Business Law

Trusted Counsel for Business Transactions and Litigation

Trusted and accessible business lawyers who can provide advice and counsel on day-to-day business matters are not resources reserved solely for large corporations. At The Machin Law Firm, LLC, we work with small and midsize businesses as outside general corporate counsel to provide clients with the legal resources they need when they need them.

From a simple phone call to discuss a potential idea to more in-depth legal work, such as acquiring another business, we can provide you with the counsel you need to help move your business forward. We serve Montgomery and Frederick counties.

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General Counsel Services

We have experience working with and advising owners, executives, officers, and boards of directors as general business counsel. Typically, our outside corporate counsel service is either on an hourly basis or a flat fee and includes the following types of work:

  • Entity selection and business formation
  • Strategic planning and issue recognition
  • Corporate governance and shareholder relations
  • Negotiation and review of business contracts
  • Day-to-day business issues
  • Employment and compensation matters
  • Immigration issues
  • Lending and financing
  • Regulatory issues
  • Dispute resolution and litigation

Small Business Employment

Small businesses are subject to many employer regulations in the state of Maryland. There are procedures for hiring and firing, paid leave, and employee notice that must be followed for employers to remain in compliance.

A vital component to maintaining a standard for employer policies is an employer handbook. An employer handbook not only details expectations for employee policy compliance, but it also allows employers to ensure a standard of care regarding the handling of these relationships.

Building critical language into these handbooks can help avoid many employer-employee disputes and protect the business’s bottom line. By having general counsel or hiring an attorney on a contractual basis, employers can position their businesses and workforces for success.

Business Contracts

Contractual agreements are binding and can have long-term implications for the business and owners. It is important to seek legal counsel when drafting and entering agreements to avoid unintended consequences. Our attorneys provide attention to detail and strategic thinking to advance your goals while protecting your interests. We handle all types of business contracts, from those involved in buying or selling a business to employment covenants. Our services assist with the following:

  • Purchase agreements (sales terms and conditions)
  • Employment and severance agreements
  • Noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements
  • Nondisclosure agreements (aka NDA or confidentiality agreement)
  • Shareholder, operating and partnership agreements
  • Vendor and customer contracts
  • Equipment leases
  • Commercial property leases
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Business Formations

Foundations for Business Success

If you are starting a new business or buying an existing one, you have a lengthy to-do list. But first things first: You will need to determine how to plan and structure your enterprise.

At The Machin Law Firm, LLC, we assist entrepreneurs with all aspects of business formation and startup under Maryland law. We help you make sound and strategic decisions to lay the proper legal foundation to foster growth and avoid entanglements. Our experienced business law attorneys have helped clients in Montgomery and Frederick counties handle many business law needs.

Entity Selection and Governing Agreements

Attorneys Manuel and Rada Machin can walk you through the pros and cons of the different business entities to determine which is best suited to your enterprise, risk tolerance, and vision for the future. We provide guidance on personal liability, regulatory compliance, taxation burdens, and the expense of creating and maintaining each type of business organization, including:

  • Corporation (S or C corporation)
  • Limited liability company (LLC)
  • Limited liability partnership (LLP)
  • Limited partnership or general partnership
  • Joint venture
  • Sole proprietorship

In conjunction with entity selection, we help you create and negotiate the terms of the shareholder agreement, operating agreement, or partnership agreement. These documents are critical to clarifying the roles of the stakeholders, how you will adapt to growth or business challenges, and how you will resolve internal disputes (up to and including dissolution or buyouts).

Full-Service Counsel for Business Startups

We assist you with all the statutory requirements of starting a business in Maryland as well as the legal issues you will encounter in the early phases of your venture, such as:

  • Registering with the Maryland Department of Revenue and obtaining a federal tax ID number
  • Registering a unique trade name or fictitious name
  • Licensing requirements
  • Regulatory compliance and reporting
  • Corporate governance
  • Contracts with vendors and customers
  • Employment agreements

We pave the way for smooth startups. At The Machin Law Firm, LLC, we also provide ongoing outside general corporate counsel services to small and midsize businesses throughout Maryland.