In business law, we are definitely a value leader. From the standpoint of cost effectiveness and when compared with our competitors–large, old-style firms–Calkins Law Firm is one of a kind in almost every way. That said, it remains true across the board that clients should always be prepared to follow through. After committing to doing…

The people who build successful businesses are by and large optimists. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have the commitment and the drive to invest so much of themselves and to build a successful business against all odds. I am all in favor of optimism, and a positive outlook. If you believe that the sun will…

At Calkins Law Firm we have been privileged to successfully help and guide business owners for decades. Over that time and while building our own business, we’ve learned a few things. One truth that comes up over and again is that in both business and life, progress generally comes one step at a time. As…

When I consider all the claims our law firm is asked to handle, breach of contract is at the core of most of them. This is because at its essence, a business is a bundle of relationships. You have relationships between you and your customers, you and your vendors, and you and your employees. And…

Most startups operate with limited capital. To keep employees on board, equity can be used to compensate them as the business grows. However, it’s important to understand how to issue equity to employees. You need to find a good balance of protecting your ownership while also rewarding employees who are adding value to your company.…

Recently I was approached by a former client and asked to handle a piece of commercial litigation for him in Guernsey County, Ohio. I declined to get involved in the commercial litigation claim, as it made far more economic sense for the former client to engage local counsel.  It did not make financial sense to have me…

Time spent periodically reviewing your business organizational documents such as articles of incorporation and other related documents can be time well spent! Drafting your own corporate documents can be a penny wise and pound foolish decision. Recently a client encountered difficulties when she drafted her own shareholders’ agreement without benefit of seasoned legal counsel. The buy-sell…

When launching or building a business, folks can go one of two ways: stick with tried-and-true techniques, or go for the latest, greatest method. We would argue that the best path lies somewhere in the middle and as with most things in life and in business, balance is the best technique to employ. To that…

Here at Calkins Law Firm we well remember the day when Gene approached us, asking for help with his exciting idea for a new cloud-based software solution. He was hoping to tackle a niche need – managing workforce challenges in healthcare. In specific, he wanted to help senior care facilities to find the best workers to…

We might be boutique and new-model, but Calkins Law Firm was not designed and built with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in mind. The current crisis does play to and leverage our strengths but it’s clear that our positive outcomes aren’t by chance – they are the result of deliberate decisions made to benefit our clients. Philosophy…

The Center for Free Enterprise (CFE) Our purpose is to provide a social network and platform for business people, concerning middle market mergers and acquisitions, business formation, business growth, and free enterprise generally. Business Growth: Cutting Edge Estate and Tax Planning for 2016 How to maximize the value of one’s estate or proceeds from the…

As a boutique business law firm, we don’t handle divorces or family law but we do inevitably assist with more than a few so-called “business divorces.” At Calkins Law Firm, when we assist with organizing a business, we do our level best to anticipate and plan for any and all contingencies in the organizational documents.…

Businesses are beginning to consider reopening their doors and starting in-person operations once again. But, before they welcome their employees back with open arms, business owners should consider what a post-COVID-19 working world will look like. Things will not be the same. Concerns regarding the virus and its lingering effects will remain. Employees want to…

Calls from defendants who were never properly “served,” or given delivery of a notice of legal proceedings, are growing. Every week we hear from folks who were unaware of a case opened against them and who also, unbeknownst to them, lost the case by default. These default judgments have become commonplace during the pandemic. One…

In the past I’ve stated that the biggest mistake business buyers make is failing to perform appropriate and effective due diligence on their chosen acquisition opportunity. Most business buyers feel they can perform the acquisition due diligence themselves, but I’ve seen plenty of examples in which buyers missed something very important in the process. Insufficient…

Many entrepreneurs looking for funding from Venture Capitalists know nothing about how the venture capital investment process actually works. Accessing venture capital is a slow process and requires lots of time and trust. Taking on venture capital investment is taking on a partner – a partner who will want an active say in how you…

An Acquisition Search Should Be BOTH Systematic and Opportunistic It occurs to me that when you search for an acquisition opportunity, it is very important to have a well-designed process in place, but also be open to unforeseen opportunities to come your way. The more thoughtful your plan – the more likely you are to…

The world will never be the same again. This string of heart-racing, anxiety-intensifying buzzwords has been repeated endlessly in the news and spread across social media. Are they true? Most likely. Does it mean that businesses will not be able to survive and adapt? Not in the slightest. The “new normal” is coming – but…

If you’ve been following along with our articles here, you’ll know that the importance of acquisition due diligence has been a recurring theme in our discussions. That’s because our experience informs our musings. And we’ve found that reasonably thorough, well-considered, carefully focused, and targeted acquisition due diligence is well worth the money it requires. Why…

I’ve been reflecting on the many past engagements as I plan for new ones. It’s only natural to look forward by looking back first. I’ve represented countless clients in connection with acquiring a business, selling a business, and entering into joint ventures over the past 30 years. I have successfully concluded over 300 business transactions of all…

I’ve been reflecting on the many past engagements as I plan for new ones. It’s only natural to look forward by looking back first. I’ve represented countless clients in connection with acquiring a business, selling a business, and entering into joint ventures over the past 30 years. I have successfully concluded over 300 business transactions of…

Fairness. Transparency. Honesty. These are invaluable traits for any company, but especially for a legal firm. All too often public opinion of lawyers and legal firms isn’t too positive. You can take your pick of derogatory language or negative opinions, but the basic complaint is often the same: these are folks who aren’t out for…

October 21, 2020 Do you dream of starting your own business? It’s easier said than done. You might have seen studies that show that between 60 and 90 percent of startup businesses fail within 5 years, and most startups fail within the first two years. Have you considered buying an existing business? Here are 10 reasons…

Before you agree to sign employee documents, it’s recommended that you do your due diligence. Getting into the wrong contract can compromise the quality of your employment and create conflicts later down the line. Here are seven things you should consider before you make the final agreement: 1. Does Your Contract Meet Your Needs and…

Citizens Commercial Bank’s recent Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook 2016 revealed that one-third of CEOs are currently selling, or open to selling their business. With such a large audience interested in selling their business, we wanted to share their insights on the subject: FOUR TIPS ON HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY SELL YOUR BUSINESS Also of note is…

Business Planning. No other words have more meaning for business owners, yet many businesses fail to plan adequately for one of the most important phases of a business life cycle: The end. We know business planning is a critical factor determining the financial health of any privately held business. Any business owner who fails to…

Do you know how to review a business contract correctly? For example, are you sure what should be included in an employment contract review? Would you be able to spot errors in the employment contract to avoid potential liability and legal issues? If you are not familiar with the contract review process, you may want…

Here at The Calkins Law Firm, Ltd., we hear about and see considerably more wrongdoing than I like. Perhaps it is because our practice areas include commercial litigation, so we are regularly approached when clients require our help. Or perhaps it is because people increasingly don’t know the difference between right and wrong – or…

Every week, we get calls from prospective clients who are looking to organize an entity to hold either an operating business or assets. They’re typically interested in creating a corporation or a limited liability company, and real estate is just one example of the type of company we hear from. Why are these calls so…

I was fretting the other day because our marketing help was referring to “The Calkins Law Firm, Ltd.” As “Calkins Law Firm, Ltd.” And was referring to the speaker series that we co sponsor, the “Center For Free Enterprise, Ltd.” as “Center For Free Enterprise.” Does it really matter whether my marketing help refers to…