Mergers & Acquisitions
Michigan Lawyers Handling Business Transactions
At Witt & Goldsworthy, our mergers and acquisitions (M&A) attorneys represent business buyers and sellers by managing all stages of an M&A deal, including developing buyer’s or seller’s M&A strategy, entering preliminary agreements, executing letters of intent, managing due diligence, drafting and negotiating the acquisition agreement, and managing the signing and closing process.
Representing Businesses
In All Types of Transactional Matters
The M&A attorneys of Witt & Goldsworthy assist businesses with many transactional matters, including:
Acquisitions and Dispositions of Business Interests
We represent buyers and sellers in the purchase or sale of entire businesses or partial ownership interests. This includes structuring deals to minimize risks, maximize value, and ensure the smooth transfer of assets, contracts, and operational control.
Taxable and Tax-Free Transactions
Depending on your business goals, we help you structure deals that either trigger immediate tax consequences or defer taxes. For example, certain mergers and reorganizations can qualify for tax-free treatment under IRS rules, providing major advantages to both sides.
Mergers
We handle mergers where two companies combine into one legal entity. We advise you on strategic considerations, shareholder approvals, regulatory compliance, and post-merger integration planning, ensuring the merger achieves your business goals.
Consolidations
In a consolidation, two companies join to form an entirely new entity. We draft and negotiate consolidation agreements, handle filings with regulatory authorities, and help you work through governance and transition issues.
Share Exchanges
In a share exchange, one company acquires ownership of another by exchanging its own stock for the shares of the target company. We ensure these complex transactions are structured to meet all corporate law requirements and protect against post-closing disputes.
Stock and Asset Protection
We help you decide whether a stock purchase (buying ownership in the company) or an asset purchase (buying specific assets and assuming select liabilities) better meets your needs. Each approach carries different legal, tax, and operational consequences that we guide you through.
Joint Ventures
When two or more businesses team up for a specific project or new business line, a well-structured joint venture agreement is essential. We help you negotiate terms, align incentives, and protect your company’s interests from the start.
Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs)
We advise private equity groups and business owners on leveraged buyouts, where a significant portion of the purchase price is financed through debt secured by the assets of the target company. We help structure LBOs carefully to balance opportunity and risk.
Acquisitive Reorganizations
These transactions allow businesses to acquire another company while restructuring their own operations for tax or strategic advantages. We structure these deals to comply with tax laws and corporate regulations, minimizing disruption while maximizing flexibility.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Acquisitions
Selling your business to employees through an ESOP can offer tax advantages, preserve your company’s legacy, and reward your team. We guide owners and management through the complex regulatory and financial considerations involved in ESOP transactions.
Sale and Redemption Combinations
In some cases, a company buys back an owner’s shares (redemption) while simultaneously selling shares to another party. We structure these dual transactions to achieve tax efficiency, preserve corporate control, and meet the objectives of all parties involved.
Why Choose Witt & Goldsworthy?
At Witt & Goldsworthy, we combine deep legal knowledge with a practical understanding of business. Our approach is hands-on, efficient, and results-oriented. We don’t just document your deal — we help make it happen on your terms.