My Practice
My practice focuses on serving the legal needs of buyers, sellers, and brokers of privately-owned business opportunities throughout California. Prior to becoming an attorney, I worked as both a business broker and an SBA commercial loan officer, and I continue to hold a California real estate broker’s license. This background gives me an appreciation for the practical issues, as well as the legal issues, that arise in transactions and disputes related to business acquisitions.
For Buyers: I represent buyers in all aspects of the acquisition process, including evaluating potential acquisition targets, negotiating with sellers and landlords, structuring transactions, drafting letters of intent or purchase agreements, obtaining financing, legal due diligence, entity formation (corporation, LLCs, partnerships, etc.), and drafting employment/consulting agreements and other legal documents. I recommend that buyers avoid dual agency and contact me early in their acquisition search, so that I may provide them with the most complete and effective service.
I also represent buyers that have questions or a dispute related to the acquisition of a business or other legal matters related to operating a business. I provide aggressive representation to buyers in mediation, arbitration and civil litigation with claims against sellers involving fraud, non-disclosure, and/or breach of contract.
For Sellers: I assist sellers ( especially those selling their business “By Owner” ) with negotiations, structuring transactions, drafting purchase agreements and other legal documents, and entity dissolution (corporations, LLCs, partnerships, etc.), as well as other legal issues related to the sale of business.
I also represent sellers involved in disputes related to the sale of a business. I provide an aggressive defense for sellers accused of fraud, non-disclosure, and/or breach of contract in mediation, arbitration, and civil litigation.
For Brokers: I provide consulting services to brokers who are new to the industry or that seek guidance with specific legal issues that arise in the course of their representation of their clients. I also represent brokers in mediation, arbitration, and litigation, whether they be making a claim against a seller for failure to pay a commission or defending a claim of fraud, non-disclosure or breach of duties of agency.
Other: I also represent buyers and sellers of real property, landlords and tenants, and other business owners in legal matters involving transactions and disputes. I also assist clients with estate planning, including the preparation of living trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
- Joe Sandbank
