Our attorneys have experience handling business law issues across a spectrum of industries. Our clients range from entrepreneurial startups to Fortune 500 companies, and we’ve developed a multitude of creative solutions to their legal problems. We’re committed to understanding your goals so we can provide proactive counsel that benefits your long-term success.

We work with shareholders, C-suite, human resources and other management to navigate the complex world of business affairs. We also serve as general counsel and special counsel to a large number of transactional clients.

Our experience includes contractual matters; intellectual property licensing and protection; public company reporting and disclosure obligations; franchising and distributorships; sales contracts; warranty issues; stockholder and buy-sell agreements; operating agreements; antitrust matters; debt and equity securities; mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; state and federal tax matters; corporate governance; employee benefits; and general business transactions.

In addition, members of the practice can readily call upon other attorneys at the firm for assistance in the fields of environmental, labor, litigation, health care, real estate, commercial finance, administrative law and many more.

While businesses routinely face legal matters, the substance of those matters is often far from routine. Many businesses turn to outside general counsel, either to handle all their legal needs or to support their in-house legal team. Members of Harris Beach Murtha’s Corporate Practice Group have experience handling a broad range of legal and business matters across a variety of industries for clients throughout New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and the nation.

Outside legal counsels are a sound choice for companies because they have access to the entire firm when a business faces complex legal needs requiring diverse expertise. Harris Beach Murtha’s lawyers become integral members of your business team, providing you access to hands-on legal advice that brings peace of mind. Your success is our success.

We assist with contracts; corporate governance; mergers and acquisitions; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG); securities; employment law; immigration law; intellectual property (IP) protection; litigation; privacy and data security; real estate; risk management; and numerous other corporate issues.

Our team consists of a diverse group of attorneys who have served as general counsel and in senior legal positions for a variety of companies, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Many have real-life experience as business owners or executives and are familiar with the challenges businesses face, including regulation. Our lawyers work closely with you to better understand your industry, business and objectives, so we can proactively offer strategic, customized solutions to your legal challenges.

Harris Beach Murtha represents investment banks, private equity firms and a diverse range of other clients across all major industries, structuring and executing billions of dollars of transactions per year. We routinely handle deals throughout the United States and across the globe. Our lawyers take a collaborative, detailed approach to develop innovative solutions to achieve your business goals.

Our work includes:

• Debt Transactions: We advise clients on many different types of debt transactions, such as commercial loans, convertible debt, public debt offerings, structured finance, trust preferred securities, high-yield debt and mezzanine capital. Because our firm has significant experience representing issuers, commercial banks, institutional investors, mezzanine lenders and private investors, we are familiar with the issues relevant to both lenders and borrowers.

We also represent both commercial banking institutions and borrowers in connection with secured and unsecured corporate finance transactions, including participation and syndicated transactions.

• Equity Offerings: We represent clients in a wide variety of equity transaction types, including initial public offerings for domestic and foreign private issuers, follow-on and secondary public offerings, preferred stock offerings, shelf registrations, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings, and PIPE transactions.

Equity transactions often give rise to securities law compliance issues and our attorneys provide advice and guidance relating to compliance with federal and state securities laws and applicable exemptions. We work with issuers to understand their goals and identify the appropriate transaction structure and plan of offering, and we assist with the development of a prospectus, private placement memorandum or other offering document. We also counsel our public company clients with respect to their ongoing reporting and compliance obligations.

• Venture Capital, Mezzanine Finance and Private Equity: Harris Beach Murtha’s attorneys provide advice at all stages of a private equity or venture capital transaction, from analysis of suitable structures to the drafting or review of documents to reflect the commercial objectives of the parties. Our clients benefit from the firm’s significant experience with corporate law and merger and acquisition transactions, as well as our understanding of the venture capital and private equity markets.

Every industry has its own federal and state regulations that must be navigated. Harris Beach Murtha has experience across a wide spectrum of industries: energy, education, financial services, food and beverage, retail and hospitality, gaming, health care, long-term care, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and distributing, cannabis, real estate development, telecommunications and more.

