Business Lawyer for New Albany and Southern Indiana.

For more than 30 years, Mattox & Wilson has been known for creative problem-solving and for taking a proactive, long-term approach to helping business clients. We want to learn about your business so that we can help you at a moment’s notice.  By understanding your business goals, we can develop innovative solutions designed to further company objectives when legal matters arise.

If you need business assistance in New Albany or the surrounding Indiana communities, we invite you to call our office to schedule a consultation with an experienced New Albany business lawyer.

How We Help Business Owners

Embarking on a new business comes with its own set of questions regarding the legal and practical aspects of starting a business. As New Albany business lawyers with decades of experience, we assist with the following:

• Selecting the Appropriate Business Entity. Choosing between an LLC, a corporation, another entity type, or operating as a sole proprietorship is a critical decision. We provide guidance to help business owners choose an entity that protects individuals from personal liability, and thereafter draft the formation documents and make the necessary new business filings.
• Understanding Tax Responsibilities. It’s vital to understand the tax obligations associated with a business, including the advantages and disadvantages of opting for a Subchapter S tax status. As experienced business law attorneys, we can discuss with you the matters to consider concerning Subchapter S formation, and can draft and file the appropriate filing if you choose this option.
• Crafting Employment Contracts and Corporate Policies. We offer support in drafting necessary employment agreements and company policies that reflect your business’s values and needs.
• Managing Ownership and Equity Issues. Whether it involves issuing stock, documenting other equity ownership, or drafting agreements that contemplate key ownership matters (such as the death of a key owner or a potential sale of equity interests), we draft the appropriate documents that can protect you and your company over the long term.
• Insurance and Risk Mitigation. We can advise on insurance matters as well as contractual provisions to help manage risk.
• Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, and Confidentiality Agreements.  We help clients protect intellectual property and trade secrets.

What Types of Business Entity Choices Are Available in Indiana?

There are several different legal entity options for conducting business in New Albany and the surrounding communities, such as:

• Sole proprietor,
• Partnership,
• Limited Liability Company,
• Corporation (where an “S-corp” tax election can be made so that the corporate taxes are passed through to the shareholders, or the corporation can be taxed as a “C-corp” where taxes are levied at the corporate level), and
• Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC), which is available for professionals such as doctors, accountants, and lawyers.

We can explain the legal and tax ramifications for these different options and work with you to identify the best form for your company as it grows.

Shareholder Agreements and “Buy-Sell” Agreements

If a company will be owned by a number of individuals, it is important at the business formation stage to determine how certain ownership aspects will be addressed, such as if one owner wants to sell his or her shares, or what should happen to the shares owned by a shareholder who dies.  It’s often highly beneficial to consider these and other aspects at the outset of a business formation so that if such a situation arises, there will already be in place an agreement as to how the matter should be handled.

Assisting New Corporations

As an experienced New Albany business law firm, we can ensure that your company operates within legal requirements while promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Here’s how we can assist:

• Structuring the Board of Directors. Advising on the composition and structure of your board to ensure it meets legal standards and effectively oversees company operations.
• Developing Corporate Bylaws and Policies. Crafting detailed bylaws and internal policies that govern the company’s operations, ethical guidelines, and procedural rules, tailored to comply with Indiana law and best practices.
• Succession Planning. Advising on succession planning for key executives and board members to ensure a smooth transition in leadership and the continuity of business operations.
• Conflict Resolution. Offering strategies and mediation for resolving internal disputes among shareholders, directors, or executives efficiently and in a manner that protects the company’s interests.
• Annual Reporting and Meetings. Assisting with the preparation and management of annual reports, meetings, and other corporate governance requirements to ensure compliance and foster shareholder engagement.

Schedule A Consultation with an Experienced Business Attorney

As experienced business attorneys, we are ready to provide the support and expertise you need at every step, ensuring your legal and business endeavors are not just met, but exceeded.

Our business advice is not provided in a vacuum but tailored specifically to your business’s needs and objectives. We invite you to call us so that we can learn about your business and the legal needs that you may have.