Areas of Practice
Business attorney David Walsh provides legal services relating to business transactions and formations, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, real estate, and trusts and estates.
Business Counsel, Transactions, and Formations
Today more than ever businesses need experienced, competent lawyers to provide legal counsel and representation in the broad range of areas that impact their business. From business organization, restructuring, financing, real estate, buy-sell agreements and other shareholder and operating agreements, to mergers and acquisitions, vendor and contractor issues, and other contracting and general matters, businesses need advisors and advocates that can help them negotiate the legal landscape to achieve their goals.
David has strong communication and listening skills and, having helped own and operate a small business, understands the problems many businesses face. David’s diverse practice, breadth of capabilities, and depth of experience can help guide your decision-making strategies. Also, as a small firm, we are highly attentive and sensitive to individualized needs of clients.
WalshLaw also forms businesses. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of business structure—C or S corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, or some combination of these. The structure you choose will have important implications on your taxes, ongoing liability, and eventual exit strategy. It is important to work with an experienced business lawyer like David Walsh to review the specific needs of your business and understand the costs and benefits of each type of entity.
WalshLaw helps you choose the best structure for your business and draft the relating documents, including operating agreements, bylaws, partnership agreements, and equity agreements.
Mergers and Acquisitions
In 2021, the Kansas City metro area logged a record 253 mergers and acquisitions, according to the Kansas City Business Journal, shattering the previous record of 207 in 2019. The last six months of 2021 alone saw 144 deals completed, more than 40% of the full year M&A totals in the past 15 years.
If you have a business in or around the Kansas City metro area, including Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, Prairie Village, Shawnee, and Mission, and you see either a merger or an acquisition as the next step for your enterprise, please contact WalshLaw. We provide valuable assistance in all steps of the M&A process, from letters of intent (LOIs), nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), valuations, negotiations, to financing options, due diligence, the drafting of purchase or merger agreements, and much more.
An ideal M&A deal should result in increased growth and profits. Let us help you make sure that happens.
Contracts and Contract Disputes
Whatever your business or industry, agreements with third parties, contractors, and employees likely govern your relationship and operations. It’s vital that your contracts effectively accomplish what you intend. WalshLaw works with local businesses and executives to review, negotiate, and modify contracts in nearly all areas of law, including for issues of performance, enforcement, and defense. Even a relatively simple contract can present complicated problems if not drafted with intent and care.
We also help with contract disputes. Whether you claim a breach or are accused of one, WalshLaw will work for you to resolve the dispute by negotiation, arbitration, or, if necessary, court. Contract disputes can be costly. Make sure you have an experienced contract law firm like WalshLaw on your side.
Real Estate
Location, location, location…. In the metro area, like everywhere else, the pandemic has been especially hard on office real estate, other than Class A space. But offices aside, the rest of the real estate market—industrial, investment, and residential—has gone parabolic. Already by mid-2021, the total amount of pending industrial space was 13.4 million square feet (msf), far and away the highest total ever for Kansas City. We were averaging 8.1 msf. Investment real estate set a new high in 2021 for total transaction volume at $2.4 billion. And no one needs to be told how well residential real estate has done recently.
WalshLaw can help with all aspects of your real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, conveyances and deeds, insurance contracts, loan applications and modifications, lease and sublease negotiations and drafting, and agreements relating to real estate investor services. We assist our clients in handling simple and complex real estate transfer and financing transactions throughout the local area.
Trusts Estate Plans and Trust Administration
A trust is appropriate and valuable for nearly everyone, especially those with multiple businesses, real estate in more than one state, net worth in excess of estate tax exempt limits, or with young children or children from other relationships. A good trust avoids probate, is private, protects minors, and minimizes or eliminates estate tax liability. You worked hard for your assets, let us help you shield them from estate taxes, probate costs, and unintended costs that arise from family disputes. Less costs means more legacy to leave. We prepare simple and complex trusts and trust estate plans. We also help families administer trusts.