Our skilled and experienced compliance attorneys help design and update ethics and compliance programs that follow industry standards and best practices, as well as all relevant laws, regulations and policies. We help develop clear policies and procedures, train employees and key stakeholders, routinely evaluate and update compliance programs, and help you establish an environment of accountability and compliance. We help reduce your risk of investigation and litigation, which can damage your reputation and hurt your business.

If needed, our highly credentialed attorneys help with guidance and investigation of allegations of misconduct, as well as litigate or negotiate settlements of violations. We regularly conduct high profile national and international internal investigations for an array of clients.

From the formation of entity structures to the execution of contracts, Harris Beach Murtha attorneys implement joint ventures, divestitures, mergers and acquisitions across many industries. We work with buyers, sellers, financial sources and parties to joint ventures and strategic alliances in structuring transactions, protecting our clients’ interests and identifying capital, partners and advisors.

We represent our clients in all phases of a merger, sale or acquisition transaction, from the negotiation of a letter of intent through the due diligence process, contract negotiation and drafting, to closing and post-closing issues, including indemnification claims, deferred purchase price payments, transition services and earnouts.

Our experience includes deal negotiation, document drafting, licensing, regulatory due diligence, tax planning, transaction-specific advice, intellectual property and technology due diligence and filings, securities law compliance, antitrust matters, financing arrangements, structuring, environmental due diligence, immigration matters, remediation plans, ERISA, severance plans and 409A review, labor relations and real estate matters.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in the formation, operation, purchase and sale of closely held businesses throughout New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and the United States. We are more than legal advisors; we are business counselors. Each business is faced with decisions requiring common business sense, as well as financial, legal and tax knowledge. We draw from many years of experience representing a wide variety of clients and industries.

We guide the business owner through the entire business life cycle. The complexities of inception are surpassed by the intricacies of growth and maturity. As a business grows, it is more likely to engage in transactions such as acquisitions, mergers, spin-offs and other reorganizations. We provide the advice and documentation necessary to structure and complete such transactions. We also help with exit plans and/or succession planning.

Harris Beach Murtha’s attorneys are experienced in helping businesses realize their full potential. We represent Fortune 500 and multinational companies on a regular basis, providing our privately owned businesses with access to attorneys who deal with a wide variety of complex legal issues and transactions.

Our attorneys offer legal counsel and strategic business planning to companies through all stages of their lifecycle: from the concept phase through development and growth periods, and through exit strategies, including sale events.

We want to take the guesswork out of your new venture. We’ve helped hundreds of start-ups launch their companies and position for rapid growth. We’ve also helped those purchasing new businesses and growing current businesses.

We provide counsel in business formation and entity selection; stockholder, operating and partnership agreements; commercial agreements; licensing; growth strategy; business planning; trademark, copyright and intellectual property (IP) protection; accessing capital; venture capital; equity and debt financing; alternative compensation arrangements; organization management; strategic partnering with larger firms; government financing through economic development and government grants and contracts; investor representation; buyouts; shareholder agreements; employee stock incentives; exit strategies; generational transfers; mergers and acquisitions; ESOPs; and succession and estate planning for owners of closely held businesses.

Our goal is to provide a supportive community around entrepreneurship so you can take your company further, faster and with greater precision and insight than you may on your own.

Harris Beach Murtha’s represents franchisors, franchisees, manufacturers and distributors in a broad range of business matters. We counsel and represent Fortune 100 companies, regional and local businesses and entrepreneurs concerning the formation, implementation, improvement, modification and termination of franchise and distributor relationships.

We document and negotiate all aspects of the relationship and assist with contracts, employment and regulatory compliance. We represent businesses and investors in distributor, dealer and franchise-related litigation throughout the country in federal and state courts, and before local administrative agencies and state and local licensing authorities.

Our attorneys have provided advice and guidance to family-owned businesses for decades. We work closely with our clients' owners, management teams and other professional advisors to provide creative and effective solutions to the many complex and unique issues that face family enterprises as they grow and change through the generations.

