We believe every business deserves a strong legal foundation from the very beginning.
CONVERSIONS & BUY-SELL AGREEMENTS
BUSINESS FORMATION & STARTUP,
Start Smart, Build Strong — Legal Guidance for California Businesses from Day One.
Starting A Business?
Starting a business is an exciting step—but it’s also a legal and financial commitment that requires careful planning. At Devey Law, we work with entrepreneurs, professionals, and small business owners to build a strong legal foundation from the beginning. From selecting the right entity type to filing formation documents and ensuring early compliance, we help you launch with confidence and clarity.
Entity Conversions
As your business grows, your needs may change—and so might your ideal business structure. Whether you're transitioning from a sole proprietorship to an LLC, or from an LLC to a corporation, we assist with entity conversions to help you align your legal structure with your goals. We handle the necessary legal filings and ensure your transition is smooth, compliant, and strategically sound.
Buy-Sell Agreements
A well-drafted buy-sell agreement is essential for protecting your business and its owners. This document sets clear terms for what happens if an owner dies, becomes disabled, retires, or leaves the company. It can also help resolve corporate deadlock and ensure a smooth transfer of ownership. We draft buy-sell agreements tailored to corporations, partnerships, and LLCs, giving you peace of mind and helping to prevent future conflict.
Build Your Business on a Strong Legal Foundation
What is Business Formation & Startup?Business formation and startup refers to the legal and strategic steps required to create a new business entity in California.
This includes choosing the right structure—such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Corporation, Partnership, or Sole Proprietorship—based on your goals, liability preferences, and tax considerations.
Formation also involves filing the necessary documents with the Secretary of State, drafting internal agreements, obtaining tax identification numbers, and ensuring initial compliance with state and federal regulations.
Proper formation protects your personal assets, sets clear expectations among owners, and positions your business for long-term success. At Devey Law, we offer guidance and legal support to ensure your startup is structured correctly from day one.
What is Entity Conversion?Entity conversion is the legal process of changing your business from one type of entity to another—such as from a sole proprietorship or partnership to a limited liability company (LLC), or from an LLC to a corporation. This change can help your business adapt to growth, reduce liability, simplify taxes, or attract investors. At Devey Law, we guide business owners through the conversion process to ensure compliance with California law and minimize disruption to your operations.
What is a Buy-Sell Agreement?A buy-sell agreement is a legally binding contract that outlines what happens to an owner’s interest in a business if they die, become disabled, retire, or leave the company. It helps prevent disputes by setting clear rules for ownership transfers and can include terms to resolve deadlocks between co-owners. Whether you run a corporation, LLC, or partnership, a buy-sell agreement protects your business’s stability and ensures continuity for the remaining owners.
Our Business Formation & Startup, Entity Conversion and Buy-Sell Agreement ServicesAt Devey Law, we offer tailored legal support for startups and entrepreneurs across California. Our business formation and startup services include:
Entity Selection Guidance: Helping you choose the most appropriate business structure—LLC, Corporation (S-Corp or C-Corp), Partnership, or Sole Proprietor—based on your liability concerns, tax preferences, and long-term goals.
Articles of Incorporation & Operating Agreements: Drafting and filing Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization, and preparing internal governing documents like Operating Agreements, Bylaws, or Partnership Agreements to outline roles, responsibilities, and ownership rights.
EIN Registration & Initial Compliance: Assisting with EIN registration through the IRS and ensuring you meet essential startup requirements, such as holding your first organizational meeting and documenting initial resolutions.
Entity Conversions: Helping existing businesses transition to a new entity type, such as converting a sole proprietorship to an LLC or restructuring a partnership into a corporation, while maintaining compliance and continuity.
Buy-Sell Agreements: A Buy-Sell Agreement is a crucial planning tool that outlines what happens when an owner exits a business due to death, disability, retirement, or other events. It helps prevent disputes by providing clear terms for ownership transfers and resolving deadlocks. We draft custom agreements for LLCs, partnerships, and corporations to protect your business from uncertainty.
Whether you're forming a new business or restructuring an existing one, Devey Law ensures every legal detail is handled with care—so you can launch with confidence and grow with clarity.
Why Choose Devey Law?
At Devey Law, we are committed to building long-term relationships with our business clients. We take the time to understand your goals, challenges, and industry so that we can provide tailored legal solutions that align with your vision. Whether you are starting a business or navigating complex legal issues, our team is dedicated to helping you achieve success.
Schedule a Consultation
Whether you are just starting your business journey or looking for guidance on complex legal matters, Devey Law is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can support your business at every stage of its growth.
