We counsel many owners of limited liability companies that the filing of a Certificate of Formation does note automatically protect the owners from person liabilities. There are a number of business practices, often referred to as the “corporate formalities” that should be followed. A case from Iowa’s Court of Appeals…
Good faith and fair dealing are obligations implied in every contract, including contracts among owners of closely held businesses, and cannot be waived by the language in an operating agreement voiding fiduciary duties. The duties of good faith and fair dealing require disclosure of conflicts of interest involving controlling LLC members…
Litigating with a former employee for violation of a restrictive covenant agreement becomes more complicated when the former employee was terminated without good cause. And because we are an at-will employment economy, this becomes an issue more frequently than one might imagine. As one author notes, it typically is not…
The parties to a transaction, including a transaction that concludes a business divorce, will often include a provision that states that neither side is relying on verbal representations of the other. Most often, this provision refers to the due diligence that precedes a transaction, but it can also refer to…
A business divorce case came into the office a couple of years ago, one of the second-generation owners was looking to force one of the first generation owners — who never came to work anymore — into retiring and selling his interests. We reviewed the shareholder ledger and the by-laws…
The Appellate Division sent a case back to the trial judge to figure out exactly what the owners of an LLC meant in a settlement agreement when it referred to when it linked a contingent payment to a “distribution.” The case, which involves a relatively modest amount in dispute, is…
New York has recognized the right of limited liability company members and managers to bring derivative claims – that is, claims belonging to the LLC – against other members or managers. But, the derivative plaintiff needs to beware of the demand requirement or face having their case dismissed. Derivative Suit…
It is not unusual that a dispute between the owners of a closely held business also involves a dispute about the authority of one of the owners to act as agent for the entity. We had a recent case, for example, in which a central issue was whether the manager…
One of the hardest things about being an effective negotiator is the ability to leave your ego at the door. We need to listen, not impress. Seasoned Negotiators, Effective Apologies As negotiation trainer Jim Camp warns, an effective negotiator learns how to let the other side be “ok,” even when…
LLCs Can Protect Individual Assets From Judgement Creditors One of the principal reasons for forming a business entity is to protect the owners from personal liability for the debts of the corporation. At the same time, business owners may use the business, most often a limited liability company, as a…