Business Law in Southern Ohio
Most small businesses in Southern Ohio do not have a general counsel on staff — they need outside lawyers for the matters that come up: forming the entity, drafting the operating agreement, reviewing the lease, negotiating the vendor contract, handling the employment dispute, dealing with the customer who won't pay. The firm provides that kind of practical, transactional general-counsel support to small and medium businesses across Lawrence, Scioto, Gallia, and Jackson Counties.
Services We Provide
Business Formation
We represent a variety of businesses across different sectors. The right entity and governance choices depend on the number of owners, the desired tax treatment, the liability profile, and the long-term plans for the business. We walk through the options with you and file the appropriate documents with the Ohio Secretary of State.
Operating Agreements & Bylaws
The operating agreement (for an LLC) or bylaws (for a corporation) is the rulebook for how the business runs — how decisions get made, how owners can be added or removed, how profits and losses are allocated, what happens if an owner dies or wants out. We draft these carefully, because the consequences of a poorly drafted agreement show up years later when something goes wrong.
Commercial Contracts
Vendor agreements, customer contracts, service agreements, supply contracts, distribution agreements, and licensing agreements. We draft contracts from scratch and review contracts that the other side has presented. The goal is plain-English documents that protect your interests without creating disputes that wouldn't otherwise exist.
Commercial Leases
Office leases, retail leases, industrial leases, ground leases. Commercial leases are typically heavily landlord-favorable when presented in their first draft — we negotiate the terms that matter (rent escalators, build-out allowances, exclusive-use clauses, assignment and subletting, cure periods) before you sign.
Employment Matters
Employment agreements, independent-contractor agreements, employee handbooks, noncompete and nondisclosure agreements. We can also assist with employment disputes — both for businesses defending claims and for individuals pursuing them.
Vendor & Customer Disputes
When a vendor breaches its agreement or a customer refuses to pay, we evaluate the dispute, send the appropriate demand, and pursue collection or litigation as needed. Many disputes resolve in pre-suit negotiation; some require civil litigation in Common Pleas Court.
Buy-Sell Agreements & Owner Transitions
Buy-sell agreements among owners (triggered by death, disability, divorce, retirement, or voluntary exit), business sales, partial-interest transfers, and succession planning. Many small-business problems trace back to the absence of a buy-sell agreement — or to one that was drafted poorly.
Industries We Serve
Our business clients in Southern Ohio include construction firms, retail businesses, restaurants, professional-services practices, medical offices, manufacturers, real-estate investors, and family-owned businesses across most sectors. We work with both established businesses and startups.
Outside-General-Counsel Approach
For some clients, we function as outside general counsel: a single point of contact for the legal matters that come up in the ordinary course of business, with billing on an as-needed basis rather than a retainer. The advantage is that we know your business and can respond quickly when an issue arises, without the cost of a full-time in-house attorney.
Schedule a Consultation
Call (740) 532-8744 for a initial consultation on any business or contract matter. For ongoing business clients, we work out a billing arrangement that fits the volume and type of work involved.