Managing a family business is difficult enough when the founding generation is still alive. When the founders pass, however, the legal, business and family issues become much more complex because the adult decision makers that everyone relied upon, respected, and listened to, are gone. The children of Robert Smith – Mary, Josh and Matthew – […]
How Founders of New Companies Can Protect Against Personal Liability
Starting a business can be the first step in a thrilling adventure, one that you have perhaps dreamed of for years. But as you start your venture you’re mildly terrified of the outcome. When launching a new business, budding entrepreneurs can hardly slow down long enough to do the bare minimum of forming the proper […]
Delaware Court Rules that Stockholder Right to Inspect Books is a Matter of “Internal Affairs”
On August 13, 2020, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued an opinion in JUUL Labs, Inc. v. Grove, holding that a stockholder could not use Section 1601 of the California Corporations Code to inspect the books and records of a Delaware corporation because the “internal affairs doctrine” dictated that Delaware law must apply. The case arose when Daniel […]
Important Corporate Documents for a Successful Business Sale
The last thing most founders think about when they start up a company is selling it. If one of the possible exit strategies is to sell your company, you should be thinking about the documentation you’ll need for a successful business sale from the very beginning. It may be years down the road but the […]
Tax Issues to Consider When Forming a California LLC
Last week’s post discussed some important tax issues entrepreneurs should be aware of when forming and operating California partnerships. As we discussed, one of the most important factors to consider when forming a new enterprise is whether the business is initially expected to generate profits or losses and the tax consequences of those profits and […]