Florida Business Acquisition Counsel
Buying a Business in Florida?
Get an attorney on your side to review the deal, identify legal risks, negotiate the purchase documents, and help move your acquisition toward closing.
Already have a broker, LOI, purchase agreement, lender, or closing date? We can review a transaction already in progress.
Already Have a Deal in Progress?
Get Your Own Attorney on the Buyer’s Side.
Your broker, CPA, lender, and other professionals may each play an important role in the transaction. Your attorney has a different role: representing your legal interests as the buyer.
Shield Legal Group can evaluate a business acquisition already underway, review the purchase documents and transaction structure, identify legal issues, negotiate terms, and assist with the legal work needed to move toward closing.
If documents have already been prepared, we can provide an additional legal review from the buyer’s perspective.
Need an Attorney to Help Get Your Business Purchase to Closing?
Your purchase price may already be negotiated. You may already have financing underway, a business broker, transaction documents, or a target closing date.
That does not necessarily mean it is too late to bring in legal counsel. Shield Legal Group can evaluate where the transaction currently stands and assist with the legal work that remains before closing.
Depending on the transaction and scope of representation, this may include:
From Deal Review Through Closing
Review the Deal
Review the LOI, purchase agreement, transaction structure, and available documents to understand the proposed acquisition and the obligations the buyer is being asked to accept.
Identify Legal Issues
Evaluate legal issues relevant to the acquisition, which may include contracts, liens, leases, ownership matters, litigation, licenses, liabilities, and other transaction-specific concerns.
Negotiate & Document the Purchase
Review, draft, and negotiate acquisition documents based on the structure and negotiated terms of the transaction.
Move Toward Closing
Address applicable closing conditions, transaction documents, signatures, ownership transfers, and coordination with the parties and other transaction professionals.
You Don’t Have to Start Over.
You may still be able to bring in legal counsel to evaluate the transaction from the buyer’s perspective.
Shield Legal Group can review where your deal currently stands and discuss what legal work may still be appropriate before you complete the acquisition.
How Is Your Business Purchase Structured?
Business acquisitions can be structured in different ways. The structure affects what the buyer is acquiring and the legal documents involved in the transaction.
Asset Purchases
Acquisitions involving specified assets of a business, which may include equipment, inventory, contracts, intellectual property, goodwill, and other operating assets.
Membership Interest Purchases
Transactions involving the acquisition of ownership interests in a limited liability company.
Stock Purchases
Transactions involving the acquisition of shares of a privately held corporation.
Not sure how your deal is structured?
Tell us where the transaction stands and what documents you already have.
What We Can Help With
You do not need to figure out whether your transaction is an asset purchase, a membership interest purchase, or something else before contacting us. Tell us about the deal and we will identify the legal work that may be appropriate.
The scope of representation depends on the particular transaction and the agreed engagement. You do not need to know which of these applies to your situation before reaching out.
Who Is Looking Out for the Buyer?
A business acquisition may involve brokers, accountants, lenders, sellers, landlords, franchisors, and other professionals. Each may have a different role in helping the transaction move forward.
Your attorney’s role is different. Shield Legal Group can represent your legal interests as the buyer, review the transaction from your perspective, identify legal issues for consideration, and help you understand the documents you are being asked to sign.
Your Broker
Helps facilitate the deal.
Your CPA
Helps evaluate financial and tax considerations.
Your Attorney
Represents your legal interests in the transaction.
Getting Started Is Simple
Tell Us About the Deal
Tell us what business you are purchasing, the approximate purchase price, where the transaction currently stands, and your anticipated closing date.
Tell Us What You Already Have
Let us know whether you already have an LOI, purchase agreement, term sheet, lease, franchise documents, financing documents, or other transaction materials.
We Evaluate Where Things Stand
We discuss the transaction with you and determine what legal services may be appropriate based on the current stage of the acquisition.
Move the Legal Work Forward
If retained, Shield Legal Group performs the agreed legal work and coordinates with relevant transaction participants as appropriate.
Do not submit confidential or sensitive information before an attorney-client relationship has been established.
Tell Us About Your Business Purchase
Answer a few questions so we can better understand where your transaction stands.
Legal Counsel Focused on the Transaction
Shield Legal Group assists clients with business acquisitions and commercial transactions throughout Florida.
We work with buyers to understand the legal terms of their transactions, evaluate transaction-specific legal issues, review and negotiate acquisition documents, and address the legal work associated with closing.
Selling a business instead? Learn about our seller-side business transaction services.
Questions About Buying a Business
Counsel may become involved at different stages, including before signing an LOI or purchase agreement, during diligence, or when a transaction is already progressing toward closing. The earlier an attorney is involved, the more opportunity there is to evaluate and address legal issues before they become obstacles.
A broker may help identify opportunities and facilitate the transaction, while legal counsel represents the buyer’s legal interests and advises on transaction documents and legal issues. Each professional plays a different role, and their work can complement each other.
Yes, Shield Legal Group can be engaged to review transaction documents from the buyer’s perspective depending on the matter. The firm can evaluate the terms, identify legal issues, and discuss potential negotiation points.
Legal counsel may still assist with subsequent diligence, definitive agreements, negotiations, and closing matters depending on the transaction. Signing an LOI does not necessarily mean it is too late to involve an attorney.
Yes. The firm can evaluate the transaction at its current stage and discuss what legal work remains. Depending on the transaction and scope, this may include diligence, document review, negotiations, and closing preparation.
In an asset purchase, the buyer acquires selected assets and may assume specifically identified obligations. In a membership interest purchase, the buyer acquires an ownership interest in the entity itself. The legal and practical consequences can differ significantly, and the structure affects what documents are involved.
Yes, depending on the scope of the engagement and transaction. Legal due diligence may include reviewing organizational records, contracts, ownership information, liabilities, litigation, licenses, and other matters relevant to the acquisition.
Yes. The firm assists with business acquisition closings and related legal transaction work depending on the particular matter. This may include preparing or reviewing closing documents, addressing closing conditions, and coordinating with the parties and other professionals involved.
Yes. Shield Legal Group assists clients with business acquisitions and commercial transactions throughout Florida.
Buying a Business?
Get an attorney on your side to review the transaction, identify legal issues, and help move the legal work toward closing.
Already have transaction documents? Tell us where your deal stands.
Does the Business Have a Brand Name, Logo, or Trademark?
Trademarks and other intellectual-property assets do not automatically transfer when a business changes hands. Shield Legal Group can assist with the review and transfer of trademarks and other identified intellectual-property assets as part of your acquisition.
Learn About Trademark Services