Boise Business Lawyers

Running a business involves decisions about ownership, contracts, employees, transactions, property, risk, and growth. Those decisions can create long-term legal and financial consequences for both the company and its owners.

Johnson May provides legal support to businesses throughout Boise and Idaho. Our business lawyers work with entrepreneurs, small businesses, limited liability companies, partnerships, corporations, developers, construction companies, nonprofit organizations, and other businesses at different stages of operation.

Whether you are starting a company, negotiating a contract, buying or selling a business, planning for an ownership transition, or dealing with a dispute, our attorneys can help you understand your options and protect your interests.

Business Law Services We Handle

Johnson May is a full-service Idaho business and corporate law firm. We assist clients with day-to-day legal needs, major transactions, and disputes that threaten a company’s operations or ownership.

Our business law services include:

• Business formation
• LLC and corporate formation
• Partnership agreements
• Operating agreements and governing documents
• Corporate and LLC governance
• Business contract drafting, review, and negotiation
• Buy-sell agreements
• Business purchases and sales
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Business succession and transition planning
• Business dissolution
• Shareholder, member, and partner disputes
• Business and commercial litigation
• Contract disputes and litigation
• Negotiation, mediation, and arbitration
• Employment agreements and compliance
• Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
• Trade secret protection
• Commercial lease matters
• Tax strategy
• Business reorganization
• Ongoing legal counsel for Idaho businesses

Some clients come to Johnson May for one transaction or dispute. Others rely on our attorneys for ongoing legal support as their companies grow and their needs change.

Business Formation and Entity Selection

Starting a business involves more than registering a name. Owners need to decide how the company will be structured, how it will be managed, who will have decision-making authority, and how profits and responsibilities will be divided.

Johnson May assists with the formation of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The appropriate structure depends on the number of owners, management plans, liability concerns, tax considerations, financing, and long-term goals.

Entity selection is only part of the process. Governing documents can establish how the company operates and provide a framework for resolving disagreements before they threaten the business.

LLC Operating Agreements and Corporate Governance

An LLC operating agreement can define ownership interests, management authority, voting rights, distributions, responsibilities, and procedures for major business decisions.

Corporations and partnerships need similar clarity in their governing documents. Without clear agreements, owners may later disagree about who has authority to make decisions, how profits should be distributed, or what happens when someone wants to leave the company.

Johnson May helps businesses create and update governing documents that reflect how their owners actually intend the company to operate. Our attorneys also advise existing companies when governance questions or ownership conflicts arise.

Business Contracts and Agreements

Contracts shape many of a company’s most important relationships. Agreements with customers, vendors, employees, contractors, partners, landlords, and other businesses can affect payment, performance, liability, and the ability to end a relationship.

A contract should clearly state what each party is expected to do. Depending on the transaction, it may address payment terms, scope of work, deadlines, termination rights, confidentiality, indemnification, warranties, default, and methods for resolving disputes.

Johnson May drafts, reviews, and negotiates business contracts based on the transaction and the risks involved. Generic templates may overlook terms that are particularly important to the company or industry.

Buying and Selling a Business

Buying or selling a company can involve assets, contracts, employees, debts, real estate, intellectual property, licenses, and other obligations. The structure of the transaction can determine what the buyer acquires and what responsibilities remain with the seller.

Legal due diligence can help identify concerns before a transaction closes. The parties also need agreements that clearly address the purchase price, included assets or ownership interests, representations, obligations before and after closing, and other important terms.

Johnson May assists buyers and sellers with business purchases, sales, and related transactions. Our attorneys can also coordinate legal issues involving commercial property when real estate is part of the deal.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Business Transactions

Companies may expand by acquiring another business, combining operations, bringing in investors, or restructuring ownership.

These transactions require careful review of contracts, liabilities, governing documents, financing arrangements, and other company records. The legal structure should reflect what the parties intend to accomplish while identifying obligations that could create problems later.

Johnson May advises Idaho businesses on mergers, acquisitions, ownership transactions, and other commercial matters from planning and negotiation through documentation and closing.

Buy-Sell Agreements and Business Succession

A business can face serious uncertainty when an owner retires, dies, becomes disabled, divorces, or simply wants to leave. Planning for those possibilities before they occur gives the remaining owners and the departing owner a clearer process to follow.

Buy-sell agreements can establish when an ownership interest may or must be transferred, how its value will be determined, who may purchase it, and how the transaction will be funded.

Succession planning is particularly important for family-owned and closely held businesses. Business planning may also overlap with estate planning when ownership interests need to pass to family members or other beneficiaries.

Shareholder, Member, and Partner Disputes

Ownership disagreements can disrupt daily operations and threaten the value of a business. Disputes may involve management authority, voting, distributions, access to information, alleged conflicts of interest, fiduciary duties, or the interpretation of governing documents.

The operating agreement, shareholder agreement, partnership agreement, company records, and communications between the parties can all affect the available options.

Johnson May represents companies and individual owners in shareholder, LLC member, and partnership disputes. Depending on the circumstances, the goal may be to resolve the disagreement while preserving the company, negotiate an ownership separation, or pursue litigation when another solution is not possible.

Business and Commercial Litigation

Business disputes can arise from broken contracts, ownership conflicts, unpaid obligations, allegations of fraud, non-compete agreements, and other commercial relationships.

Johnson May represents businesses in negotiations and litigation involving commercial disputes. Our attorneys evaluate the underlying agreements, evidence, financial exposure, and business consequences before developing a strategy.

Court is not the only option. Some matters can be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. The appropriate approach depends on the dispute, existing agreements, and the client’s objectives.

