Our firm assists clients in formation and business planning in deciding whether they want to operate as a closely held business or sole proprietorship, limited liability company, partnership or corporation. We advise our clients about directors' and officers' liability, dissolution, franchising, reorganization, trade association membership and activity, and business successions.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION AND COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS

Our attorneys have gained recognition for their expertise representing clients in a variety of sophisticated commercial litigation matters, including shareholder disputes; partnership disputes; antitrust; securities litigation; directors and officers liability; injunction actions and other matters where a client requires immediate relief; commercial contract litigation; lender liability litigation; real estate and title insurance litigation; patent; copyright; and intellectual property litigation.
We have practiced extensively in state and federal forums, and possess vast experience with alternative dispute resolution, as well as counseling clients in arbitrations, mediations, as well as conciliations.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Our attorneys have experience in all aspects of property development, sales, acquisitions, leases, and the provision of security in the commercial, retail, industrial and residential as well as mixed-development markets.
Relevant expertise in these areas includes advising and drafting property-related security documents, advising on all aspects of Landlord and Tenant law, particularly rent reviews and property management, designing and undertaking required due diligence investigations to identify and quantify commercial risks associated with real estate transactions, structuring and strategizing including initiatives to minimize or eliminate taxation.

REAL ESTATE FINANCE

We represent financial institutions and other providers of financial services on federal and state regulatory compliance matters, with special emphasis on new product development and residential and commercial mortgage lending, brokering and servicing issues. Our lawyers advise on matters relating to new product design and implementation, innovative online lending and brokering programs, retail banking and secondary market strategies, and defense of challenges by private litigants and enforcement actions by state and federal regulators.
We represent lenders, borrowers and investors in workout and foreclosure proceedings. Our involvement in these matters spans diverse product types. Some of the areas in which we have considerable experience include working with bank and thrift regulatory agencies in the structuring of settlements, consensual foreclosures, and deed-in-lieu transactions.
Our attorneys work closely for and with real estate investment trusts in transactions from coast to coast.

TAX AND ESTATE PLANNING INCLUDING TAX LITIGATION

The firm provides practical legal solutions for tax and estate planning, and estate and trust administration issues. We offer extensive experience in a variety of complex matters ranging from federal, state, local and international taxes to wealth transfer strategies between generations.
Our attorneys assist clients with such issues as federal, state, local and international tax planning and the formation, operation and liquidation of various business entities. Our goal is to develop practical approaches that are consistent with individual and business objectives while reducing the overall tax burden. Working closely with clients and their advisors, we help to structure and implement taxable and tax-free business and investment transactions involving individuals, corporations, partnerships, LLCs and S Corporations.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Our attorneys have the ability to implement sophisticated, complex and innovative mergers and acquisitions transactions. Increasingly, we act on cross-border mergers and acquisitions in which we can provide seamless service to clients in the United States and abroad.

BANKING AND FINANCE

Our attorneys represent clients in all aspects of financing transactions, from origination and negotiation, to documentation and closing, and when necessary, to enforcement of remedies or procedures and agreements for workout and reorganization. Commercial and investment banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions retain us to represent them in their various capacities in financing transactions: as agent, senior lender or other syndicate member, seller or purchaser of participations, assignor or assignee of direct loan interests, letter of credit issuer, trustee, and arranger or purchaser of capital market instruments.

We also advise corporate borrowers involved in mergers and acquisitions, divestiture of operating units, equipment and project financings, debt restructuring, and working capital and other financing transactions.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

At Gleason & Koatz, we understand the issues as well as the stakes. We can help you identify, manage and protect your Intellectual Property assets -- or acquire those that provide a greater return.
We can help you keep up with changing laws and border requirements -- or work to improve them.

IMMIGRATION LAW

Our firm provides immigration services to businesses as well as to individuals. We specialize in obtaining work authorization and permanent residence for foreign nationals seeking employment in the United States in all professions.
We provide legal counsel and representation in family sponsored immigration.
The office also assists clients in applying for U.S. citizenship.
We represent individuals that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service is seeking to deport before the immigration courts and prepare applications for relief to extricate them from the immigration proceedings. We are able to assist with overstays, criminal offenses, illegal entry, illegal work or employment, as well as the submission of fraudulent or false documents.