Areas of Practice
Business attorney David Walsh provides legal services relating to business transactions and formations, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, real estate, and trusts and estates.
Business Counsel, Transactions, and Formations
Today more than ever businesses need experienced, competent lawyers to provide legal counsel and representation in the broad range of areas that impact their business. From business organization, restructuring, financing, real estate, buy-sell agreements and other shareholder and operating agreements, to mergers and acquisitions, vendor and contractor issues, and other contracting and general matters, businesses need advisors and advocates to help them negotiate the legal landscape to achieve their goals.
David has strong communication and listening skills and, having helped own and operate a small business, understands the problems many businesses face. David’s diverse practice, breadth of capabilities, and depth of experience can help guide your decision-making strategies. Also, as a small firm, we are highly attentive and sensitive to individualized needs of clients.
WalshLaw also forms businesses. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of business structure—C or S corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, or some combination of these. The structure you choose will have important implications on your taxes, ongoing liability, and eventual exit strategy. It is important to work with an experienced business lawyer like David Walsh to review the specific needs of your business and understand the costs and benefits of each type of entity.
WalshLaw helps you choose the best structure for your business and draft the relating documents, including operating agreements, bylaws, partnership agreements, and equity agreements.
Mergers and Acquisitions
In Kansas City, acquisition activity abounds! In 2021 alone, the metro area logged a record 253 mergers and acquisitions according to the Kansas City Business Journal, shattering the previous record of 207 in 2019.
If you have a business in the Kansas City Metro Area, including Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, Prairie Village, Shawnee, or Mission, and you need help buying or selling a business, let us know as early in the process as you can. We provide valuable assistance in all steps of the M&A process, from identifying targets, letters of intent (LOIs), nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), valuations, negotiations, to financing options, due diligence, the drafting of purchase or merger agreements, and much more.
Business Contracts
Whatever your business or industry, agreements with third parties, contractors, and employees likely govern your relationship and operations. It’s vital that your contracts effectively accomplish what you intend. WalshLaw works with local businesses and executives to review, negotiate, and modify contracts in nearly all areas of law, including for issues of performance, enforcement, and defense. Even a relatively simple contract can present complicated problems if not drafted with intent and care.
Real Estate
Location, location, location…. In the metro area, like everywhere else, COVID was especially hard on non-Class A office space. Offices aside, the rest of the real estate market—industrial, investment, and residential—has gone parabolic. Just over a year into the pandemic, the total amount of pending industrial space in Kansas City alone was 13.4 million square feet (msf), far and away the highest total ever for the metro area. We were averaging 8.1 msf. Investment real estate set a new high in 2021 for total transaction volume at $2.4 billion. And no one needs to be told how well residential real estate is still doing.
WalshLaw can help with most aspects of your real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, conveyances and deeds, lease and sublease negotiations and drafting. We assist our clients in handling real estate transfers and financing transactions throughout Kansas City and the surrounding area.
Trusts, Estate Plans, and Trust and Estate Administration
A trust is appropriate and adds value for nearly everyone, especially for people and families who own a business, commercial property, or real estate in more than one state, or have a net worth of $2,000,000 or more (including with life insurance), or have young children or children from other relationships. A good trust and estate plan avoids probate, is private, protects minors and beneficiaries, and minimizes or eliminates estate tax liability. You worked hard for your assets, let us help you protect them and pass them on efficiently and discretely in accordance with your wishes (and avoid probate and unintended taxes, costs, and family disputes). Less costs means more legacy to leave. We provide and help administer custom trusts and estate plans.