Buying a business with a partner is exciting — until you disagree. The decisions made at acquisition about structure and governance determine how that conflict gets resolved.

Most business disputes are predictable — and preventable. Five contract provisions, when properly drafted, address the issues that generate the most litigation between business owners.

Having an operating agreement does not mean you have a buy-sell agreement. The two documents serve different purposes, and many businesses need both.

A holdback withholds a portion of the purchase price at closing to protect the buyer against post-closing claims. Learn how it works and what to negotiate in NJ and NY deals.

Partnership disputes are high-stakes and emotionally charged — which is exactly when mistakes get made. Here are the issues business owners most often mishandle.

Not every contract problem is a material breach — and the distinction matters. Learn what triggers escalation from a contract dispute to a lawsuit in NJ and NY.

A buy-sell agreement controls what happens to an owner’s business interest when they die, become disabled, or want out. It is one of the most important documents a closely held business can have.

Discovering that your business partner removed your bank account access is a serious warning sign. Learn what it may mean legally and how business owners in NJ and NY typically respond.

If your business partner handles operations, you may still have a legal interest in monitoring business finances. Learn what authorized user status means and why it matters.

New York’s Part 161, effective June 1, 2026, regulates how attorneys use AI tools in court filings. Here’s what NY litigators need to know.

Arbitration clauses are not boilerplate — they are a self-contained legal framework that can be tailored for dispute size, confidentiality, seat, rules, and written submissions. Learn how to draft one that actually works for you.

The Pitch AI Cannot Make for You It sounds logical: why pay a business lawyer to review a contract when you can paste it into an AI tool and get a plain-English summary in seconds? AI has become remarkably capable. It can flag unusual indemnification clauses, identify missing termination provisions, and explain governing law sections…

When business partners reach a deadlock and no one wants to buy the others out, dissolution may be the only path forward. Learn how business dissolution works in New York and New Jersey — from the decision to wind down through creditor notice, asset liquidation, and final distributions.

Transferring an SBA loan sounds simple — but it almost never is. Learn why most SBA loans cannot be assumed by a buyer, how collateral obligations can create legal exposure, and why the cleanest path is using the purchase price to pay off the seller’s SBA debt at closing.

Yes — and here is why. An operating agreement for a single-member LLC is not just good practice. In New York and New Jersey, it is a factor courts examine when deciding whether to pierce the corporate veil and hold you personally liable for business debts.

In the age of AI, anyone can write a demand letter — which is exactly why the other side ignores yours. Learn why a business attorney’s demand letter signals serious intent and becomes the foundation for arbitration or litigation.

Buying or selling a pizzeria involves leases, licenses, equipment liens, and employee obligations. Learn what to watch for and how Russo Law LLC’s flat fee arrangements make small M&A deals affordable in New Jersey and New York.

What happens to promises made before you sign a contract? Learn how entire agreement clauses, the parol evidence rule, and fraudulent inducement claims work under New Jersey and New York law.

You signed a letter of intent and now suspect the seller is using your offer to extract a higher price from another buyer. Learn how to protect yourself with exclusivity provisions, confidentiality obligations, and what your LOI should — and should not — say.

More contracts now require parties to negotiate in good faith — in person or by video — before any lawsuit or arbitration can be filed. Learn how these clauses work, what penalties apply for skipping them, and how to draft one that holds up.

Relying on a client’s contract means relying on a document written entirely for the client’s benefit. Learn why independent contractors in New Jersey and New York should use their own MSA and SOW framework.

If your business partner has cut off your access to accounts, financial records, and distributions, you have legal remedies. Learn about demand letters, books and records rights under New Jersey and New York law, and litigation options.

Can you expel a business partner from an LLC or corporation? Learn what New York and New Jersey law say about partner expulsion, and how your operating agreement or shareholder agreement determines your options — and your risks.

A business broker is not strictly required to sell your business — but the right broker adds real value. Learn what brokers do, how they work with your business lawyer and accountant, and how to decide whether one is right for your deal.

Staffing agency acquisitions come with unique risks: pre-closing placements that may not work out, license transfer issues in NY and NJ, and indemnification gaps that can expose the buyer to claims involving placed candidates. Here is what you need to know.

Someone Is Contacting My Clients and Trying to Steal My Business — What Can I Do? Discovering that a former employee, partner, or competitor is actively reaching out to your clients and trying to take your business is one of the most alarming situations a business owner can face. The good news is that New…

I Just Bought a Business and Discovered Problems — What to Do Next You closed on a business acquisition. The seller shook your hand, took the money, and walked away. Now — days, weeks, or months later — you are discovering things that don’t add up. The financials were exaggerated. There are liabilities you weren’t…

My Business Purchase Fell Apart — How Do I Get My Deposit Back? A business purchase agreement falls apart for many reasons — the buyer can’t get financing, due diligence reveals unexpected problems, the seller backs out, or the parties can’t agree on final terms. When a deal collapses, one of the first questions is…

A Judge Just Told Me My Company Can’t Represent Itself in New Jersey Court — Now What? You filed a lawsuit on behalf of your business. Maybe you drafted the complaint yourself, filed it in New Jersey Superior Court or a federal district court, and showed up ready to argue your case. Then the judge…

Statute of Limitations for Business Contract Disputes in New York and New Jersey One of the most common — and most costly — mistakes business owners make is waiting too long to act on a legal claim. By the time they consult a lawyer, the statute of limitations has run, and what might have been…

What Is Discovery and What Should You Know Before Filing a Business Lawsuit? Filing a lawsuit is not the end of a dispute — it is the beginning of a process that can be expensive, time-consuming, and demanding of both your time and resources. One of the most significant and least understood aspects of that…

My Business Is a Free-for-All — How Operating and Shareholder Agreements Prevent Partner Disputes Running a business with partners without a comprehensive operating agreement or shareholder agreement is like building a house without a foundation. Everything may seem fine when the sun is shining. But when a dispute arises — and in multi-owner businesses, disputes…

AI can summarize your contract — but can it protect you? Learn the critical limits of AI contract review and why experienced business lawyers in New Jersey and New York still matter.

When to Send a Demand Letter — And When to Call a Lawyer First A demand letter is often the first formal step in resolving a business dispute. Done well, it can resolve a dispute without litigation, preserve a business relationship, and save both parties significant time and money. Done poorly — or sent at…

LLC, Partnership, or Corporation — How to Choose the Right Business Structure in New Jersey One of the first decisions every new business owner faces is how to structure their business. The choice between a limited liability company (LLC), a partnership, and a corporation affects your personal liability exposure, how the business is taxed, how…

I Think My Business Partners Are Teaming Up Against Me — Minority Shareholder and Member Rights in NJ and NY Running a business with partners can be rewarding — until it isn’t. If you own a minority interest in a corporation or LLC and you feel like your co-owners are making decisions that benefit themselves…

How to Protect Yourself With an NDA When Selling Your Business Selling a business requires you to share sensitive information — financial records, client lists, employee details, operational systems, and proprietary processes — with potential buyers who may include your competitors. This is one of the most uncomfortable realities of the sale process: to get…

What Buyers Miss When Purchasing a Restaurant in New Jersey Buying a restaurant in New Jersey can be one of the most rewarding business decisions you make — or one of the most costly mistakes of your life. The difference often comes down to what happens between signing the letter of intent and closing day.…