Business & Tax

Foster Swift business and tax attorneys help business owners, executives and managers address legal issues at every stage of the business life cycle. By providing a comprehensive team of attorneys, we are able to build long term relationships with our clients that focus on success in every phase of the cycle.

Recognized by their peers as leaders, several Foster Swift Business and Tax attorneys have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers.

For decades, the attorneys in the Business and Tax Practice Group have assisted start-up businesses to Fortune 500 companies with:

Entity selection, formation and organization planning
Commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions including asset or stock acquisitions or sales
Counsel for securities offerings in compliance with federal and state securities laws
SEC reporting requirements, executive compensation issues, disclosure issues and general corporate governance matters
Contract preparation, compensation plan preparation and general corporate counseling
Succession and exit planning
International expansion, joint ventures, immigration and U.S. import/export controls
Federal and state tax planning
Shareholder dispute resolution
Construction and real estate issues
Intellectual property and information technology issues.
CHECK OUT FOSTER SWIFT'S BIZ TECH LAW BLOG

We provide services to a wide variety of industry sectors and business types. Two emerging areas for the practice group are public finance and sports and entertainment law. Our Business and Tax attorneys collaborate with Foster Swift attorneys in other areas and industry experts to cost effectively meet the legal needs of a business.

Successful representations

A publicly-traded company hired Foster Swift to handle two registered secondary offerings involving an aggregate offering price of approximately $18 million.
A growing manufacturing company retained Foster Swift to design, develop and implement a multi-state, multi-industry acquisition strategy which to date has successfully acquired three companies in three states with a combined value of $35 million.
A business client needed help with the formation of a bank holding company and state chartered bank. Our attorneys handled these matters together with private placement offerings of $8.5 million and $3.3 million of common stock.
An issuer needed counsel on a going-private transaction. On its behalf, Foster Swift managed the going-private transaction and a $10 million trust preferred securities offering.
A multi-national insurance holding company hired Foster Swift. We helped the entity restructure and reorganize.
A state-chartered bank wanted to acquire multiple branch locations and needed counsel. It hired Foster Swift, and the deals were done.
A publicly-traded bank holding company hired Foster Swift and completed a registered purchase of a bank holding company.
Various purchasers hired us to handle a $3.2 million insurance agency acquisition and, separately, the $6.5 million acquisition of oil and gas equipment.
Various sellers hired Foster Swift for a $42 million sale of an original equipment manufacturer and, separately, a $9.3 million sale of an engineering firm.

Today’s business climate rewards those who are well prepared and strategic, particularly when it comes to adhering to challenges. A strong relationship with an experienced attorney can make a significant difference in the evolution of a business. Foster Swift business attorneys deliver cost-effective, responsive legal services for sophisticated transactions and business needs while creating innovative solutions to clients’ legal challenges.

Foster Swift has been named a Tier 1 firm in Corporate Law in Lansing and Grand Rapids by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Highlights

Recent Blog Posts

Publications & Alerts

Executive Order 2020-183: Increased Gathering Sizes and Places of Public Accommodation to Open Soon, Foster Swift Legal Update E-blast, September 28, 2020
USDA Announces CFAP 2: $14 Billion in Direct Payments to Producers, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News E-blast, September 25, 2020
The Benefits of Adopting a Pre-Approved Plan, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News E-blast, August 11, 2020
Fiduciary Basics for Benefits Plans, Business & Tax Law News E-blast, July 27, 2020
Applying for a Michigan Small Business Grant, Foster Swift Legal Update E-blast, July 15, 2020
Emails to Your Personal Attorney May Not Be Privileged If Sent or Received on a Work-Provided Email Address, Foster Swift Legal Update E-blast, June 16, 2020

Events

The PPP Loan Forgiveness Form is Out: Next Steps to Ensure Forgiveness for your PPP Loan, Foster Swift, May 21, 2020
Webinar: Planning to Ensure Full Forgiveness for Your PPP Loan, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, May 7, 2020
Troubleshooting Multi-State Nexus Issues for the Family Business Post-Wayfair, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, June 6, 2019
Estate and Succession Planning Essentials for Family Farms: Don’t Procrastinate – Control the Future of Your Farm, Great Lakes Crop Summit, January 30, 2019
Making the Most of International Trade Shows & Missions, Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan, January 29, 2019
Foster Swift Attorneys Present Trusts Seminars, National Business Institute (NBI), November 14 and 15, 2018
Tax Issues and Challenges Surrounding Innovative Fundraising, MICPA: 2018 Nonprofit Conference, October 9, 2018