Protecting Your Business, Powering Your Growth

Legal Guidance for Every Stage of Your Business

RKW’s business lawyers advise public and private companies, private equity funds, and financial institutions on sophisticated mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, financings, and other transactional matters, with a strong focus on the middle market. We guide clients through major corporate transactions and crisis management, as well as in day-to-day operations and routine matters. We are trusted advisors to boards of directors, executive management teams, family offices, private equity sponsors, institutional and individual investors, and founder-owned businesses.

Our clients span a broad range of sectors, including healthcare, dental services and life sciences, hospitality and restaurant, specialty retail, consumer services, financial services, light manufacturing, business and industrial services, technology, and logistics. We act as allies to the companies we represent and their executives—anticipating their needs, responsively addressing their concerns, and being accessible at all times. Working collaboratively with firm specialists in related legal disciplines, we are able to effectively manage transaction risk. Our deal teams include partners who concentrate in finance, tax, employee benefits and executive compensation, intellectual property, information technology, labor and employment, healthcare, real estate, government contracts, litigation, and regulatory matters.

Our Business Law Practice Group is organized to meet clients’ needs in the most efficient manner possible; although we are often called upon to develop creative solutions to unique challenges, we find that many of our clients’ transactions and legal needs fall into recurring categories. We counsel clients on the full life cycle of a company, including:

• Entity formation and structure
• Financing and capitalization
• Governing documents
• Operation and management
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Business succession planning
• Supply and distribution agreements
• Secured transactions and debt recovery
• Shareholder/Partner agreements
• Executive compensation
• Shareholder/Partner disputes

Like our clients, RKW operates in a fast-moving, cutting-edge business world. We know you need experienced, knowledgeable counsel to help satisfy rapidly changing demands, competitive forces, and regulatory challenges. Clients deserve an attorney/client relationship based on trust, proven responsiveness, efficiency, and transparent communication. RKW is committed to building such relationships.

Business Owner Disputes

Our attorneys have decades of experience in helping aspiring owners launch their own company, acquire another enterprise, or buy into an existing business. We help large and small companies navigate all aspects of structuring their initial ownership interest, realizing the full value of their interest, and developing a thoughtful exit plan whether it be for retirement, health reasons, or, perhaps, when partners do not share the same vision. Our attorneys will help you prepare and negotiate employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and partnership agreements. We have unique insight and experience in spotting issues which could stifle growth, cause compensation problems, or create oppressive tactics. Our role in helping clients is not just to get into the relationship, but to “plan for the divorce, not the marriage.” One of the most common forms of commercial disputes involve fights between business owners, usually when someone is joining or leaving the business. Business “divorces” are as complicated and challenging as dissolving a marriage and, typically, involves complex transactions. Our experienced litigation attorneys handle these disputes between owners in federal and state courts when fundamental legal principles are violated. If you are contemplating joining a new company or adding another partner, our attorneys will help you identify issues so you are fully informed before joining. Similarly, we can help you think about what is necessary for a successful exit plan for you or your co-owners. Our breadth of experience here spans many different industries such as medical practices, government contractors, restaurants, and real estate ventures. Before you contemplate entering into a business arrangement with someone or find yourself in a position where you and your business partners simply don’t see eye to eye anymore, call RKW and let us help you plot a course to a successful conclusion.