Business

The Business Department represents clients in a wide range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financings, debt offerings and commercial financings, and the structuring and formation of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and other entities.  Our experience includes representing targets and acquirers in mergers and acquisitions of all sizes, within California and internationally.  We represent companies and individuals using private equity and venture capital to expand and companies and lenders using commercial financing for growth or working capital.  For new ventures, our attorneys work with our clients to determine the appropriate entity to be formed, and assist with initial capitalization, buy-sell agreements, and tax and business planning.  Our attorneys also provide advice to clients on operational matters including employer-employee relations and contractual relations with distributors and suppliers.  

Above all, our attorneys immerse themselves in our clients’ businesses and provide innovative solutions to complex issues.  The firm’s business clients include wineries, growers, importers and other businesses related to the food and wine industry, in addition to a broad array of clients from other industries, including hospitality, construction, retail and finance, throughout California and internationally.  The Business Department has handled more winery sales and purchases than any other law firm in the state as well as vineyard leases in 14 California counties and grape contracts covering fruit grown in each of the state’s wine growing regions.  In addition, our Business and Trust and Estates Departments work closely to plan various forms of business structures and family-owned entities intended to accomplish a myriad of business and estate planning goals.