Selling your ownership interest to an existing partner or co-owner is a buyout, but the legal process depends on your business structure and governing documents. A partnership interest, LLC membership interest, and corporate shares can each involve different transfer rules, approval requirements, and buyout terms. Before agreeing to a price or signing a buyout agreement,…
Continue reading ›
Selling a business in California involves far more than finding a buyer and signing a purchase agreement. The way you structure the sale can affect what transfers, which liabilities remain with you, how contracts and licenses are handled, and what obligations continue after closing. Before you accept an offer or sign a letter of intent,…
Continue reading ›
At some point, the people who started a business together don’t want the same thing anymore. One owner wants out. The others want to keep going. Or nobody wants out, but nobody can agree on what the business is actually worth. People call this a “business divorce,” and while the term is useful shorthand, it…
Continue reading ›
If a joint venture with your Newport Beach business partner has broken down, you may need to determine whether the dispute involves a contract violation, misuse of venture assets, a breach of fiduciary duty, or another legal claim. California law can also affect how the dispute gets resolved and how long you have to act.…
Continue reading ›When two or more people run a business together, California law treats them as more than co-owners. They are fiduciaries to one another, meaning each partner is legally required to put the interests of the partnership ahead of personal gain. A breach of fiduciary duty happens when a partner crosses that line and acts in…
Continue reading ›When a corporation is harmed by the people running it, the corporation itself has the right to sue. But directors rarely vote to sue themselves. A shareholder derivative action solves that problem by letting a shareholder step in and bring the claim on the corporation’s behalf. It is one of the most important tools California…
Continue reading ›Registering a business in California is not one form. It is a sequence of decisions and filings that can include choosing a name, choosing a structure, filing formation documents, getting a tax ID, registering for applicable taxes, and obtaining any required local or industry-specific licenses before you begin operating. What “registering” actually requires also depends…
Continue reading ›A warranty is a promise about the quality, performance, or condition of goods that are sold. When that promise turns out to be false, or when the goods fail to meet a standard the law automatically attaches to the sale, the law calls it a breach of warranty. This article focuses on warranties in the…
Continue reading ›If you shook hands on a deal and now the other side won’t honor it, the first question is simple: did that agreement need to be in writing in the first place? In California, the answer depends on a law called the Statute of Frauds. Some verbal agreements are fully enforceable. Others may be unenforceable…
Continue reading ›Buying, selling, or owning real estate in California can involve significant legal and financial responsibilities. While many transactions proceed smoothly, others raise questions about contracts, disclosures, title issues, co-ownership disagreements, or property boundaries. In those situations, a California real estate attorney can provide legal guidance and representation tailored to the specific circumstances. For homeowners, investors,…
Continue reading ›
