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Legal Services Legal services are focused on business transactions and estate planning. GALAW helps clients consider the big picture to create or maintain comprehensive business and estate plans. GALAW's goal is to establish and preserve a continuing relationship with all its clients and help them to achieve their business goals and dreams. Business Startups and Formations Individuals and companies have a wide variety of business entities and structures from which to choose. GALAW counsels clients to help them evaluate tax, liability, and financial concerns to enable them to choose between various forms of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships to select the best form of business entity to meet their unique goals and objectives. Additionally, GALAW advises clients regarding the possibility of combining such entities to create the proper overall business structure for their business. Finally, GALAW executes the procedures and drafts the necessary documents to form such business entities including: filing formation documents; drafting operational agreements; issuing securities; drafting buy-sell agreements; and satisfying general regulatory and licensing requirements.
Corporate Governance One of the main reasons entrepreneurs choose to form a business entity such as a corporation or limited liability company is the protection of their business and personal assets offered by the particular entity. GALAW works with clients to maintain such protection by ensuring that they observe the legal formalities of operating a business. Additionally, GALAW helps clients reduce liability by counseling them regarding the fiduciary duties and indemnification of directors and officers.
Contracts Contracts are the most familiar and functional legal concern for most businesses. Every stage of business including start-up, ongoing operations, and the ultimate sale or dissolution of the business is impacted by written contracts. GALAW negotiates and drafts contracts for a variety of client needs including: starting a business; buying or selling a business; bringing investors in or out of the business; intellectual property licensing; executive employment; selling goods or services; and commercial leases.
Employment Agreements The employer-employee relationship must be clearly established to protect both the business and the employee. Employers must retain the talent they need while protecting their operations and assets. Employees must secure adequate compensation while limiting employers control over their actions. To achieve these goals, GALAW negotiates and drafts a variety of agreements including: executive employment agreements; non-solicitation agreements; nondisclosure agreements; independent contractor agreements; severance agreements; and consulting agreements.
Intellectual Property Intellectual property is often one of the most valuable assets a business will ever own. In some cases, such a well branded trademark or a truly unique software program, intellectual property is virtually the entire value of the business. GALAW helps clients protect their intellectual property rights through registration with state, federal, and international authorities. Additionally, GALAW helps clients maximize the value of their intellectual property by negotiating and drafting licensing agreements. Trade Secrets Some assets such as formulas, customer lists, programs, and business methods cannot be adequately protected as intellectual property. Accordingly, the best course of action is to protect such assets as trade secret by restricting access and disclosure. GALAW enables clients to protect their trade secrets by negotiating and drafting the appropriate agreements to facilitate product development and testing, employee confidentiality, and business collaborations. Securities Issuance and Repurchase Businesses need to raise capital to fund their start-up and ongoing operations. Conversely, businesses occasionally need to repurchase shares. GALAW guides businesses in the issuance and repurchase of their securities to ensure compliance with California and Federal securities laws. Additionally, GALAW negotiates and drafts purchase and repurchase agreements between businesses and their investors, employees, or board members. Acquisitions There are many reasons to buy or sell all or part of a business. A business may seek to grow by acquiring a related business. Owners may wish to sell their business when they decide to retire and their children decline to assume control. Investors may seek to diversify their holdings. Individuals who retire early often want to acquire an interest in a new line of work. To achieve these goals and others, GALAW negotiates and drafts all necessary documents to facilitate purchases of business interests including: nondisclosure agreements; agreements for the sale of the business; non-competition agreements; stock purchase agreements; voting agreements; and buy-sell agreements.
Estate Planning Business and estate planning must be considered as complementary components necessary to creating a comprehensive and cohesive plan to protect you and your family as well as your business and associates. GALAW offers clients a full suite of estate planning services including negotiating and drafting premarital and post marital agreements, wills, and trust to meet each client's unique needs. Alternative Dispute Resolution GALAW proactively advises and assists clients on how to avoid disputes and litigation, and on alternative methods of dispute resolution (i.e., mediation and arbitration), including negotiating settlements. Coordination and Management of Outside Counsel Where a legal issue arises which is outside the scope of the services GALAW provides, either because of extraordinary time requirements or specific expertise is needed (i.e., a lawsuit, environmental issue, patent filing or intellectual property prosecutions, or taking company public), GALAW provides services including: assistance in the selection and engagement of appropriate "outside" counsel; and monitoring and management of counsel and the progress of the matter, both as to time and cost.
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