who can provide you with valuable advice and legal representation. Especially in California’s ever-changing business climate, having a lawyer is a necessity. That is why the Los Angeles business attorneys at Structure Law Group are here to help your business reach its full potential.

Four Ways Structure Law Group, LLP Can Help Your Los Angeles Start-Up

Some business owners look at hiring an attorney as an unnecessary expense. But the reality is that every business has to deal with legal issues on a daily basis. And you will be in a much stronger position if you have an experienced attorney at your side.

AdobeStock_602180598-300x207While people often associate the individual terms in the phrase “mergers and acquisitions” (M&A) as essentially meaning the same thing, they are actually quite different. An acquisition describes one company taking over another company to establish itself as a new owner, while a merger refers to two companies of similar sizes joining forces to move forward as a single new entity.

M&As are extremely common in today’s business environment, but they are also incredibly complex, and many hopeful deals instead end up in litigation. You can avoid many of the struggles associated with M&As when you work with an experienced M&A attorney in LA.

Why M&A Transactions End Up in Litigation

AdobeStock_360567208-300x200Each year brings new changes to the laws governing the relationship between California businesses and their employees. And 2023 has certainly been an active year on that front. There are a number of new laws–and changes to existing laws–that all employers need to be aware of.  If you have specific questions about how these new laws will affect your business, the California employment lawyers at Structure Law Group are here to help.

Here is a brief rundown of some of the more critical new employment laws to keep in mind as your business continues to navigate 2023:

Higher Minimum Wage

AdobeStock_390212429-300x200Intellectual property theft costs businesses billions each year. If you believe that someone is misusing your patent, copyright, or trademark, you need to act quickly to protect your interests. The California intellectual property attorneys at Structure Law Group, LLP discuss how to respond to IP theft issues.

Types of intellectual property

Companies have legal protection over patented designs or processes, trademarks, and copyrights. Trade secrets are something else entirely. Theft of patents, trademarks, or copyrights can result in lawsuits against other companies or individuals.