Matt’s Legal Services

New Business Start-Up

Starting a business shouldn’t be stressful or complicated. Matt has formed thousands of business entities over the last 12 years, and he loves to help his clients feel confident in their decision to launch new businesses.

Picking the right business entity (LLC, Corporation, etc.) is just the first step in charting a successful launch of your business. After a quick consultation, you’ll have answers to all of your important questions:

• What business entity should I form?

• What do I need to know about choosing a name for my business?

• How do I minimize my risk as a business owner and employer?

• How do I protect my intellectual property?

• What contracts does my business need?

• How do I pay myself?

• How do I hire and pay employees?

• What happens to my business ownership if I die?

Matt gives you the guidance and tools you need to ensure your business is a success.

Contract Drafting & Review

Using a simple and straight-forward written agreement with your customers or employees is the most important step you can take in protecting your business. Lawyers have a little secret they don’t tell you about: they write complex contracts so you have to hire more lawyers to figure them out! Not Matt—he drafts contracts that protect your business, but the contracts are written in plain language so you, your customers, and your employees can understand them.

Over the last 12 years, Matt has drafted thousands of agreements in varying areas:

• Service agreements and product sales agreements

• Employment agreements and non-compete agreements

• Independent contractor agreements

• Customer waivers for high-risk businesses

• Construction contracts for general contractors and sub-contractors

• Franchise agreements and disclosure statements

• Website terms & conditions and privacy policies

• Commercial and residential lease agreements

• Internal corporate governance documents

• Film, television, and entertainment services, licensing, and distribution agreements

Buying or Selling a Business

Buying or selling a business is a huge decision. You need a team of experienced professionals on your side to make sure the transaction goes off without a hitch—a lawyer, a CPA, and often times a business broker. Matt regularly represents buyers and sellers in a wide range of business transactions.

One meeting with Matt will answer all of your important questions:

• How should I structure the deal (asset purchase vs. stock/membership interest purchase)?

• What type of due diligence should I do?

• How do I avoid taking on “hidden debt” or other liabilities?

• What about the commercial lease or other contracts?

• How do I protect myself after the sales/purchase?

Buying or selling your business is a complex process with many moving parts to consider. Let Matt be your guide so you can celebrate after a successful sale or purchase.

One of the most important assets of any business is its intellectual property. Protecting your business name, logo, tagline, and other intellectual property keeps competitors or copycats from stealing your business.

During a free consultation with Matt, you’ll get all of your important questions answered, like:

• What is a trademark, copyright, or patent?

• Can I trademark a logo, slogan, catch phrase, or tagline?

• Why do I need a trademark, and what’s the advantage of registering my trademark with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office or my state’s registry?

• How long does a trademark last?

• Does my trademark registered in the U.S. protect my intellectual property in other countries?

Making sure you’ve locked down the protection of your intellectual property is a crucial component to your competitive advantage.

Owning a business with someone else is like a marriage—there are ups and downs, and communication is key. If you and your business partner are in constant conflict and you don’t know how to handle the situation, a meeting with Matt will answer all of your questions:

• My business partner is stealing money—what do I do?

• We want to go our separate ways—how do I get out of the business, or remove my business partner from the business?

• What options do I have to buy my business partner out, or have him/her buy me out?

• My business partner started a new business that competes with our existing business—what should I do?

The internal governing documents of your business (operating agreement, shareholder agreement, bylaws, etc.) often give you important powers—and strict limitations—for separating yourself from your business partner. Matt can get you to a resolution whether it’s through negotiation or litigation.

Many lawyers handle simple litigation. Matt represents clients in high-conflict situations where his clients’ futures and fortunes are at stake. From filing suit against a global finance company for $300 million to defending against a $150 million fraud claim brought by the Department of Justice, Matt works with his clients to hold those in power accountable.

Representing clients in high-stakes litigation is something Matt has done since his first days of practicing law. Matt was the first attorney to file claims against BP after the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, and he acted as primary counsel in the largest oil spill claim in history. Matt also represented the largest homebuilder in the southeast, spearheading defense against a multi-district class action lawsuit alleging defective and harmful drywall.

If the stakes of your dispute are high, Matt and his team of lawyers and legal professionals will fight to the very end.