Bob Halagan - Halagan Law Firm, LTD.

One of the most difficult challenges a business owner can face is divorce; not from his or her spouse but from a business partner.  Sometimes that business partnership that looked so promising when you started out turns sour and you find yourself simply unable to continue to work with the person who is a part-owner of the business with you.  Does it make sense to hire a mediator to find your way out of the relationship? The best approach to a business partnership is to have a partnership agreement that…

One of the challenges of mediation is the uncertainty that comes with having to deal with any unpleasant confrontation.  Parties and sometimes their lawyers get caught up in the emotions inherent in litigation conflict and frequently leave mediation, with or without a deal, feeling unsatisfied.  So, what make for a “successful” mediation regardless of the outcome? Did you get a fresh perspective on how others would view your case? In litigation, like most of life, we have a keen sense of what we believe is the truth of what happened…

One of the most difficult challenges a business owner can face is divorce; not from his or her spouse but from a business partner.  Sometimes that business partnership that looked so promising when you started out turns sour and you find yourself simply unable to continue to work with the person who is a part-owner of the business with you.  Does it make sense to hire a mediator to find your way out of the relationship? The best approach to a business partnership is to have a partnership agreement that…

One of the challenges of mediation is the uncertainty that comes with having to deal with any unpleasant confrontation.  Parties and sometimes their lawyers get caught up in the emotions inherent in litigation conflict and frequently leave mediation, with or without a deal, feeling unsatisfied.  So, what make for a “successful” mediation regardless of the outcome? Did you get a fresh perspective on how others would view your case? In litigation, like most of life, we have a keen sense of what we believe is the truth of what happened…

Non-lawyers are often not certain what to expect when going into a mediation process.  If they are new to mediation, they often worry most about “telling their story” as opposed to making a deal that works for them.  Mediation is typically triggered when a lawsuit has been started or is being threatened and so the natural instinct is to dig in your heels and come out swinging.  Mediation is a highly effective process when approached correctly and here are a few things to keep in mind when you are going…

A common question for business owners when they start to ponder their exit strategy is how to figure out what their business is worth.  Valuation experts like the Corporate Cranium’s Roben Hunter can give you an expert assessment based upon professionally accepted valuation methodologies.  Roben will assess value based upon multiple factors including past performance, future projected earnings, sales of similar businesses and recognized industry based multiples.  All of those are especially valuable when looking at an arm’s length sale to an outside party.  I highly recommend her when you…

Ok, so you are about to sign a contract with a new customer and they send you a ten-page contract to sign before you can start work; what do you look for in that contract?  While it’s a good idea to have complex contracts reviewed by an experienced attorney, there are some basics you can look for to see if your new customer is offering a deal you really want to take. Term of the contract. In most contracts there is a “term” or period of time for which the…

One of the most difficult challenges a business owner can face is when things go wrong with another partner/owner and a separation becomes necessary. Here is a checklist of the preliminary things I would look for as either your attorney or as a mediator/business counselor looking to structure your transition.

There is so much noise in the air these days about all the things that separate people, the things that make us different and isolate us from one another. Everyone seems focused on their individual concerns without a commitment to the greater good. Managing employees, shareholders and business relationships can be daunting in this environment.  Guiding your business through the turmoil that is in the air these days requires a steady and firm hand. As many of you know, I belong to Rotary, an organization that is guided by four…

One of the bravest and most difficult decisions a person can make is decide to go into business for him- or herself.  The second bravest and most difficult may be the decision to go into business with a partner.   Taking on a partner in many ways is like getting married, so it’s important to know what questions to ask and decisions to make prior to tying the “business marriage” knot.   There are three basic areas to consider in creating a business partnership: (1) getting in; (2) making it go; and…

Effective August 1, 2015, the Minnesota Legislature adopted a new law governing Limited Liability Companies (“LLC”).  This law has the greatest impact on new LLCs but also has implications for existing LLCs and the relationship between their member/owners.  The adoption of the new law is intended to reduce the formality associated with operating an LLC.  The new law takes more of a partnership approach than a corporation approach in LLC management and ownership and some of the key highlights are: Application of the law to new and old LLCs. The…

If you have terminated an employee or are in a business with regular personnel turnover, you have probably been faced with the prospect of attending an unemployment hearing. Here are some tips on how to get ready for a hearing. Do you need to participate? The first question is whether to contest a claim for unemployment. If you lay off an employee for lack of work, they are going to be eligible for benefits and there is no reason to contest the claim. If they are fired for sleeping on…