- Theft
- Corporate LawOur attorneys are actively engaged in counseling management in corporate and securities laws, issues, and obligations to help our clients position themselves effectively for venture capital, angel, or public financing.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsGesmer Updegrove attorneys have years of deep expertise in complex mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis industry, having negotiated and closed 50+ M&A transactions, ranging from small deals to acquisitions involving many hundreds of millions of dollars. Our attorneys have structured sophisticated transactions nationwide, working with local counsel to navigate the complex and ever-changing business and legal regulatory framework across dozens of states. Our attorneys have significant experience with day-to-day operating agreements in this space, including management service agreements, product supply agreements, host community agreements, and the like.
- Business FormationOur Employment attorneys work closely with our Corporate, Business Formation, Consortium, and Trade Association Practices to ensure effective employment and executive structures for all types of corporate entities, including LLC, partnership, alliance, joint venture, and collaborative consortia arrangements.
- Business DisputesGesmer attorneys have litigated a broad spectrum of business disputes for private and public companies including contract violations, fiduciary breaches, business torts including tortious interference, defamation, theft of business assets and opportunities, trade secret and intellectual property disputes, and unfair and deceptive acts and practices. Whether you are navigating a closed-corporation shareholder dispute, dealing with violations of complex commercial contracts, or are faced with bet-the-business litigation with hundreds of thousands of documents to manage, we’ve done it, and well.
- Limited Liability CompaniesWhile our tax practice has particularly strong expertise in the areas of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, we are also experienced in setting up and maintaining tax-exempt and non-profit entities. Working closely with our Trade Association and Consortium and Standard Setting Practice Areas, we evaluate and ensure initial qualifications for tax-exempt status, set up the appropriate infrastructure, and help implement processes for monitoring activities to ensure continued exempt status.
- Trade SecretsProtecting the intellectual property rights in your software through copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret protection is vital to your success. We know software from concept through implementation and no one is better equipped to help companies address the legal and business issues at stake in software development and use.
- Intellectual PropertyWe work with entrepreneurs to increase and protect the value of what can be their most important assets through the various branches of our Intellectual Property Practice. In addition to filing trademark registrations and patent applications, we help to set up intellectual property protection programs that include non-disclosure and non-competition arrangements to maximize potential while minimizing risks.
- Wrongful TerminationWhen a problem cannot be avoided, it is best addressed promptly and directly. Gesmer employment attorneys have the experience, aptitude, and commitment to negotiate an often-nuanced resolution and to litigate zealously and efficiently when required. Our employment attorneys regularly advise on all issues relating to discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour violations, wrongful discharge claims, privacy, emotional distress and defamation claims, enforcement of non-competition and nondisclosure agreements, trade secret misappropriation, and myriad other workplace disputes.
- Non-compete AgreementBy Dallas Mosier, Rohan Vakil, and Lee Gesmer  On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC†) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking – Non-Compete Clause Rulemaking (the “Notice†) – that …
- Sexual HarassmentGesmer Updegrove is committed to providing a work environment that is free of illegal discrimination and harassment. Sexual harassment, as well as harassment based on race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status, is unlawful. Harassment by anyone, whether at the work site, in the course of work assignments off site, at firm-sponsored social functions or elsewhere, or retaliation against anyone who complains about sexual harassment, will not be tolerated.
- Eminent DomainGesmer Updegrove’s attorneys represent commercial real estate owners, developers, general contractors and suppliers. We prosecute and defend claims arising from the development of real property, including claims of defects, contract disputes, non-payment and other construction related disputes. We represent claims related to easement, eminent domain, adverse possession and disputed boundaries. We have experience initiating and mediating disputes arising between and against members of condominium associations.
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- BankruptcyWe advise companies in all aspects of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, commercial foreclosures and assignments for the benefit of creditors.
- ForeclosureBy working closely with attorneys in other practice areas, including our Tax team, Mergers and Acquisitions team and Venture Capital and Financing team, Gesmer Updegrove lawyers assisting clients in this market are able to provide the full breadth of legal services that they expect and require. In addition, our Bankruptcy and Workout team works closely with lenders and creditors involved in commercial Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, commercial foreclosures and assignments for the benefit of creditors.
- Tax LawWe have substantial expertise in advising start-up and new businesses across a wide range of industries and sectors. As tax lawyers, we ensure the formation of a tax-efficient vehicle from the start, analyzing federal, state, and local taxes. In structuring efficient new businesses, we help clients design and implement beneficial compensation plans involving stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock, employee share purchase plans, and deferred compensation, among others. Our tax practice also assists clients analyze tax issues related to raising capital, securing debt financing, and intellectual property.