Best Lawyers in America for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

Deborah L. Hildebran-Bachofen has been practicing with Manning Fulton since 1988. Debbie has a broad range of experience with closely-held corporations, including corporate mergers, acquisition and structuring issues, planning and tax accounting issues, private debt placement, and tax planning. Debbie becomes an important part of the company’s outside management team, advising business owners on day-to-day operations, drafting and negotiating contracts, and advising on financial matters...

Mark Davidson plans, negotiates and documents a wide variety of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, organization, governance, debt and equity financing, executive compensation, partnership and corporate taxation, and management/ownership succession. Mark focuses his practice on the planning, negotiation and documentation of a wide variety of transactions in the life of a business, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, organi...

May Lu serves the transactional needs of businesses and their owners by assisting them with business formations of limited liability companies and corporations, sales and purchases of businesses/mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations (such as conversions sand domestications), recapitalizations, succession and exit planning strategies, general business planning, joint ventures, owner agreements such as operating agreements, buy-sell agreements, and shareholder agreements, and other commerci...

Karen N. Shapiro is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law and Employment Law - Management. Karen N., who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Karen N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal...

Kevin Prakke focuses his practice on the areas of corporate law, corporate finance and securities law. He has 20+ years of experience representing corporations, entrepreneurs and investors in a broad range of transactions, including business organizations, venture capital financings, private placements and public offerings of both debt and equity securities, mergers and acquisitions, contract drafting and negotiation, corporate governance, securities regulatory compliance, and private equity ...

Jennifer is a partner at Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP. She serves as a high net worth family counselor with knowledge and understanding of sophisticated estate planning techniques and the broader needs of high net worth families. Her strength lies in communicating complex matters in plain terms and working collaboratively as part of an advisor team to provide practical counsel to multigenerational families consistent with their risk tolerance, goals, family dynamics, and desire for comple...

Zachary E. Klutz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Public Finance Law. Zachary E., who practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Zachary E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark is a member of Butler Snow’s Business Services group. Mark has experience representing buyers and sellers in acquisition and disposition transactions in a wide range of industries, including technology, insurance, energy, timber, and healthcare. In addition, Mark frequently represents developers in the acquisition, financing and rehabilitation of affordable housing properties, and has extensive experience assisting public charities and private foundations with formation, governance...

I help business owners navigate the sometimes unchartered waters of business ownership and succession planning. As co-founder of our firm’s Startup Team , I assist entrepreneurs with structuring their business entity (drafting and negotiating governing documents) and then taking the company through its growth phase (hiring employees, protecting intellectual property, implementing equity incentive plans for executives and owners, assisting with and positioning the company for institution...

Dustin J. Daniels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Dustin J., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dustin J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bert Wolf is a tax lawyer, and a member of the firm's Business Services and Trusts & Estate Groups. He assists individuals and organizations at every stage of business, from formation and raising capital to tax structure and operations planning, and the development of all types of growth strategies – including acquisitions, mergers, and reorganizations. He regularly consults with clients concerning succession planning, wills, trusts and estate planning, buy/sell agreements, risk ass...

Attorney Johanna J. Allex is a partner in Stafford Rosenbaum LLP 's Madison office where she helps families and individuals plan for and manage life’s expected and unexpected transitions. Johanna’s law practice covers all aspects of estate planning and estate administration, marital property law, business succession planning, and tax-exempt organization planning and operations. Johanna is a Certified Public Accountant and serves on the Firm’s Board of Directors. Johanna&rsqu...

William B. McQueen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. William B., who practices law in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Paul E. Alpuche, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Tax Law. Paul E., who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tony Sayess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Corporate Law. Tony, who practices law in Concord, New Hampshire, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tony is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Charles H. Packer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Charles H., who practices law in San Jose, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.