Business and Commercial Law

The Business and Commercial Law group of Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg provides diverse legal services to a broad spectrum of clients ranging from small start-up operations to multi-billion dollar international corporations. The focus of our firm has always been long-term relationships which allow for the development of a high level of trust and confidence and an intimate knowledge of our client’s business affairs. This ongoing relationship contributes to the effective delivery of legal services for the benefit of our clients. The legal services of the Business and Commercial Law group are therefore primarily ongoing in terms of numerous and diverse transactions for our clients and also transactional in nature.

The Business and Commercial Law group attorneys provide advice to clients on all aspects of business and finance law, including requirements of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances, drafting or review of contracts, loan agreements, employment contracts, shareholder agreements and other relevant business and finance matters. In many cases, attorneys attend board meetings of clients and prepare, or assist in the preparation of minutes of the Board of Directors. Our goal is to foster a close working relationship with our clients so that our enhanced understanding of their business, market and competitive issues allows us to provide legal services in a proactive and timely manner commensurate with the legal budget of our clients.

On a transactional basis, we represent various legal entities (corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, etc.) in connection with merger, acquisition and asset sale transactions. The scope of our involvement varies from transaction to transaction, but typically involves preparation and negotiation of merger, acquisition or asset sale agreements, legal and regulatory due diligence reviews, consultation and/or negotiation with other counsel, rendering of advice to directors and business and financial officers with respect to fiduciary duties and preparation of all of the ancillary contract documents necessary to properly structure the transaction. We have represented clients in transactions ranging from hundreds of thousands to multi-million dollar amounts.

In major business transactions, attorneys in the Business and Commercial Law group work with other attorneys in the firm in areas such as tax, pension, labor, insurance and environmental law to provide complete representation for the purchase or sale of a small business, division, or a large private or publicly held corporation. As business becomes more international in scope and vendor sourcing decisions are determined on a global basis, our legal representation has also expanded internationally. We have represented many businesses in the formation of joint ventures, both in the United States and in foreign locations and assisted in developing and enforcing supply contracts with international vendors.

We also represent borrowers in large credit transactions involving complex forms of collateral located throughout the United States and other forms of asset based financing such as sale leaseback or other transactions. Our experience representing borrowers and secured and unsecured creditors in complex financial transactions, and our expertise in the law of secured transactions, as well as fraudulent conveyance and other bankruptcy related issues arising in debtor-creditor arrangements, allows us to fulfill our goal of implementing a client’s financing plans with the least possible transactional costs.

From initial business start-ups to complex restructurings or financings, Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg stands ready to help our clients. Our services include, but are not limited to:

• General business law.
• Tax planning.
• Employee benefit planning.
• Employment practices.
• Labor relations.
• Real estate transactions.
• Mergers and acquisitions.
• Financing transactions.
• Succession and estate planning for business owners and professionals.
• Employment agreements.
• Shareholder agreements.
• Contracts of all kinds.
• Copyrights, trade names and trade secrets.
• Government relations, regulatory compliance.

Many of our clients only require our expertise for some of these services, however, all of our clients appreciate the breadth of experience and diversity of legal skills which the professionals of Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg deliver. As businesses grow and diversify, Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg has the depth of experience to meet their expanded needs in an increasingly complex and regulated business environment.

Our clients include manufacturers and distributors of industrial and consumer products, commercial and professional service firms, commercial and industrial property developers and sellers, construction companies, private investors, manufacturers, distributors, telecommunications and wireless businesses.

Members of the Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg Commercial and Business Law Group:

Christopher A. Corpus
Lawrence S. Crowther
Simon P. Demian
Charles R. Ennis
David J. Hessler, Chair
Nathan E. Hessler
Peter A. Hessler
Steven E. Pryatel
Keith A. Vanderburg, Chair
Lesley A. Weigand
George L. White IV

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