RESTRUCTURING, MERGERS
BUSINESS
ACQUISITIONS & BUYOUTS
Businesses evolve—and your legal structure should evolve with it. At Devey Law, we help California business owners navigate the legal and strategic steps involved in restructuring their entities to reflect growth, shifting ownership, operational changes, or future goals. Whether you're reorganizing internal roles, updating governance documents, or converting to a different entity type, we provide the clarity and compliance you need to make the transition smooth and secure.
Mergers, acquisitions, and buyouts involve complex legal and financial decisions that can significantly impact the future of your business. At Devey Law, we provide thoughtful legal support to business owners and partners navigating these transitions. Whether you’re buying or selling a business, merging with another company, or planning a partner exit, we help structure the transaction, draft and review necessary agreements, and ensure compliance with California laws—protecting your interests every step of the way.
California Business Restructuring, Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts
Realign. Restructure. Refocus.
Business restructuring refers to legally modifying the internal structure, ownership, or entity type of a business to better align with current operations, long-term goals, or new legal requirements. This may involve reorganizing ownership shares, bringing in or removing partners or members, updating operating agreements or bylaws, or converting your business from an LLC to a corporation—or vice versa.
Restructuring can be prompted by growth, funding opportunities, tax planning, succession planning, or conflict resolution among owners. Done correctly, it preserves your business's legal health while positioning it for continued success. At Devey Law, we ensure your restructuring is legally compliant, strategically sound, and tailored to your specific needs.
What Is Business Restructuring?
Business acquisitions, mergers, and buyouts are legal transactions that involve the transfer or consolidation of business ownership. An acquisition occurs when one company purchases another, while a merger combines two companies into a single new entity. A buyout typically refers to the purchase of an owner's or partner’s interest in a business, often to gain full control. These transactions can be strategic growth tools, succession solutions, or exit strategies, and they require careful legal planning to address contracts, liabilities, assets, and regulatory compliance.
What is Business Acquisitions, Mergers & Buyouts?Our Business Restructuring ServicesOur Business Restructuring Services
We provide comprehensive legal support for small and midsize businesses across California navigating internal change. Our business restructuring services include:
Ownership Reorganization
Advising and drafting documents to reflect changes in ownership percentages, buy-ins, exits, or equity redistribution among members, shareholders, or partners.Governance Updates
Revising or restating Operating Agreements, Bylaws, or Partnership Agreements to reflect new management roles, voting rights, responsibilities, or decision-making structures.Entity Type Transitions
Assisting with the legal process of converting your business from one entity type to another (e.g., LLC to S-Corporation), including filing necessary conversion documents with the California Secretary of State and updating governance structures accordingly.Buy-Sell Agreements
A Buy-Sell Agreement outlines how ownership interests in a business will be transferred in the event of an owner’s death, disability, retirement, or departure.
Equity Purchase Agreements
An Equity Purchase Agreement governs the sale and transfer of ownership shares in a corporation, LLC, or other entity between a buyer and seller.
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreements
This agreement details the terms under which specific business assets—like equipment, inventory, or goodwill—are sold from one party to another.
Secured Promissory Note
A Secured Promissory Note is a legally binding agreement where a borrower promises to repay a loan and pledges specific collateral as security.
Assignment and Transfers of Interest
These documents formalize the transfer of ownership or membership interest in a company from one party to another.
Entity Conversions
An Entity Conversion legally changes a business from one entity type to another (e.g., LLC to corporation), allowing for structural or tax-related benefits.
Redemption Agreements
A Redemption Agreement allows a company to repurchase ownership interests from an owner or shareholder under agreed-upon terms.
Whether you're preparing for growth, streamlining your internal structure, or resolving ownership issues, Devey Law provides focused legal support to guide your business through change with confidence.
