Business
Our distinctly different approach
At Falcon + Singer, our corporate practice is relationship based. We work with our clients as trusted advisors.
Our approach is to learn about and understand our clients' businesses and goals. We actively listen to understand the real issues and concerns and develop a dialogue with our clients. We keep our clients informed as work progresses and communicate in English, not legalese.
We follow and enjoy a team approach with our clients and their accountants and other advisors.
Business Oriented Law -
What our clients say
Our clients often compliment us on our business-oriented approach and our ability to listen and understand. They frequently thank us for being able to think like a leader or owner in developing solutions to problems. They say they appreciate that we develop and discuss options and choices as if we were a member of the same executive team (as opposed to the approach of many lawyers of simply telling you what to do). Many clients comment that we don't sound or act like a typical lawyer or like other lawyers with whom they've dealt.
Our clients tell us that they appreciate that in addressing legal matters, we prioritize, focus on what's important and relevant, filter out the clutter, and communicate effectively in ways they understand.
Corporate Law Services -
Shaping our services to fit your needs
We work with companies in a wide range of industries providing general corporate counsel services and assistance with specific transactions. Those companies have included manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers, licensed professional service firms and even other law firms. Their industries have included, among others, aviation (fixed based operator), health care, real estate, entertainment, sales and marketing, consumer products, chemical and recycling.
Our general corporate counsel services are quite straightforward: We function as the equivalent of an in-house general counsel with all that encompasses. For many clients, in addition to legal duties, we function as if we are a member of the management or executive committee. We act as counselors in a very broad sense enabling our clients to draw on our business understanding.
For some clients (including those for whom we provide general corporate counsel services) we provide transactional services. We assist with specific transactions such as commercial contracts, employment agreements, mergers and acquisitions.
We can provide different levels of in-house outsourced general corporate counsel services, including fixed price and monthly retainer arrangements. With both general corporate counsel services and transactional services, we are very open to alternative and value-based fee structures (that is, structures that are alternatives to hourly billing).
Outsourced General Corporate Counsel Services
Perhaps you have an established company that's big enough to want and need an in-house lawyer and counselor who understands business, but your business is not large enough for full-time in-house counsel.
Or you're a business owner trying to run your company and feeling very isolated in your decision-making.
Or you and your partners started a business and, as it's started to expand, you know it's time for help as you grow to the next level.
For clients such as these, we function as an outsourced in-house general counsel. On the legal side, our role is broad, including such matters as assistance with drafting and negotiating all types of contracts, creating forms of documents for everyday use by company personnel, advice concerning the risk, liability and other legal aspects of the business, helping with the immigration of key employees, and assistance with the acquisition of another company. In addition to legal duties, we are often asked to participate in discussions and decisions ranging from big picture matters such as the strategy and direction of a business to addressing specific customer or personnel issues. Our clients who own or run businesses tell us that one of their challenges is that they feel isolated in their decision making and they appreciate having a sounding board and another perspective and approach to business problems.
Since we work with companies in a diverse array of businesses and industries, our clients appreciate our broad experience.
A Key to Successful Outsourced General Corporate Counsel Services
One key is being able to build and function well as part of a team which includes those running the business, the company's accountant and other professionals. For some clients, we function in part as a gateway, drawing upon our network of other specialists (including other lawyers) and helping to manage them. It works because as we become a part of that team, we're able to approach problems or opportunities with a perspective from both inside and outside the business as opposed to just being an outsider.
One Point of Contact -
Finding solutions wherever they are
Unlike many lawyers but more like in-house counsel, we are comfortable being the one-point-of-contact for our clients. This often involves reaching out to other lawyers who have expertise in areas which we do not. We manage and direct other lawyers using our knowledge of our client's business.
Transactional Services
There are many reasons to select and value Falcon + Singer transactional services.
You have an established company dealing with an important contract or transaction. You want the quality of service you have come to expect from a large law firm, but you're tired of paying those prices and want more personal attention.
Perhaps your company is looking at a potential acquisition or engaging a major new customer.
You and a friend have decided to finally start that business you both have talked about for months or years.
Our assistance with specific legal transactions may include:
- Organizing a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, professional service corporation or professional service limited liability company.
- Negotiating and drafting shareholder, operating, partnership and buy-sell agreements.
- Negotiating and drafting manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements, agreements for the purchase or sale of materials, products or services, licensing agreements, confidentiality (non-disclosure, secrecy) agreements, non-competition agreements, personal service agreements, customer agreements, non-solicitation agreements, agency agreements, finders agreements, other commercial agreements, joint venture agreements, stock purchase agreements, agreements bringing in new owners, business succession agreements, leases, and loan agreements.
- Negotiating and drafting agreements for mergers and acquisitions and for sales of businesses involving privately held companies.
- Negotiating and drafting employment agreements, independent contractor agreements and severance agreements.
- Assisting with an employee's immigration to the United States
- Addressing specific issues of liability, disclosure and secrecy.
Business Life Cycle PlanningSM
Falcon + Singer looks at the closely held business owner holistically. Like an individual, a closely-held business has a life cycle, from inception through maturity to the eventual passing of the torch to the next generation. Since we have the capacity to assist the client - not only on the business side, but in succession planning and estate planning as well - we can address all of these issues simultaneously, to make sure that all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together and work well. We call this Business Life Cycle Planning.