Business Law

Are you a business owner or stakeholder of a business entity in Michigan? If so, the team at Head Murphy Law knows how hard you work to keep your company pointed in the right direction, and we want to support you as you do so.

Whether you run a small company or a large corporation, you can benefit from partnering with an experienced business lawyer that you trust. Our firm prides ourselves on providing you with the level of comfort and respect you deserve while handling what can be the most important affairs of your business.

From our office location in Farmington Hills in southeastern Michigan, our skilled business law attorneys provide experienced assistance to individuals and businesses throughout the state. Contact us today and schedule a free initial consultation.

Why Choose Head Murphy Law?

When starting or operating a business, having effective legal counsel you like and trust can help to maximize your company’s chances of success. Head Murphy Law, is a team of experienced business attorneys with a wealth of business acumen at your disposal and we prioritize and address the unique needs of your business. Let us be your law firm throughout the entire lifecycle of your company. We offer:

Caring Counsel – We understand that legal matters can cause significant stress and anxiety. As a result, our attorneys work diligently to take the stress of your case off your shoulders so you can focus on growing your business.
Innovative Strategies – Our lawyers recognize the value of providing clients with flexible, tailored legal options. Our law firm will spend the time necessary to develop a personalized legal plan that helps you achieve your specific goals.
Dedicated Teamwork – When you hire our law firm, you’ll have a team of attorneys who will collaborate on your case to combine their collective knowledge and experience to help you obtain the best possible solutions.

Business Law Services Provided at Head Murphy Law

No matter the size of your business, or your level of ownership, it is critical to have a good understanding of various aspects of business law. This allows you to make informed decisions that are best for you and your company. At Head Murphy Law, our business lawyers will educate and support your business with such important legal issues as:

Business Formation

The first step to establishing a new business can be the hardest and the most important. In Michigan, business owners have multiple legal forms to choose from, and selecting the right one can make a big difference, financially and structurally. Each type of legal entity has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the industry, business goals, and individual stakeholder needs. Some of the most common forms of business structure include:

Corporations – Corporations create a separate legal existence between a business and its owners (shareholders). The corporate form provides liability protection for shareholders, meaning they have no liability for the corporation’s debts or liabilities, except to lose the capital they have invested in the business. The corporate form can also attract outside investment due to strict formalities in corporate governance.
Limited Liability Companies – A limited liability company combines aspects of corporations and partnerships. LLCs afford owners flexibility in structuring company management while also providing liability protection.
Partnerships – In a partnership, partners share in the management and liability for the business, including liability to pay taxes on each partner’s share of the partnership’s income. Other types of partnerships have different legal structures, such as a limited partnership, which has limited partners who effectively act as silent investors and leave management to the general partners, or a limited liability partnership, which uses the legal structure of a general partnership but provides liability protection to partners.
Sole Proprietorships – A solo business owner may choose not to organize their business under a legal form and instead operate as a sole proprietorship, in which the company has no legal distinction from its owner. Sole proprietorships have the benefit of simplicity in management, as they do not have many of the governance requirements of other entity types. However, the lack of a legal distinction between a sole proprietorship and its owner means that sole proprietors lack the liability protection afforded to other legal forms.

At Head Murphy Law, our attorneys regularly assist entrepreneurs and business owners with compliance requirements in registering a business and structuring the company’s foundational agreements and governance documents, including bylaws, shareholder agreements, and operating/partnership agreements. There are minor details that can be easily overlooked in the absence of legal assistance that can lead to big problems later on. Our team will help you address and avoid potential disasters.

Business Contracts and Transactions

Transactions are the heart of most businesses. Documenting and formalizing agreements can mean the difference between success and disputes. Seek legal help when drafting and negotiating contracts, and bring any contract disputes to your business lawyer’s attention. Our law firm helps business clients during the drafting, reviewing, and negotiation processes for contracts such as:

Service agreements
Supplier/vendor agreements
Equipment leases
Commercial leases
License agreements
Specialized contracts, such as non-disclosure agreements

Identifying your business deal priorities and negotiation objectives can go a long way to achieving the results you want. We will work with you to draft and negotiate fair and favorable agreements. This will ensure clarity and enforceability, thus avoiding mistakes that can increase the risk of future litigation.

Regulatory Compliance

Businesses in Michigan may have various regulatory compliance requirements. Companies may need to obtain state or local business licenses, depending on their industry and the type of business they conduct. Some companies may have other regulatory obligations, such as periodic reporting to state or federal agencies or compliance audits. Many companies today also have cybersecurity requirements. Even for those that do not, taking an intentional approach to data privacy can protect companies from potential liability arising from cyberattacks and data breaches.

