For a business to have sustained success, trustworthy legal direction is essential. Foster Swift serves the role of general counsel for many small and mid-size businesses and associations whose present business model doesn't support a full-time in-house lawyer.
Clients call on us to address the complete range of legal issues facing their business. Our involvement level can vary depending upon the entity's needs and goals. As the legal advisor to the management team, we offer proactive strategies that minimize risk, counsel on matters of corporate governance as well as regulatory issues and develop creative solutions when problems arise. Recognizing the profitability goals and financial parameters of our clients, we constantly strive to be as cost-efficient as possible. Foster Swift business and tax attorneys are able to tap other legal issue experts within the firm as the situations require, which expedites our response and often reduces the cost to the client.
The bottom line is that 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 business cycle. Some of the matters we routinely handle when serving as general counsel include:
- Entity selection, formation and organization planning
- Drafting start-up documentation
- Complying with regulatory requirements and federal and state laws
- Ownership structure
- Establishing corporate records
- Employment contracts and benefits
- Zoning compliance
- Real estate transactions, commercial leases and construction issues
- Taxation
- Intellectual property and information technology issues
- Operating agreements
- Shareholder agreements and dispute resolution
- Corporate bylaws
- Commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions including asset or stock acquisitions or sales
- 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
At Foster Swift we recognize that every business is different, and each business will have different legal needs for every stage in the business cycle. For every contract and transaction our attorneys will make sure your business gets the best terms available while minimizing liability.
Recent Blog Posts
Publications & Alerts
- Notable Shift in Contract Law Regarding Release Contracts Could Affect Automotive Suppliers and Others, Business & Tax Law News, August 3, 2023
- Cannabis Law Update, Ingham County Bar Association BRIEFS, July 19, 2023
- Year End Budgeting and Housekeeping Best Practices for Businesses, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News, October 27, 2022
- I've Been Served with a Summons and Complaint—Now What?, August 24, 2020
- Our Bond Counsel Practice: How We Serve Townships, Foster Swift Municipal Law News, April 24, 2018
- Scam Targets Corporations, Business & Corporate Law Report, September 12, 2012
Events
- Why Selecting the Right Legal Counsel is Essential to Your Business, Foster Swift Collins & Smith - Legal Strategies for Women Leaders, August 30, 2023
- Michigan Supreme Court Decision May Affect Contract Drafting Between Suppliers and Buyers, Foster Swift Second Wednesday Lunch Break, August 9, 2023
- An Overview of Michigan's Felony Sentencing Guidelines, Foster Swift Second Wednesday Lunch Break, May 10, 2023
- How do Businesses get Ready for the Upcoming Corporate Transparency Act?, Foster Swift Second Wednesday Lunch Break, March 8, 2023
- What are the Legal Rights of a Co-op Member?, Michigan Farm Bureau, February 22, 2023
- Independent Medical Exams: Strategies for Imposing or Preventing Conditions and Limitations, Strafford Webinars, January 4, 2023
News
- Litigator Joins Foster Swift Law Firm in Southfield, Detroit Legal News, April 12, 2023
- Be Careful on the Biggest Bar Night of the Year, Global Newswire, November 21, 2022
- Storey Receives 2021 Theodore W. Swift Civility Award, October 1, 2021
- Lansing Attorney Named ICBF President, July 28, 2021
- Civil Lawsuits In The Wake Of COVID-19, Michigan Business Network, September 3, 2020
- Foster Swift Attorney Jean Schtokal selected as one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2013 "Women in the Law", August 8, 2013