OUR SERVICES: Business and Real Estate Transactions

Representing Your Business

Our firm provides full-service representation for businesses. We handle business formation and commercial transactions, as well as commercial litigation. Whether you are starting a new small business venture or wanting to take your company to the next level, we can help you.

Business Formation

Our attorneys have helped start many small businesses and work closely with our clients to find the entity that best suits their needs, including:

• C Corporation
• S Corporation
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Non profit entities
• Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
• General partnership

We draft all documents needed, including:

• Articles of incorporation
• Partnership agreements
• Buy sell agreements
• Articles of Organization
• Formation of entities in other states
• Bylaws
• Shareholders and Directors minutes
• Qualified and nonqualified stock options and plans
• Promissory notes
• Warrants
• Phantom stock plans
• Executive compensation agreements
• Consulting contracts
• Confidentiality and Nondisclosure agreements
• Deferred compensation
• Split Dollar life insurance agreements

We also assist clients who wish to form partnerships or other entities for estate planning purposes. We create shareholder and partnership agreements, stock options, or phantom stock plans as needed.

Acquisitions and Mergers

We regularly handle business acquisitions, sales, and mergers. Our firm has a track record of promptly consummating deals where our client is fully protected and gets the benefit of the bargain entered. We let our clients make the business decisions and we provide the best legal advice and counsel throughout the process. Tax strategies are considered from the outset, and we always work closely with our clients’ tax advisors. Some of the agreements and documents involved in such deals include:

• Letters of Intent
• Memorandums of Understanding
• Confidentiality Agreements
• Asset Purchase Agreements
• Stock Purchase Agreements
• Noncompetition Contracts
• Promissory Notes
• Loan Agreements
• Security Agreements
• Stock Pledge Agreements
• Letters of Credit
• Deeds of trust
• UCC-1 Security Agreements
• Earn out Agreements
• Bonus Plan Agreements
• Subordination Agreements
• Lease Assignments
• Sublease Agreements
• Bills of Sale
• Employment Agreements

Business Contracts

Sound contracts are a necessary part of a successful business. Our contracts are easy to understand and protect the interests of our clients in case of a dispute.

We draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts, including:

• Executive compensation agreements
• Deferred compensation agreements
• Stock options
• Phantom stock agreements
• Shareholder agreements
• Vender contracts
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Asset purchase and sale
• Equipment leases
• Transportation agreements with shippers, brokers, owner operators and independent contractors

Real Estate Transactions

We understand that real estate is a huge investment for homeowners and commercial property owners. Our firm assists clients with everyday real estate transactions and helps those who run into problems or disputes.

We handle real estate transactions that involve:

• Purchase and sale
• 1031 exchanges
• Commercial leases
• Joint tenancy
• Tenancy in common
• Real estate development
• Construction contracts
• Homeowners association (Articles, Bylaws and CC&Rs)
• Unlawful detainer
• Entitlements
• Issues with government agencies
• Acquisition and leaseback of retail and commercial property
• Assemblages
• Conduit/securitized loans
• Bankruptcy remote entities
• Loan review
  

Agreements and Transactions

We also handle:

• Development agreements
• Limited liability companies and operating agreements
• Real estate purchasing agreements
• Options to purchase
• Co-tenancy agreements
• Easements
• Lot line adjustments and disputes
• Disposition and development agreements (DDAs)
• Owner participation agreements (OPAs) 

We represent buyers, sellers, and brokers. From the initial offer to the final closing, our attorneys draft, review, and negotiate all necessary documents. Our attorneys make themselves available to address questions, concerns, and problems that may arise.

Real Estate Disputes

Our firm represents clients in all types of real estate disputes, including:

• Zoning
• Land use
• Breach of contract
• Construction defects
• Partition
• Disputes between land owners
• Disputes with government agencies
• Commercial landlord-tenant disputes
• Construction disputes
• Unlawful detainer, also known as eviction
• Homeowners association disputes and issues
• Hazardous waste and contamination issues
• City and County entitlement disputes

Our firm also helps clients defend or enforce mechanic's liens, stop notices, and bond claims. We appear in front of city councils, public utilities commissions, zoning boards, the California Coastal Commission, and State and Federal courts (on behalf of our clients).

For more information about our Business and Real Estate Transaction services, please call us at 650.573.9500 or email us at contactus@chauvellaw.com.