Contract Disputes

Even a carefully drafted agreement cannot guarantee that every party will perform as promised. A contract dispute may involve nonpayment, incomplete performance, missed deadlines, termination, warranties, or disagreement about what a particular provision requires.

Early review can help identify the contract terms that control the dispute and the evidence needed to support a claim or defense. Emails, invoices, amendments, payment records, and other communications may become important.

Our business lawyers help clients evaluate contract disputes and possible remedies. When appropriate, we also look for ways to resolve the disagreement without creating unnecessary disruption to an ongoing business relationship.

Employment Agreements and Business Compliance

Businesses have legal responsibilities involving employees and workplace practices. Employment agreements, confidentiality provisions, company policies, and other documents can help establish expectations and protect legitimate company interests.

Johnson May advises business clients regarding employment-related agreements and compliance matters. Our attorneys can also assist when disputes develop over contractual obligations, confidentiality, or other workplace-related business concerns.

Because employment requirements can change and different laws may apply to different employers, companies should periodically review their agreements and practices rather than assuming older documents remain appropriate.

Protecting Confidential Business Information

Customer information, business methods, internal processes, pricing, and other confidential information can have significant value.

Companies can use confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to establish how protected information may be accessed and used. Other agreements may also address confidential information shared with employees, contractors, vendors, potential buyers, or business partners.

Johnson May helps businesses draft and review agreements intended to protect confidential and proprietary information and advises clients when disputes develop over those obligations.

Commercial Leases and Business Property

A commercial lease can create years of financial and operational obligations. Businesses should understand rent, renewal terms, maintenance responsibilities, improvements, insurance, common-area expenses, assignment rights, permitted uses, and personal guarantees before signing.

Property issues may also arise when a company purchases, develops, or sells commercial real estate.

Johnson May’s real estate lawyers assist business clients with commercial leases and other property matters that overlap with their operations and transactions.

Business Dissolution and Ownership Changes

Closing a company requires more than stopping operations. Contracts, debts, assets, tax matters, employee obligations, ownership interests, and other responsibilities may need to be addressed.

Disputes can also arise when owners disagree about whether the business should close or how its assets and liabilities should be handled.

Johnson May assists with planned business dissolutions as well as disputes connected to ownership changes and company closures.

Ongoing Legal Support for Idaho Businesses

Not every business needs a full-time in-house legal department. Small and midsized companies may still need reliable legal advice as contracts, employees, transactions, and ownership issues arise.

Working with outside business counsel gives owners and managers someone familiar with the company’s operations and agreements who can address legal questions as they develop.

Johnson May works with businesses on individual matters as well as ongoing legal needs. Early advice can sometimes prevent a routine contract or management question from developing into a larger dispute.

Why Boise Businesses Choose Johnson May

Business Law FAQs

Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC in Idaho?

You are not necessarily required to hire an attorney simply to create an LLC. However, formation involves more than filing paperwork with the state. An attorney can help you choose an appropriate structure and create an operating agreement that addresses ownership, management, voting, distributions, and other important issues. This can be especially useful when an LLC has multiple members.

What should be included in an LLC operating agreement?

An operating agreement may address ownership percentages, management authority, voting, distributions, member responsibilities, transfers of ownership, and procedures for major decisions. It can also explain what happens when a member dies, becomes unable to participate, wants to leave, or becomes involved in a dispute with the other owners. The appropriate provisions depend on how the company is structured and operated.

When should a business hire a contract lawyer?

Legal review can be useful whenever an agreement creates significant financial, operational, or long-term obligations. This can include customer contracts, vendor agreements, commercial leases, purchase agreements, employment agreements, and transactions with other companies. Having a lawyer review an agreement before it is signed generally provides more options than waiting until a dispute develops. The goal is to understand the obligations and address unclear or unfavorable terms beforehand.

Should I hire a lawyer before buying a business?

Buying a company can expose the buyer to obligations that are not obvious from the purchase price alone. Contracts, debts, pending disputes, employees, leases, ownership records, and other liabilities may need to be reviewed. An attorney can assist with due diligence and the purchase agreement so the buyer understands what is being acquired and what obligations may remain after closing.

What is a buy-sell agreement?

A buy-sell agreement establishes rules for transferring an ownership interest when certain events occur. Those events may include retirement, death, disability, divorce, or an owner’s decision to leave the business. The agreement can address who has the right or obligation to purchase the interest, how the business or ownership interest will be valued, and how the purchase will be funded.

What should I do when a business partner or co-owner is violating our agreement?

Start by gathering the company’s governing documents and records related to the disagreement. An operating agreement, shareholder agreement, partnership agreement, emails, financial records, and meeting records may help establish the parties’ rights. The appropriate response depends on the agreement and conduct involved. Options can range from negotiation or mediation to an ownership buyout or litigation.

Can a business dispute be resolved without going to court?

Often, yes. Negotiation, mediation, and arbitration may provide alternatives to traditional litigation, depending on the dispute and any contract governing the parties’ relationship. Some contracts require a particular dispute resolution process. An attorney can review the agreement and circumstances to determine which options are available and which approach makes sense for the business.

Speak With a Boise Business Lawyer

Legal issues can affect a company at every stage, from formation and its first contracts to major transactions, ownership changes, and disputes.

Johnson May helps Boise businesses with formation, governing documents, contracts, purchases and sales, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, ownership matters, commercial disputes, and ongoing legal needs.

Call Johnson May at (208) 384-8588 to schedule a consultation about your business law matter.