Business & Tax Law

At Scholten Fant, our business attorneys work with companies of all sizes across West Michigan, from startups to established corporations, to help ensure operations are legally sound, efficient, and positioned for long-term success. Whether you’re launching a new venture, restructuring, or facing a dispute, we offer clear, strategic legal counsel tailored to your goals.

With decades of experience in corporate law, tax planning, and business litigation, we help you navigate complex issues, avoid common legal setbacks, and make confident decisions. Looking for a business attorney in Michigan who understands both the law and the local landscape? We’re here to help.

Experience and Expertise

Business Organization

Starting a business means choosing the right legal structure. We help you set up your entity and define ownership relationships from day one.

• Formation (e.g., corporations, LLCs, partnerships, associations)
• Tax structure, capitalization, agreements defining the relationship between the owners

Business Operations

Running a business brings daily legal considerations. We provide ongoing counsel on compliance, contracts, and strategic planning.

• Day-to-day advice and legal compliance
• Growth and strategic business planning
• Contracts (e.g., drafting and negotiating agreements with customers, suppliers, lenders, contractors, vendors and landlords/tenants)
• Securities issues

Business Transactions; Mergers and Acquisitions; Dissolutions

Whether you’re buying, selling, or restructuring a business, these transactions require careful legal coordination to protect your interests.

• Sale and purchase
• Asset and stock acquisitions
• Mergers and reorganizations
• Joint ventures and other strategic alliances
• Franchising and licensing matters
• Dissolutions and Liquidations

Business Succession Planning

For family-owned and closely held businesses, planning for the next generation is essential. We help you create a transition plan that works for everyone involved.

• Planning for closely-held and family-owned companies
• Transfers to next generation or key employees

Taxation

We advise businesses and individuals on tax strategy, helping minimize liability and resolve matters with taxing authorities.

• Strategic and tax minimization planning
• Assistance with matters before the IRS, Michigan Department of Treasury and other taxing authorities
• Multi-State tax matters

Banking, Commercial Law and Creditor’s Rights

Commercial lending and credit matters require attention to detail. We help clients negotiate agreements and enforce their rights.

• Negotiating loan documents
• Loan workouts
• Sales, leases and secured transactions
• Enforcement of creditor’s rights

Employment

Employment law touches every business. We help draft agreements, build policies, and address workplace issues before they escalate.

• Executive and key-employee compensation
• Non-competition, confidentiality and employment agreements
• Employment discrimination
• Employee handbooks and personnel policies
• Labor negotiation and policies

E-Commerce

Digital business brings its own set of legal questions. We advise on intellectual property, online transactions, and internet policies.

• Licensing and intellectual property matters
• Domain name disputes
• Electronic transactions
• Internet/email transactions and policies

Non-Profit Organizations, Foundations And L3CS

Nonprofits have distinct legal requirements. We help with formation, governance, tax exemptions, and ongoing compliance.

• Formation and governance
• Obtaining and maintenance of exemptions
• Filings and registrations
• Group Exemptions