Practice Area Overview Business Law At Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C., we devote a substantial segment of our practice to corporate, general business and commercial matters. Our lawyers are dedicated to helping business owners and managers find creative solutions to the diverse issues facing businesses today. Our clients rely upon us to advise and help them manage and grow their businesses. We serve a broad spectrum of the business community and represent a variety of business entities from sole proprietorships, family owned businesses and mid-sized companies to professional practitioners, emerging growth companies, not-for-profit entities, and well-established, multi-state corporations in the full range of business issues and transactions, including the formation, sale, purchase and dissolution of businesses, preparation, and preparation of employment and consultant contracts. We advise and support our clients in every business arena, from complex corporate financing to simple commercial contracts and leases. Our attorneys provide our clients with practical counsel to help avoid problems before they arise and to quickly solve those that do. Our clients appreciate our diverse business experience and stay with us because we help their business grow and prosper. Business Formation and Dissolution Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. offers customized legal services to business clients from the startup to the wind down of a business entity. We assist new ventures and growing businesses with choice of entity, business formation, and related preparation and filing of all necessary organizational documents to establish your business in good standing under state laws, obtain all necessary licenses and permits and assure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Knowledgeable and skilled legal representation in the planning and formation of a business can have a significant, positive effect on a company's future. Our firm's counsel in the formation stage can help improve a new venture's profits, shelter owners from personal liability, and increase its flexibility in decision-making and corporate governance in order to take advantage of new business opportunities as they arise. We also advise our clients on ownership transitions and the wind down and dissolution of companies. These matters are often very complex and have significant financial, tax and accounting implications for all parties involved. We will identify the interests involved, structure and offer solutions that, where possible, will create a positive outcome that protects our clients' financial interests, minimizes tax liabilities and maximizes benefits to them. Contract Negotiations and Drafting Our attorneys routinely assist clients in accomplishing a wide range of business transactions, including stock and membership interest sales and purchases, assets sales and purchases, mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and joint ventures. We advise clients on complex transactional matters, assist in negotiations and document transactions. Our lawyers negotiate, draft and review all types of business contracts, including shareholder agreements, partnership and joint venture agreements, merger, acquisition, and disposition documents, sales and marketing agreements, employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, non-compete agreements, severance agreements, and real estate contracts. Banking and Finance Commercial financing transactions are a principal focus of our practice. We represent both commercial banks and corporate borrowers and lenders in a broad range of commercial financing transactions. Our practice includes acquisition and merger financings, leveraged buy-outs and recapitalizations, bank financings, asset based financings, working capital financings, second lien and subordinated financings, equipment financings and leasing, real estate financings and securitizations, project financings, secured and unsecured financings, letters of credit, participations and assignments, and other similar commercial credit transactions. Our business clients frequently retain the firm when arranging for bank borrowings or other extensions of credit. Our attorneys have broad experience in arranging for and facilitating suitable financing to meet the needs of our business clients. We assist businesses in negotiating and closing financing arrangements of all types with banks and other financial institutions. We not only represent borrowers, but also represent lenders in various financings. Representing financial institutions has been central to the firm's practice since its inception and is a significant and continually expanding segment of our business. Our experience in structuring, documenting and closing commercial loans at an expedited rate but in a precise and professional manner offers a valuable resource to our clients. Our attorneys have the breadth of experience essential to negotiate, structure, and document highly complex and varied transactions. The firm has represented and currently represents various financial institutions, including both established and de novo banks throughout New Jersey. Employment Law Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. represents both management and employees in a variety of employment matters. A successful business must establish and communicate uniform standards, policies and procedures to its employees. In order to minimize conflict between employers and employees and limit legal exposure, we assist employers in the development of employment policies and the preparation of employee handbooks to communicate expectations. We also provide representation in the negotiation and preparation of employment and consulting contracts, confidentiality agreements, and restrictive covenants, as well as litigation of employment disputes arising from such agreements before administrative agencies and the courts. Our firm also provides counsel to employers on a wide range