Business Transactions and Entity Formation and Governance
From regional businesses to global entities with substantial international holdings—and from public companies to closely held partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies—we have the industry knowledge and business judgment to assist our clients with any transactional need. Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett attorneys represent a multitude of clients in virtually all aspects of their business. On each transaction, our attorneys meet and creatively resolve the legal, regulatory and business challenges our clients face in even the most complex commercial matters. No matter the size of the transaction, our attorneys understand the client’s goals and business concerns so that they can efficiently yet thoroughly protect the client’s interests and get the deal done.
Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett lawyers also serve as general outside counsel to many companies in a variety of industries. We regularly negotiate and prepare their employment, consulting, joint venture, supply, distribution, product sales and franchise agreements, advise them regarding business and expansion plans and regularly update their corporate, partnership and other organizational documents to keep pace with changes in law and business practices.
Our attorneys have:
- Structured, negotiated and closed mergers, stock and membership interest purchase and sale transactions and asset purchase and sale transactions
- Prepared boards of directors for regular and special shareholder meetings
- Handled redemptions of preferred stock, stock splits and stock repurchase programs
- Advised companies regarding stock liquidation issues and minority shareholder rights
- Prepared proxy materials, private offering memoranda, and shareholder agreements for companies of all types
- Handled bank holding company reorganizations and other corporate reorganizations and recapitalizations
- Rendered third-party legal opinions in connection with stock and warrant issuances, mergers and acquisitions, financings, and other corporate and partnership matters
- Represented clients before, and prepared antitrust filings required by, the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice in connection with acquisitions
- Assisted and advised members and shareholders of closely held corporations and limited liability companies as to their rights and obligations and helped them effectuate sales or buyouts of their interests
In structuring and documenting transactions, our attorneys are called upon to advise clients organized under foreign law or maintaining significant international operations. We have been engaged by companies based or organized in Australia, Asia, Europe and Latin America in connection with acquisitions of assets and businesses in Texas, Louisiana and other parts of the United States.
We also advise many start-up and emerging businesses on structure and organization, capitalization and recapitalization, financing, acquisitions and sales, employment, intellectual property issues and many other matters.
Recently, our engagements have included representing:
- An international hotel chain in the acquisition of hotels in Louisiana
- A healthcare company in its approximately $85 million sale to a northeast merchant banking fund
- A public company in the sale of a business division engaged in infrastructure development projects in emerging countries funded by the World Bank
- Oil and gas companies in dozens of purchases, sales and exchanges of producing properties
- A public company in the amendment of its articles of incorporation and related shareholder vote
- A global alcoholic beverage company’s staged acquisition of a Louisiana distillery
- An international chemical company’s acquisition of several catalyst plants
- A public company in the issuance of secured notes and warrants to purchase common stock
- A regional restaurant group in the opening of two locations in New Orleans including the acquisition of liquor licenses
- A public company in the acquisition of four oil field service companies
- A private company in the sale of its synthetic rubber plant in Louisiana and purchase of another plant in Texas
- A state community bank in its reorganization as a Subchapter S corporation through a phantom bank merger transaction
- The acquirer in the purchase of a company holding licensed horse racing and gaming facilities
- The surviving member in negotiating the exit of another member in a local joint venture
