Company Formation

Determining which type of legal entity your business should be may seem like a mere formality, but it actually makes a big difference in many ways, such as: whether your business must have a board of directors overseeing operations; whether you can offer shares in the company to investors or to employees as incentives; what taxes the business is subject to; how the business’s taxes will be reported; and perhaps mostly importantly, whether you as the owner can be held personally liable in lawsuits against the company.

Our business attorneys can guide you through the formation process. The following are types of business entities under Texas law:

• Domestic Corporation
• Foreign Corporation Operating in Texas
• Nonprofit Corporation
• General Partnership
• Limited Partnership
• Limited Liability Partnership
• Limited Liability Company
• Professional Limited Liability Company
• Sole Proprietorship

Partnership Agreements

One of the most important aspects of forming a new business is establishing the relationship between each of the owners of the business. Some owners decide to share the business interests equally and bear equal responsible for capital contribution, business debt, management duties, etc. In many other cases, people starting a business want a different setup. It is critical, then, that entrepreneurs starting a new business seek the advice of knowledgeable corporate attorneys not only in filing the appropriate formation documents with the Texas Secretary of State but also in drafting the agreement between the owners—whether that is a partnership agreement, a company agreement between members of a limited liability company, or a shareholder agreement.

Business Representation

If you run a business or are planning to start a business, you should know that investing in experienced business legal representation is one of the smartest things you can do. A corporate attorney is a valuable “asset” to your company no matter if it’s a new business, an established business, or one in the process of winding up. Remember, a good business attorney will be there for your business, not just when your business must get involved in a lawsuit, but also on an ongoing basis as an advisor to anticipate or head off problems before they become the subject of litigation. Our experienced corporate lawyers handle many non-litigation or pre-litigation aspects of business representation, including:

• Drafting and/or reviewing sales agreements
• Drafting and/or reviewing commercial leases
• Drafting and/or reviewing demand letters
• Drafting and/or reviewing employee contracts
• Drafting and/or reviewing non-compete agreements
• Drafting and/or reviewing non-disclosure agreements
• Drafting or reviewing vendor agreements
• Estate planning for business interests
• Mergers
• Winding up a business