Negotiation and Drafting of Business, Corporate, and Commercial Documents, Agreements, Leases and Licenses

A solid agreement is the foundation of any good business relationship, clearly laying out rules and expectations and defining roles and responsibilities. When business is going well, key documents can act as references. And when complications arise, having an understandable legal framework is even more vital. Besides day-to-day operations, every business will also have practical concerns regarding licenses, leases, and other legal matters.

DeBaltzo Law works hard to ensure that your business documents are clear, thorough, and that they address the scenarios that your company might encounter. Nicholas DeBaltzo’s vast experience as a transactional attorney focusing on corporate and business issues and commercial and residential real estate is at the ready to benefit you.

Negotiation and Drafting of Business Documents

At DeBaltzo Law, we know the importance of a solid contract – it can make all the difference and ultimately determine the success of various business dealings. When language is clear, focused, concise and free of loopholes, ambiguity, and hidden clauses, you can avoid many potential disagreements and misunderstandings. This protects your business from unnecessary risks like costly disputes or litigation.

Negotiation begins with pinning down clear objectives, doing necessary research into relevant laws and related facts, and identifying areas for possible compromise. We take all parties’ input into account but we always put our clients’ interests first. Drafting is the next natural step, and we make sure that language is clear, specific, focused and free from unnecessary complexity or ambiguity.

Since we have extensive experience drafting contracts and other business documents, you can rely on our professionalism and accurate expression of your goals and concerns. From creating brand new contracts to reviewing the existing agreements you already have in place, we can work with you to ensure that language is accurate and that we’ve negotiated the best terms for your business needs.

When Business, Corporate, and Commercial Agreements are Necessary

Whether you are a landlord, employer, owner, or if you fill some other role in your company, you will inevitably be involved in countless business relationships that require clear boundaries and a definition of responsibilities. This is where business, corporate, and commercial agreements come into play. Comprehensive and well-negotiated and -drafted agreements ensure that all parties understand their role and have recourse should something go awry.

Types of Business, Corporate, and Commercial Agreements and Documents

Depending on the type of business, laying down the ideal legal framework can bring up numerous variables. DeBaltzo Law can take all factors into account and draft whatever agreement, contract, or other document you may need to legally do business.

Types of business documents that DeBaltzo Law can draft include:

Agreements

Agreement is a general term for a wide range of legal documents. Here are some specific agreements that we often draft for our clients:

• Property lease agreements
• Franchising agreements
• Purchase/sale agreements
• Employment, severance, and independent contractor agreements
• Nondisclosure, non-circumvention, non-compete, and non-solicitation agreements
• Shareholder and LLC operating agreements
• Vendor/customer agreements
• Licensing agreements
• Manufacturing and distribution agreements
• Royalty agreements
• Commercial and residential lease agreements
• Confidentiality agreements
• Joint venture agreements
• Consignment agreements
• Buy/sell agreements
• Pledge and security agreements
• Promissory notes, mortgages and UCC filings
• Invoice terms and conditions
• Website development agreements
• Software licenses and assignments
• Employment relationships and agreements
• Equipment lease agreements
• Complex contractual agreements
• Procurement agreements

We can also draft documents for commercial real estate transactions, merger and acquisition proceedings, and business combinations, consolidations, restructurings, and divestitures. Essentially any aspect of business that requires clearly laid out procedures can benefit from well-drafted, legally informative documents.

Leases

Commercial leases are very different from residential leases, both practically and legally. They often feature fewer built-in legal protections, a lack of standardized forms, restrictive covenants, and lease durations that are lengthy and often hard to break. Since commercial leases are also generally open to negotiation you’ll want a strong legal force on your side when entering into an agreement to ensure that your business’s needs are met. Factors that may require negotiation can include rent price, length of the lease, and the physical layout of the space you’re planning to rent. This is especially true if you need modifications made to ensure that business premises are fully accessible to all customers and employees. Other inclusions, like the ability to put a sign where it is to your business’s best advantage or limiting the landlord from renting to competitors are more complex negotiations that are best handled by a proficient legal advisor.

Licenses

Nearly all businesses require some sort of license to be in compliance with legal requirements or local regulations. DeBaltzo Law can help you to determine which license(s) you may need to do business and draft them for you. Here are a few categories of licenses that we can draft for you:

• General Business
• Special Business
• Doing Business As (DBA)
• Direct Sales Licenses
• Professional/Occupational Licenses

By ensuring that necessary licenses and other agreements are in place before beginning business operations, you can avoid fines and penalties and start your new business off on good footing. DeBaltzo Law can also help you to acquire other business documents that you may need, such as zoning and property/land use permits, building permits, fire department permits, health permits, signage permits, environmental permits, and tax permits. If you’re starting a business from your place of residence or in another site, different requirements will likely apply. We can help you to make sure that your new business is compliant on all fronts.

Do You Need a Business License?

The question of whether you need licensure for your business is wholly unrelated to its size, and depends fully on the nature of your work, location, and geographic range of service. Professional licenses are some of the most common types of licenses you may need to obtain.

Occupations and industries that typically require licensure include:

• Accountants
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Contractors
• Mechanics
• Collection agents
• Physicians
• Appraisers
• Real estate brokers
• Private auctioneers
• Repossessors
• Insurance Agents
• Cosmetologists
• Barbers
• Private security guards
• Private investigators

Other industries that require licenses could be those that fall under broad categories like agriculture, aviation, fish and wildlife, mining, radio and television, and transportation and logistics. The list is ongoing, so contacting us to discuss your company’s licensure needs is the best way to make sure that you are compliant with all state, local, and federal regulations.

Besides the first acquisition of a license – often before starting a business – you may need to maintain the license over time. DeBaltzo is familiar with the relevant legal requirements and can do work on your behalf to ensure that your business can remain legally operational.

How DeBaltzo is Different

Dealing with business, corporate, and commercial agreements, leases, and other documents can be a tedious undertaking, but it’s what we do best. Once these requirements are filled, you can carry on with your business, focusing on growth and success. So let DeBaltzo fill in any knowledge gaps and take care of the legal intricacies. Benefit from our expertise and guidance and depend on us for reliable and effective negotiation and drafting of even your most complex business documents. We pride ourselves on our deep legal know-how and our ability to navigate difficult transactions for a diverse client base.

DeBaltzo understands the intricacies of how to draft an airtight contract both to protect your interests and opportunities and also prevent future problems. Get in touch with us for more information and to learn how we can help to protect your business.