Our experience includes assisting with business formation, governance, financing, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, and shareholder and management succession issues. We also counsel family business owners in connection with their estate planning, trust administration and minimizing federal and state estate taxes.

Corporations face many federal and state securities laws through the normal course of business, as well as in acquisitions, joint ventures, financings and other business transactions. Harris Beach Murtha helps guide investment advisors and companies through the registration process and designs regulatory compliance programs for those companies and advisers, taking into account compliance, risk management and governance.

Our experience includes helping registered regional and national investment firms in launching numerous mutual funds, including disclosure obligations; registration statements; proxy statements; annual and semi-annual reports; reporting under federal and state securities laws; and producing marketing materials. If necessary, we represent clients in connection with regulatory examinations and inquiries conducted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

We are very familiar with listing requirements and stock exchange rules; preparation, review and filing of current and periodic reports under the ’34 Act; Section 16 issues and filings; compliance with the proxy rules for annual and special meetings of stockholders; and insider trading policies.

Harris Beach Murtha’s skilled attorneys have a proven track record of successfully representing private and public sector clients in disputes with local, state and federal tax authorities. We’ve worked cooperatively with corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates, tax-exempt organizations and individuals in civil and criminal tax disputes initiated by the federal Internal Revenue Service and state agencies throughout New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and the United States.

Harris Beach Murtha tax law attorneys provide strategic advice and advocacy throughout the entire tax dispute resolution process. We handle a full range of audit defense and tax dispute matters, including business tax, employment tax, franchise tax, sales and use tax, personal and fiduciary income tax, estate tax, residency tax, and challenges to local, state and federal tax incentives and credits.

On a regular basis, we proactively counsel clients to help ensure their transactions are carefully planned to minimize tax costs and avoid potential tax controversies.

Should you face a tax audit, we guide you through the audit process, ensuring all necessary documentation is provided and your rights are protected. We work to favorably resolve misunderstandings between clients and tax officials at the audit and appeals levels. We regularly negotiate with tax authorities, aiming to resolve disputes in a favorable manner with no, or reduced, penalties. If necessary, we leverage our deep knowledge of tax law and expansive litigation experience to earnestly represent you in court or through Alternative Dispute Resolution.

We regularly counsel clients on non-competition and related agreements, as well as interests entitled to legal protection. Our litigators understand the importance to our clients of preserving and protecting their interests from competitors.

Our work includes conducting due diligence on employees subject to restrictive covenants; preparing and implementing policies to maintain confidential trade secrets and proprietary information; and enforcing non-competition, non-solicitation and anti-piracy agreements in court.

The world is more connected than ever, with more and more businesses operating globally. Harris Beach Murtha’s experienced attorneys help clients manage international risks and maximize overseas opportunities. We help structure and negotiate a wide range of international business opportunities.

We represent both international clients doing business in the United States and U.S. clients doing business internationally. We counsel on an array of subjects, including international commerce, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, international finance and investments, international trade, international taxation, corporate transaction management, international real estate and dealing with foreign governments. When business crosses borders, languages and legal systems, it becomes even more complex. Harris Beach Murtha helps your company navigate the unfamiliar territory.

Organizations with tax-exempt status must be vigilant about their brand and reputation, as well as keeping the trust of their supporters. Businesses with strong, positive reputations, a carefully considered vision and a flexible operational structure often perform better and are more successful at attracting funding. Harris Beach Murtha helps nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations adhere to a good governance structure that reduces risk and mitigates liability exposure for your organization, management and directors. Our work helps you focus on your mission-driven activities.

We possess in-depth knowledge of tax, corporate, governance, transactional, finance and planned giving matters facing tax-exempt organizations and nonprofits. Moreover, we have cultivated a cultural familiarity with the tax-exempt sector through regular speaking engagements at educational conferences, volunteer service on boards of directors, and strategic alliances with associations such as The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth and Opportunity (TANGO) and the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (The Alliance).

We help you achieve tax-exempt status, form and govern your organization, comply with federal and state regulations, raise funds and more. An independent, outside perspective without preconceived impressions of an organization can provide valuable insight.