Corporate & Commercial

McMillan & Shureen offer comprehensive resources and full services at a reasonable cost. WE have recently expanded into a new practice area - Business Transactions - to offer a broader range of services to new and existing clients, both individuals and businesses. The Business Transactions Group serves as legal counsel to both businesses without in-house counsel and businesses with in-house counsel who require additional support or which may benefit from a Sonoma County presence.

The best approach to business is to prevent problems from arising in the first place. With that in goal in mind, we take the time to elicit comprehensive information on clients' needs so we can offer correct and effective advice and support. The result is properly executed, watertight documentation that averts future conflicts.

The Business Transactions Group's services include:

Entity Formation
We counsel and advise clients on the most appropriate type of entity and draft the appropriate documentation.

Sales and Purchase Transactions
We review contracts and represent clients in transactions involving the sale or purchase of a business or professional practice, the assets of a business entity or real or personal property, negotiations, due-dilligence, drafting of documents and in closing procedures.

Commercial Dispute Resolution
We represent corporations and other business entities in contract or other disputes with the goal to resolve the matter on a favorable basis without litigation.

Homeowners Association
We review governing docments of homeowners associations and advise them on compliance with applicable laws. We draft and revise governing documents when appropriate. In the case of homeowners who are violating CC&Rs, we advise associations on their rights and recommend enforcement procedures.

Estate Planning
We determine clients' estate planning needs and draft the appropriate documents, including wills, trusts and durable powers of attorney.

Trust Administration and Probate
We represent trustees and decedents' personal representatives to facilitate the administration of trust and probate estates.

The Corporate Practice Group provides a full range of legal services to business and professional clients including such diverse matters as mergers and acquisitions; leveraged buyouts; private placements and public securities offerings; credit and other financial transactions; tax matters; computers; federal, state, and local government contracting and administrative matters; leasing; partnerships; sales of goods and services; employee relations; franchising; distributorships; anti-trust; and advertising.

The group's client base is extraordinarily varied and includes, among others, heavy manufacturing companies, high-tech and research companies, service industries, and retail establishments. Client size ranges from publicly traded multinational corporations to businesses in their embryonic stage. This client base includes companies listed on the New York and American Stock Exchanges; over-the-counter companies; new enterprises; major banks; investment banking firms; and an extensive number of other public and private corporations, partnerships, and individuals.

When necessary, attorneys from other practice groups assist the attorneys in the Corporate Practice Group to provide effective service. For example, attorneys from the firm's Real Estate, Banking, Intellectual Property and Tax Practice Groups are frequently involved in business transactions where their expertise will aid a client.