A state filing service can create the entity, but it does not provide legal advice about ownership, management, liability, governance, or tax consequences. Legal guidance is useful when the owners want the structure and documents to reflect their actual agreement.

Many businesses can convert, merge, or reorganize later. The legal and tax consequences depend on the existing entity, its assets, liabilities, owners, and history. It is usually better to evaluate the likely future needs before the initial formation.

The required documents vary. Common items include formation filings, an operating agreement or bylaws, initial resolutions, ownership records, tax registrations, and contracts used with customers, vendors, employees, or contractors.

Your accountant can explain tax treatment. Your lawyer should evaluate liability, ownership, governance, and transaction issues. The strongest planning often includes both legal and accounting input.

No. An LLC has a default federal tax classification based on the number of owners. A qualifying LLC may file an election to be taxed as an S corporation.

The S corporation election is a tax classification. Liability protection generally comes from the underlying state-law entity and the way the owners operate and maintain it.

A C corporation is taxed under the standard corporate tax rules. An S corporation generally passes taxable income or loss through to qualifying shareholders. Ownership restrictions and other requirements apply to S corporations.

Usually, yes. The amendment procedure depends on the existing agreement and state law. Changes should be documented and approved in the manner required by the governing documents.

A project engagement addresses a defined matter. Outside general counsel is an ongoing relationship that provides continuity across recurring legal needs.

No. Arthur remains outside counsel and is not an employee of the company. The engagement letter defines the legal services and relationship.

Yes. The scope can be tailored to the company’s needs. Some clients need primarily contract support, while others also need governance, transaction, and ownership guidance.

Not necessarily. Arthur can identify and address early-stage disputes, but litigation may require separate litigation counsel and a separate engagement.

The fee structure depends on the expected work and scope. It may involve hourly work, project fees, a retainer, or another agreed-upon arrangement described in the engagement letter.

Planning is useful long before the owner expects to leave. Early planning creates more options for ownership, funding, management development, and tax coordination.

A buy-sell agreement sets rules for the transfer or purchase of an owner’s interest after specified events. It may address valuation, payment terms, funding, and who may become an owner.

Yes. Family transitions require careful planning for control, fairness, valuation, taxes, management ability, and the expectations of family members who are not active in the business.

A review is appropriate after major changes in ownership, value, financing, family circumstances, management, or tax law. Many owners also schedule periodic reviews.

No. A will may transfer an ownership interest at death, but it usually does not address management, valuation, purchase obligations, funding, or continuity in the same detail as business agreements.

Unless there is a contrary written agreement between the company and the

independent contractor, the independent contractor (software developer) owns all

pieces of the code that he or she touched. Under US law, payment by company to contractor without an appropriate written agreement conceding ownership of the code to the company does not give the company any ownership rights in the software.

Common subjects include subscription rights, fees, service levels, support, data, security, intellectual property, warranties, liability, termination, and post-termination access.

No, a customary NDA protects confidential, non-public information; it does not transfer ownership rights, nor define licensing rights. Property ownership rights, digital or tangible, must be defined in or as part of a broader agreement defining and assigning ownership of property rights. 

Yes. He can review license scope, restrictions, fees, data terms, warranties, indemnification, liability, and termination provisions.

Patent prosecution is a specialized practice. Arthur’s services focus on business and technology agreements. When patent counsel is needed, the client may engage a qualified patent attorney.

Arthur is a registered CPA in Illinois and has used his accounting training throughout his legal and entrepreneurial career. Confirm current credential wording before publication.

The website should not imply that he provides tax return preparation unless separately confirmed. His legal work focuses on identifying tax issues and coordinating decisions with the client’s accountant or tax adviser.

A qualifying LLC may elect S corporation tax treatment. The legal, payroll, and tax effects should be reviewed before the election.

Asset allocation, entity type, payment structure, and the form of the transaction can affect the tax treatment of the buyer and seller.

Yes. Adviser coordination is often useful when legal documents and tax reporting must reflect the same transaction.

Yes. These are business contracts that can be tailored to the product, ordering process, territory, pricing and risk allocation.

Yes. He can address confidentiality, ownership, licensing and work-made-for-hire provisions. Patent matters may require separate patent counsel.

Yes. Privately owned and family businesses are a core part of the firm’s focus.

Yes. He can assist with transaction structure, due diligence, purchase agreements, intellectual property, and adviser coordination.

Yes. Manufacturers with recurring contracts and governance needs may discuss an outside general counsel engagement.

Yes. He advises startups and established businesses when the matter fits his business, contract, and technology experience.

Yes. SaaS agreements are a core technology contract service and can be tailored to the product, customers, and commercial model.

Yes. He can address entity formation, founder equity, voting, transfer restrictions, intellectual property, and departure provisions.

Arthur’s current site identifies capital considerations as part of his technology work. Securities compliance may require specialized counsel depending on the offering.

Yes. He can assist with business sale structure, due diligence, intellectual property review, purchase agreements, and adviser coordination.

A privately held business is owned by a limited group of owners and is not publicly traded. It may be an LLC, corporation, partnership, or other entity.

Yes. Family businesses often need careful planning for control, ownership transfers, compensation, and succession.

Yes. Adding an owner may require amendments, valuation, purchase terms, voting rights, tax review, and updated governance documents.

Potential conflicts can arise. The engagement letter should clearly identify the client and the scope. Separate counsel may be required for individual owners.

Yes. It can be a practical option for companies with recurring legal needs but no in-house legal department.