Our firm can assist companies in a wide range of industries with regulatory compliance issues, including in real estate, technology, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional services. We can offer industry-specific guidance to help businesses identify and comply with their regulatory requirements.

Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Our business litigation attorneys in Farmington Hills can assist you with legal disputes such as those involving:

Minority Owner Oppression – When a business has an owner or faction of owners who hold less than a majority of the company’s voting power, those owners may become subject to oppression by majority owners or company leadership, including getting shut out of decision-making or experiencing pressure to sell out for less than fair market value. Fortunately, state laws provide specific protection to minority owners to help them fight back against potential oppression.
Partnership Litigation – Business partners can find themselves in litigation over fundamental disputes about running their company, such as strategic direction, pursuing outside investment, or distributing dividends. Our firm can guide you through the complex legal issues that may arise in partnership litigation, such as enforcement of buy-sell agreements, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and business valuations.
Collecting Judgments and Small Debts – When you obtain a judgment against a counterparty by filing a successful lawsuit against them, recovering the compensation awarded to you in that judgment can prove difficult, especially when a losing party tries to hide assets that could satisfy the judgment. Even before you obtain a judgment, collecting on debts owed to you by customers can take up considerable time and effort from your business. Our team can handle the details of pursuing money owed to your company so you can continue focusing on growing your business.
Contract Disputes – Our law firm can help you resolve disagreements or legal claims arising from business contracts. Whether you have a claim against a counterparty or a counterparty has accused you of breaching your contractual obligations, we can help you understand your legal rights, walk you through your options for resolving a contract dispute, and vigorously advocate for your interests at the negotiating table or in arbitration or court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most common questions Michigan business owners and entrepreneurs have about business law and how Head Murphy Law can help them.

How Do I Register a Business in Michigan?

An entrepreneur can formally organize a business as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership by registering a new entity with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Corporations Division. Businesses may have other registration requirements, including:

Registering for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS, which will also allow the business to register to remit state taxes and open bank accounts
Filing a “doing business as”/assumed name certificate to operate in business under a different name from the company’s legal name
Obtaining local permits or licenses as required by municipal ordinance, depending on the nature of the company’s business

What Contracts Does My Michigan Business Need?

Your company may need to enter various contracts depending on its industry and operations. Common examples of business contracts include:

Purchase agreements with clients/customers
Supplier/vendor agreements
Master services or independent contractor agreements when receiving or providing contractor services
Licensing agreements, including end-user agreements for customers/clients or IP license agreements
Non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements
Partnership/shareholder/joint venture agreements

What Should I Do When My Company Faces a Contract Dispute?

When your business faces a disagreement with a counterparty over a contract, taking prompt action can help protect the company’s legal rights and options. Steps your business should take when conflicts arise in a contractual relationship include:

Review the contractual documents.
Begin gathering relevant records, such as invoices, change orders, work orders, and written communications (i.e., letters, emails, and text messages).
Document any financial losses your company may incur due to the disagreement.
Contact a business attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options for resolving the dispute, whether that may involve pursuing settlement negotiations, invoking mediation or arbitration rights, or pursuing litigation in court.

How Can a Business Attorney Help With Buying or Selling a Business?

Buying or selling a business can involve a highly complex legal process. Buyers and sellers alike can best protect their financial and legal interests by working with a business lawyer who can assist with the significant aspects of a purchase or sale of a business, including:

Due diligence, which involves reviewing a business’s financial and operational records to assess the suitability of a transaction and identify potential red flags or other legal risks
Valuation/appraisal
Deal structuring (e.g., deciding between stock vs. asset purchases, determining consideration paid for the transaction, etc.)
Drafting and reviewing purchase agreements
Assessing regulatory compliance requirements and communicating with regulators to secure approvals

When Should a Company Consult a Lawyer?

Most businesses will need legal representation throughout the company’s lifecycle. Legal counsel can become critical at some of the key moments in a business’s development, including:

Formation
Entering major transactions, such as outside investment, purchases or leases of real estate, and contractors with large clients
Applying for licensing or regulatory approvals
Mergers and acquisitions
Legal disputes or lawsuits

A business can benefit from developing a long-standing relationship with legal counsel, who can provide proactive advice and support to minimize the risk of legal issues, rather than reacting to disputes after they occur.

Contact Our Michigan Firm Today for Experienced Guidance

Whether you plan to start or already own a business, having experienced counsel to guide you through the various legal issues that may arise can help you protect your investment and hard work. Contact Head Murphy Law today for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced business attorney to learn more about the services available for you.