Manhattan Small Business Lawyer

Castle Garden Law brings a solutions-oriented sensibility to each of our small business representations. Whether you are making plans for a new venture or have a proven track record of business success in Manhattan, we would be honored to build a long-term professional relationship of trust as you pursue your endeavors.

Outside General Counsel and Compliance

For many Manhattan small businesses, the position of general counsel is one of the most sensitive in their organizational charts. As many management teams have outsourced such role to external attorneys, it is simultaneously being revolutionized, reinvented and rationalized.

Castle Garden Law proudly serves in such critical capacity for a number of its clients and is always available to take on new outside general counsel engagements. When approaching each such opportunity, we realize that you will want to delineate this role in a way that aligns best with the specifics of your business’s mission.

Decisions in this regard are often a reflection of core corporate values, cultural factors, business objectives as well as risk appetite. Some of Castle Garden Law’s clients in Manhattan may expect daily attention. Others will require contact with our team only when a “bet the company” emergency arises or an extraordinary business opportunity presents itself.

At Castle Garden Law, all types of small business clients will find a home for their general counsel functions.

Our General Counsel Services

Acting as outside general counsel, Castle Garden Law can offer assistance to its small business clientele in Manhattan with the following:

Business contracts and agreements
Business purchase and other strategic transactions
Terms of use/terms of service
Privacy policies
Advice regarding investor due diligence processes
Organization and archival of legal and other corporate books and records
Compliance policies and strategy
Demand letters and cease and desist letters
Analysis of litigation as well as regulatory and/or other contested processes

Other Ways Castle Garden Law Supports Small Businesses

Castle Garden Law advises and assists in connection with the following scenarios that small businesses in Manhattan frequently encounter:

Entity Formation and Structuring: We have structured hundreds of businesses for our clients, forming corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships in the process. Our services include the preparation and filing of the entity’s charter and other governing instruments in the applicable jurisdiction, the drafting and execution of other corporate documents as well as advice regarding the small business’s capital structure and various liability-related issues
Mergers & Acquisitions; Business and Franchise Sales and Acquisitions: Castle Garden Law steers business buyers and sellers through the maze of issues associated with acquisition transactions for both independent enterprises and franchise locations. Your Manhattan attorney will focus on the terms associated with the specific business sale; we ensure they work to the advantage of our clients and address a varied set of potential risk scenarios. Castle Garden Law also assists with deal structuring, due diligence initiatives and post-closing assistance as ownership of the business or franchise actually changes hands
Raising Small Business Capital: Small businesses in Manhattan secure much-needed capital and funding via simple agreements for future equity (SAFEs), convertible notes, business loans and promissory notes as well as various exempt offerings of securities such as crowdfunding projects and Regulation D transactions. Your small business attorney at Castle Garden Law routinely assists clients with such vital initiatives
Commercial Contract Drafting, Negotiation and Reviews: Castle Garden Law will chart a course for your small business’s contracts program centered on favorable terms that align with your priorities. If providing or receiving services is—or may become—a significant focus of your Manhattan management team, it likely will make extensive use of various types of agreements contemplating them. Accordingly, understanding their intricacies is essential. A small business attorney at Castle Garden Law will cover your business’s commercial agreements, including your services agreements. Whatever happens going forward, we will keep your strategic goals and objectives in mind
Employment Agreements and Independent Contractor Agreements: Employees and independent contractors advance the interests of small businesses across Manhattan, carrying out critical personnel-related functions. In the case of 1099 contractors, there is a risk of misclassifying such individuals, which may result in significant fines, penalties and unpaid taxes for the affected enterprise. Castle Garden Law will bring clarity to the uncertainties that accompanying a variety of staffing issues for your small business
Workplace Separations: To mitigate potential exposure arising from staff separations, many small businesses in Manhattan call upon Castle Garden Law to handle the structuring, negotiation and execution of severance agreements with departing personnel
Equity Incentive Compensation and Plans: In Manhattan, equity compensation, including “sweat equity” packages and equity incentive programs, are implemented to attract, incentive and retain key team members. Castle Garden Law, on a daily basis, acts as a confidante for Manhattan management teams seeking to harness the upside potential of such programs while limiting risk in relation thereto
Confidentiality Agreements: As they pursue new ventures, small businesses operating in Manhattan may execute hundreds of NDAs each year. If not managed diligently and proactively, confidentiality agreement-related risk can become untenable for many enterprises. To reduce such exposure, Castle Garden Law crafts NDAs centered on the way your business team actually manages—and profits from–information
Restrictive Covenant Agreements: To protect proprietary information and customer relationships and other business interests, small businesses often enter into non-compete, non-solicitation, non-circumvention, no contact and other restrictive agreements with key personnel. Castle Garden Law often advises management teams as they strategize about the use of such instruments
Legal Agreement- and Business Partner-Related Disputes: Castle Garden Law welcomes the opportunity to address business disputes before formal litigation or arbitration commences. We review relevant agreements and other documentation, develop strategies to resolve outstanding issues and, in many cases, assist our Manhattan clients with settlement and release instruments to limit potential legal exposure
Commercial Leases: For small businesses seeking or offering real estate solutions, Castle Garden Law advises on all aspects of commercial lease relationships
Business Dissolution: When business exits are contemplated, your Manhattan business attorney will assist with any formalities associated therewith, including the filing of a certificate of dissolution for the applicable entity

Why Choose Castle Garden Law?

As small businesses pursue success, Castle Garden Law combines big firm capabilities with a small team’s focus on nurturing personalized client relationships
With over 25 years of experience helping emerging management teams throughout New York, our firm is conversant with the varied challenges and potential sources of potential risk faced by your growing organization
We pride ourselves on our ability to craft alternative billing approaches, ensuring your small business receives high-quality legal services without being required to pay difficult-to-predict legal invoice amounts

Contact Us Today for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation

Running a small business in Manhattan presents a unique set of shifting challenges. We also assist you seek out compelling opportunities. Castle Garden Law handles the legal aspects of any business issues your enterprise may encounter.

With a Manhattan small business attorney tasked to address any legal dilemmas faced by your management team, you can focus on pursuing commercial growth and other corporate goals. Contact Castle Garden Law today to schedule a free strategy session with a Manhattan small business lawyer to discover how we can support your organization.