Business Law

Spangler and de Stefano, PLLP prides itself on working with small businesses to ensure legal compliance and minimize risks and potential liabilities. We provide the following services to small businesses:

Business Incorporation: Incorporating your business will help limit your personal liability. We can help you determine which type of legal entity best suits your needs.

Maintaining Corporate Books: It is vital to keep up-to-date and accurate corporate minutes, bylaws, and other related documents, ensure annual registration with the Secretary of State’s office, and properly issue stock certificates or membership units. Failing to act formally as a business subjects you (and your directors) to personal liability. We can execute the correct documents for you, and assist you in understanding how to properly run a small business.

Business Succession Planning and Buy-Sell Agreements: A buy-sell agreement is a succession planning tool entered into between owners to ensure the continuation of a business upon the death, disability, divorce, or bankruptcy of an owner, or the dissolution of the legal entity. We can show you how to plan for the future and pass on your business interest, including ways of funding the succession plan.

Purchase and Sale of Businesses: The purchase or sale of a business is a complex transaction. We represent both buyers and sellers.

Non-Compete Agreements: The success of a small business often is dependent on its customers. One reason a business fails is because a disgruntled employee leaves with key customers and becomes a competing business. We can help you draft and enforce non-compete agreements.

Employment: Employees are an integral piece to a successful business. We assist employers with a wide-range of employment issues including but not limited to drafting employee handbooks, employment contracts and other key documents. In addition, we defend employers from employee claims and lawsuits, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment, wage, and unemployment.

Real Property: There are several potential real property issues faced by small businesses. We represent businesses in negotiating and drafting commercial leases, creating and enforcing a mechanic’s lien, purchase and sale of real estate, and real property litigation.

Litigation: Minnesota requires corporations to be represented by an attorney in District Court. Spangler and de Stefano, PLLP are experienced litigators representing business clients in a wide variety of civil litigation, including but not limited to Uniform Commercial Code disputes, enforcement of mechanic liens, breach of contract, conversion, and unjust enrichment.