Seeking an experienced M&A attorney in Short Hills? Our firm handles complex mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic transactions for companies across Finance, Professional Services, Technology, from middle-market deals to large corporate transactions.
Share the basics. Alex reviews every inquiry personally.
Submission Received
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
What We Do
Alex Lubyansky handles mergers & acquisitions law work for buyers and sellers in Short Hills and across the country. Here is what that looks like:
Mergers and acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side)
Due diligence and risk assessment
Purchase agreements and transaction documents
Asset purchases and stock purchases
Merger integration planning
Earnouts and contingent consideration
Representations and warranties
Post-closing disputes and adjustments
Who We Serve
We work best with people who know what they want and are ready to move:
Companies looking to acquire competitors or complementary businesses
Business owners planning to sell their companies
Private equity firms executing buy-side mandates
Companies facing unsolicited acquisition offers
Strategic buyers seeking bolt-on acquisitions
Family-owned businesses planning succession through sale
See If Your Deal Is a Fit
Tell us what you are working on. We respond within one business day.
Submission Received
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Our Process
A structured, methodical approach to mergers & acquisitions law
1
Transaction Planning
We work with you to define deal objectives, identify targets or buyers, and develop an M&A strategy aligned with your business goals.
2
Due Diligence
Our team conducts comprehensive legal, financial, and operational due diligence to identify risks and opportunities.
3
Deal Structuring
We structure the transaction for optimal tax treatment, risk allocation, and regulatory compliance, whether as a stock purchase, asset purchase, or merger.
4
Negotiation & Documentation
We negotiate letters of intent, purchase agreements, and all transaction documents to protect your interests and facilitate a smooth closing.
5
Closing & Integration
We manage the closing process and provide post-closing support for integration, earnout disputes, and transition matters.
We don't take every matter. Here is what happens when you reach out.
1
Personal Review (Within 24 Hours)
Alex reviews your transaction details personally. No intake coordinators, no junior associates screening your submission.
2
Fit Assessment
We evaluate whether your deal aligns with our practice. Not every matter is a fit, and we will tell you directly if it is not.
3
Initial Conversation
If there is alignment, Alex schedules a direct call to discuss your transaction, timeline, and objectives.
4
Clear Engagement Terms
Before any work begins, you receive a written engagement letter with defined scope, timeline, and fee structure. No surprises.
Request Your Short Hills Engagement Assessment
Alex Lubyansky handles every mergers & acquisitions law engagement personally.
15+ years of M&A experience. Nationwide. One attorney on every deal.
Request Engagement Assessment
We review every transaction inquiry within one business day.
Submission Received
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Questions to Ask Any M&A Attorney Before Hiring
Use these before you call any firm, including ours.
1. "Who will actually handle my transaction?"
At many firms, a partner sells the work and a junior associate does it. Ask for the name of the attorney who will draft and negotiate your documents.
2. "How many M&A transactions has the lead attorney closed in the past 12 months?"
Volume indicates current, active deal experience, not just credentials from years ago.
3. "What is your experience with my deal size and industry?"
A $500K SBA acquisition and a $50M PE deal require different skill sets. Make sure the attorney has handled transactions similar to yours.
4. "Will you coordinate with my CPA, financial advisor, and broker?"
M&A transactions require a team. Your attorney should work with your other advisors, not in a silo.
5. "How do you handle post-closing disputes?"
Reps, warranties, and indemnification claims surface months after closing. Ask whether the firm handles post-closing litigation or refers it out.
6. "What is your fee structure, and what drives cost?"
Hourly, flat fee, or hybrid. Ask what factors increase legal costs so there are no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from Short Hills clients
What does an M&A attorney do?
An M&A attorney advises clients on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including transaction structuring, due diligence, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and closing. We represent buyers, sellers, and target companies in strategic transactions, private equity deals, and corporate restructurings.
How long does an M&A transaction take?
The timeline varies significantly based on transaction complexity, but typical M&A deals take 3-9 months from initial discussion to closing. Factors affecting timeline include due diligence scope, financing arrangements, regulatory approvals, and negotiation complexity.
Should I structure my acquisition as a stock purchase or asset purchase?
The choice depends on tax considerations, liability concerns, and transaction goals. Stock purchases are simpler but transfer all liabilities, while asset purchases allow selective acquisition of assets and liabilities but may trigger tax consequences. We analyze your specific situation to recommend the optimal structure.
