New York City Business & Corporate Law

What Does Business and Corporate Law Include?

Business and Corporate Law covers a wide range of topics, such as: choosing the form of a business; buying, selling, or closing a business; raising capital for a business; and entering into employment and other business contracts and resolving contract disputes.

How to Choose the Right Business Structure

When you start a business, you have to choose what type of structure or form to use for operating that business. There are many factors to consider when deciding what form will work best for you. Depending on your needs and goals, you may choose a sole proprietorship, a general or special partnership, a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or a non-profit corporation. Depending upon which structure or form you choose, you may have to follow specific steps before you can begin to operate your business.

What to Consider When Thinking About Buying a Business

Instead of starting your own business, you may want to buy an existing business. If you are thinking about buying a business, you will need to consider:

• Whether to buy a franchise or an independent company;
• How to find an available business to buy;
• Whether the business’s purchase price is reasonable, considering the history and finances of the company;
• If skilled employees are required, make sure they are available.

What to Do If You Own a Business That You Want to Sell or Close

If you already have an existing business that you may be ready to sell or close, you will need to:

• Prepare your business for sale;
• Consider how to deal with your key employees;
• Research and set the sales price;
• Locate potential buyers;
• Negotiate and prepare the sales contract and other related documents;
• Prepare for and attend the closing.

The Importance of Contracts in Business

Whether starting, buying, selling, or running a business, businesses deal with contracts. These can be formal written agreements, casual oral promises, emails, texts on your phone or ‘handshake’ deals. A contract is an agreement between two or more parties that commits the parties to do or not do certain things. This agreement can be enforced by a court. Business owners need to have a basic understanding of contract law, including how to enter into a contract, the meaning of important contract terms, what makes a contract enforceable, and what to do if one of the parties refuses to hold up its end of the deal.

How a New York City Business and Corporate Law Attorney Can Help

A New York City business and corporate law attorney provides strategic legal guidance tailored to the fast-paced and highly regulated business environment of the city. From advising startups to supporting established companies, these attorneys help navigate complex legal issues while aligning legal decisions with business goals. Their experience with New York City and state laws allows them to offer practical, efficient solutions that support long-term growth and risk management.

Commercial Business Litigation

A business and corporate law attorney plays a critical role in guiding companies through commercial business litigation in New York, a jurisdiction known for its complex statutory framework and highly developed body of commercial case law. These attorneys assist businesses in disputes involving breach of contract, partnership and shareholder conflicts, commercial lease disagreements, business torts, and claims arising under the Uniform Commercial Code. From the outset of a dispute, counsel helps assess risk, preserve key evidence, and develop a litigation strategy tailored to New York’s procedural rules and the practices of its state and federal courts, including the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court. Their goal is not only to protect the client’s legal rights but also to align litigation decisions with the company’s broader business objectives.

Beyond courtroom advocacy, a business and corporate law attorney provides strategic value by pursuing efficient resolutions through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration when appropriate, often saving time and resources. When litigation is unavoidable, these attorneys handle all aspects of the process, including pleadings, motion practice, discovery, and trial or appeal, while ensuring compliance with New York’s disclosure requirements and court deadlines. They also advise clients on minimizing future risk by strengthening contracts, improving internal governance, and addressing compliance gaps revealed during litigation. In doing so, they help businesses navigate disputes in a way that supports long-term stability and growth.

Complex Business Litigation

A business and corporate law attorney is essential in navigating complex business litigation in New York, where disputes often involve high stakes, multiple parties, and intricate legal and financial issues. These cases may include shareholder and partnership disputes, fiduciary duty claims, fraud and misrepresentation, restrictive covenant enforcement, and conflicts arising from mergers, acquisitions, or other sophisticated commercial transactions. An experienced attorney helps businesses evaluate exposure early, manage risk, and craft a litigation strategy suited to New York’s demanding procedural rules and the specialized practices of the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court, as well as state and federal courts. Their deep familiarity with New York precedent and industry-specific regulations allows them to anticipate challenges and position clients effectively from the outset.

In addition to litigating in court, business and corporate law attorneys play a strategic role in managing complexity through the coordination of experts, handling extensive discovery, and presenting technical or financial issues in a clear and persuasive manner. They also advise on alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation or arbitration, when those paths better serve the client’s business interests. Throughout the process, counsel works to protect confidential information, preserve business relationships where possible, and minimize operational disruption. By combining legal advocacy with a practical understanding of how disputes affect day-to-day operations, a skilled attorney helps New York businesses resolve complex litigation while safeguarding long-term value and stability.

Contracts

A business and corporate law attorney plays a vital role in helping New York businesses draft, review, and negotiate contracts that are clear, enforceable, and aligned with the company’s strategic goals. These attorneys assist with a wide range of agreements, including vendor and service contracts, partnership and shareholder agreements, employment and independent contractor agreements, commercial leases, and confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements. With a deep understanding of New York contract law and the state’s strong emphasis on freedom of contract, counsel ensures that key terms—such as payment obligations, indemnification, limitation of liability, termination rights, and dispute resolution provisions—are carefully structured to reduce ambiguity and mitigate risk.

Beyond contract formation, a business and corporate law attorney advises clients on contract interpretation, compliance, and enforcement under New York law. When disputes arise, counsel evaluates contractual rights and remedies, helps resolve issues through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution, and, when necessary, represents the business in litigation. Attorneys also proactively support businesses by identifying gaps or vulnerabilities in existing agreements and recommending updates as the company grows or as laws and market conditions change. By providing both legal precision and practical guidance, a skilled attorney helps New York businesses use contracts as effective tools for stability, growth, and risk management.

Protect Your Business With Guidance From a Trusted Business and Corporate Law Attorney

The NYC Legal Referral Service (LRS) has business & corporate law attorneys who can assist with a variety of issues, such as buying, selling, or closing a business; raising capital for a business; and entering into business contracts and resolving disputes. It’s important to speak with an attorney to ensure your business is protected.

When you call the Legal Referral Service to speak to one of our referral counselors, all the information you provide to the counselor will be kept confidential to the fullest extent possible under the law. The referral counselor will ask you some questions to better understand your legal issue and to determine which one of our lawyers is best suited to handle your issue. If a referral to an LRS lawyer is not appropriate or necessary, the referral counselor can offer you other options or further information to help you resolve your issue another way.

Last Updated December 2025