Pawlina Law focuses on business law. We help small and medium businesses meet their legal goals. By understanding tight timelines and limited budgets, we can help you navigate complex transactions related to starting, expanding, or selling your business. By assisting you with making informed business decisions and by having things done properly from the outset, we can save you time and money in the long run. We can advise you in a wide rage of services, including:
Choosing a business structure
One of the first things you will need to do is decide on the business structure that best suits your needs. Pawlina Law can help you choose the correct form of business (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) based on the number of people involved, the type of business, tax issues or liability concerns, and financial requirements. We can also help you draw up the necessary legal documents that set out the terms of any partnership or other shared ownership. These legal documents will provide your business with the necessary certainty to allow you to grow and prosper. This will also help ensure that all parties will be treated fairly, and that there is a mechanism for handling any disputes or disagreements. The government of Canada has provided wonderful information here.
Buying or Selling an existing business
Pawlina Law can assist you with buying or selling an existing business, you may have to decide whether to use an asset purchase agreement; where only the assets of the business are sold, or, in the case of an incorporated company, a share purchase agreement; where the shares of that company. With any business purchase, you should have a buy-and-sell agreement, signed by both parties, that spells out the demands and obligations of each, as well as the terms of the agreement (for example, non-competition provision). Information on what to consider when buying a business can be found here.
Drawing up contracts and agreements
Contracts are the backbone of commerce. They provide certainty and evidence the intentions of parties. Running a business requires constant creation and execution of multiple types of contracts and other documentation. We review and advise clients with respect to a wide range of business contracts and agreements. We also develop custom agreements tailored to meet your needs emphasizing clarity and certainty. Every business has different needs and will require different agreements between customers, vendors, suppliers, employees, and contractors. Pawlina Law can assist you in negotiating, drafting, and implementing legal contracts and agreements in areas such as:
- Licensing Agreement
- Pawlina Law can help your Business Transactions come together.
- Share Purchase Agreement
- Asset Purchase Agreement
- Franchise Agreement
- Financing
- Employment Agreement
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Purchasing or obtaining a mortgage
Partnership Agreements
Pawlina Law can assist you with drafting and reviewing a partnership agreement. We can advise you in a wide rage of services, including completing a partnership agreement. There are three types of partnerships in Ontario, a general partnership, a limited partnership, and a limited liability partnership. More information on resolving a partnership dispute can be found here.
Disagreements between business partners
Unfortunately, disagreements between business partners are extremely common. Unless these disagreements are resolved quickly and effectively, the business survival can be put at risk. Fortunately, Pawlina Law has extensive experience in helping resolve disagreements between partners. Whether operating as a partnership or corporation, Pawlina Law can advise your legal rights and obligations. Most importantly, we can advise you on how to constructively and amicably end a business relationship. More information on how to navigate a dispute can he found here. Should your business partner be stealing from you more information can also be found here.