of employment law issues such as wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, employee leave, workers' compensation, and wage and hour requirements. Commercial Litigation Our firm represents the interests of individuals and businesses in state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as in mediation and arbitration forums. We represent clients in commercial litigation matters including disputes involving contract interpretation and performance, corporate and partnership control, sophisticated business disputes, business torts and debt collection. Our attorneys manage negotiations relating to settlement, mediation, and arbitration. While we provide aggressive representation, we will advise clients on risk management, offer options for resolution including alternative dispute resolution, and assist clients in reaching the best decision for their business. We attempt to reach satisfactory resolutions of our clients' disputes in the shortest time and at the lowest cost possible. Franchising As franchising has become more prevalent and a common quick-start business opportunity for entrepreneurs, Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. has offered a complete line of services to prospective franchisees. Our legal services include advising you on the steps to take before buying a business, identifying the risks involved, and helping to mitigate those risks. We specialize in franchise law with an emphasis on structure and drafting of franchise agreements and disclosure materials; selection and registration of trademarks; compliance with state and federal franchise and business opportunity laws; and franchise related dispute resolution and litigation. We offer an expanding practice and experience in franchise purchase negotiations representing franchisees. Estate and Trust Planning Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. provides counsel to business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, and individuals on strategies to protect assets and allow for the efficient transfer of wealth, including through estate planning and administration, preparation of wills, powers of attorney and living wills, creation and funding of revocable and irrevocable trusts, preparation of buy/sell agreements and the structuring of business ventures, all while minimizing our clients' tax liability. Our attorneys offer a wealth of experience and judgment to our estate planning clients, formulating succession plans to meet their objectives efficiently and maintain the highest degree of confidentiality. Real Estate Law We represent our commercial clients in all phases of real estate development, zoning, sales, purchase, financing and leasing. Our attorneys provide counsel in connection with commercial, office, retail, condominium, multi-family and residential real estate projects. We assist clients in the following types of legal matters: acquisition and development financing, construction lending and negotiations, contract negotiations, easement and restrictions, environmental regulation, financing transactions, purchase and sale transactions, condominium documents and DCA registration, mortgage transactions, planning and zoning board approvals, real estate tax appeals, real property litigation, sales/leasebacks and exchanges, title questions, and zoning regulation. Construction Law Our firm represents owners, contractors and subcontractors in preparing and negotiating construction agreements in a wide variety of commercial and residential projects. Our attorneys can assist your firm with every legal step, from initial negotiations and financing to zoning and planning through to project completion. We have handled bids and bid projects, bond and lien claims, dispute resolution, and litigation representing owners, contractors and subcontractors in these matters. Intellectual Property - Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Licensing Our attorneys counsel clients on the use of trademarks, copyrights, trade secret protection and licensing to control the use of and protect their intellectual property. We recognize the increasing value of such assets to businesses in today's marketplace. Proper intellectual property protection provides our clients' the necessary safeguards to protect the goodwill in a company's name, products and services, or ideas, and effectively prohibits competing businesses from copying or using same without authorization. We negotiate and draft licensing agreements regulating the use of our clients' intellectual property, complete and file trademark and copyright registrations, and advise clients regarding patent protection. Furthermore, we take all necessary steps to maintain and protect the valuable intellectual property of our clients on an ongoing basis. Tax Law, Controversies and Litigation Our tax attorneys provide advice and counsel to businesses and their owners on a wide variety of tax issues. Every transaction has federal and state tax consequences that require the foresight and planning of skilled counsel. Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. provides tax planning advice to both individual and business clients and can negotiate and structure transactions aimed at minimizing tax liability. When controversies arise with respect to income, employment, estate or sales tax matters, our tax attorneys will provide representation of individuals and business entities in federal and state tax matters before the IRS and the New Jersey Department of Revenue. Our involvement extends from the initial audit through the various levels of the appeals process. Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. 2 North Highway 31 Pennington, NJ 08534 Directions Phone: (609) 452-7100 Fax: (609) 452-7778 Home Page/Firm Overview | Practice Area Overview | Attorney Profiles | Contact Us | Resource Links The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. Copyright © 2007 Lanciano & Associates, L.L.C. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement.