Guiding growth while avoiding problems
Successful established and emerging companies throughout Texas rely on Cox Smith’s lawyers for guidance that balances their owners’ business and personal concerns. Our firm advises many businesses, helping them operate professionally while avoiding problems, and guide the transitions that growth brings. We advise businesses owned by non-related partners, single or multiple generation families, or a mix of outside and family interests. Most importantly, we recognize each company’s unique dynamics, learn its owners’ personal and business plans, help refine its objectives, and work to achieve them. We treat small business clients as friends and partners, and build relationships upon trust and loyalty.

We help closely-held and family-owned companies that represent such business sectors as these:

• Restaurants and food processors
• Technology companies
• Contractors/owners/developers
• Commercial and consumer goods and services
• Retailers and wholesalers
• Auto dealerships
• Developers and realtors
• Oil and gas operations
• Healthcare providers
• Financial institutions

Operational concerns
Every growing business needs a legal and organizational structure that allows for future success and growth. Our lawyers build the framework that’s best suited for each company’s operations, finances and potential transactions. And we work effectively with accountants and tax advisers to structure maximum tax efficiency and wealth preservation.

We help clients assess business financing needs so that they can access the most appropriate capital sources. We help protect client’s interests in any financing deal, negotiating optimum payment, liability and tax provisions. Our counsel also includes developing the right compensation and benefit plans to keep the company competitive while creating tax and financial advantages for its owners.

Succession planning
Our business succession planning helps business owners develop the right strategies to maintain or relinquish control of their companies, as personal needs and requirements dictate. When family control spans several generations, or is made more complex by death, incapacity, divorce and remarriage, we handle succession with tact and sensitivity.

We can create buy-sell agreements with new owners to meet the company’s tax, succession and estate planning goals. And if dissolution of the business is the most practical choice, we provide tax-efficient legal and valuation strategies for a liquidation, cash-out or merger.

Tax planning
We firmly believe that our business clients have earned their financial assets, and we help protect those assets through effective tax and personal planning strategies. We craft personalized estate planning solutions that maximize financial benefits while minimizing taxes. Although our plans fully provide for the distribution of assets that occurs after death, we also use them to shape business owners’ own financial futures.

Our wealth planning services for closely-held and family-owned businesses can integrate insurance, tax-deferred compensation and IRA distributions. And whether a business owner’s estate plan involves a simple will or complex trusts, we work with executors and trustees to see that our clients’ wishes and plans for their families can be carried out with maximum efficiency.

Dispute resolution
Business relationships are like marriages – despite the best of intentions, disagreements (whether over strategy or allegations of misconduct) can lead to litigation. Cox Smith lawyers know how to deal with both the law and the relationships involved with such disputes, and sort out the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved. We work to preserve business relationships by resolving controversies over disclosure of financial information, non-compete agreements, disposition of assets or trade secrets short of litigation.

If controversies do reach trial we provide vigorous representation while working for the most effective solution. In disputes over insurance coverage or contracts, we enforce our clients’ rights. And we always seek ways to prevent problems and avoid lawsuits by competitors or regulators.

Employment problems
Despite the commitment of business owners to workplace honesty and fairness, they can still face a labor organizing drive, an unwitting labor law violation, or an unsupported allegation of misconduct. We work to prevent employment problems or resolve them before they become disputes. Our lawyers provide small businesses with a tough, cost-effective defense against employment-related claims, plus proactive advice on employment policies that avoid problems and comply with the law.