What is due diligence in an M&A transaction?
Due diligence is the comprehensive investigation of a target company's legal, financial, operational, and commercial affairs. It helps identify risks, validate assumptions, inform purchase price, and shape deal terms. Thorough due diligence is essential for successful acquisitions.
How are M&A deals valued and priced?
Valuation methods include comparable company analysis, precedent transactions, discounted cash flow analysis, and asset-based valuation. Purchase price is negotiated based on valuation, market conditions, strategic value, and competitive dynamics. We work with financial advisors to ensure fair pricing.
How do New Jersey non-compete laws affect mergers & acquisitions law transactions?
Enforceable under common law if reasonable. New Jersey courts apply a three-pronged test from the Solari/Whitmyer cases: the restraint must protect a legitimate interest, must not impose an undue hardship on the employee, and must not injure the public. Courts will blue-pencil and reform overbroad covenants. The state has considered but not enacted legislation to ban non-competes.
What are the New Jersey tax considerations for a business acquisition or sale?
New Jersey imposes an 11.5% corporate business tax on income over $10 million (9% on income under $1 million), making it one of the highest in the nation. The state also levies a separate minimum tax based on gross receipts. Pass-through entities can elect the Business Alternative Income Tax (BAIT). New Jersey requires combined reporting for unitary groups.
Does New Jersey have a bulk sales law that affects business acquisitions?
New Jersey retains its Bulk Sale provisions under the New Jersey Bulk Sale Law (N.J.S.A. 54:32B-22(c)) for tax purposes. Buyers must provide the Division of Taxation at least 10 business days' notice before a bulk sale and must withhold sufficient funds from the purchase price to cover the seller's tax liabilities, or obtain a letter of no further obligation.
What can I expect during an initial consultation in Short Hills?
During your confidential initial consultation in Short Hills, we'll discuss your mergers & acquisitions law needs, review your current situation, assess potential challenges specific to New Jersey, and outline a clear path forward. We'll explain our process, answer your questions, and determine if we're the right fit for your needs.
Do you work with companies outside of Short Hills?
Yes, we represent clients nationwide while maintaining a strong presence in Short Hills. Our managing partner handles mergers & acquisitions law matters across all 50 states, coordinating with local counsel where state-specific requirements apply.
Need Specific Guidance?
Submit your transaction details for a preliminary assessment by our managing partner
Submit transaction details and Alex will respond directly.
Submission Received
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
M&A Market: Short Hills & the New York Metro
New York is the undisputed capital of M&A deal-making, home to the largest concentration of investment banks, private equity firms, and corporate acquirers in the world. Lower middle-market deals in the $1M-$50M range are driven by professional services consolidation, healthcare practice roll-ups, and technology company acquisitions. The city's dense business ecosystem creates fierce competition for quality targets, with PE-backed platforms actively seeking add-on acquisitions across the tri-state area.
Top M&A Sectors Near Short Hills
Professional Services
Healthcare
Technology
Financial Services
Media & Entertainment
Deal Environment
New York's deal flow is the highest in the nation, but competition from well-capitalized PE firms means sellers often receive multiple offers. Buyers need experienced counsel to structure competitive bids while protecting their downside.
Why Acquire in the New York Area
The New York metro area has over 200,000 businesses with employees, creating one of the deepest acquisition target pools in the country. The region's talent density and infrastructure make post-acquisition integration smoother than most markets.
New Jersey Legal Considerations
New York's Bulk Sales Act (UCC Article 6) has been repealed, but buyers must still conduct thorough due diligence on successor liability under state tax law, as the Department of Taxation can hold buyers liable for a seller's unpaid taxes.
New Jersey Legal Considerations for Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Non-Compete Laws
Enforceable with three-pronged test. Reformation available.
Filing Requirements
Entity mergers require filing with the New Jersey Division of Revenue. The Division of Taxation requires 10 business days' advance notice of bulk sales (Form C-9600). Annual reports are required. Foreign entities must obtain a Certificate of Authority.
Key New Jersey Considerations
New Jersey's effective 11.5% corporate business tax rate on large businesses is among the highest in the country and significantly affects deal economics
The state's bulk sale notification requirement to the Division of Taxation is a tax-specific provision that survived even though UCC Article 6 was repealed
New Jersey's combined reporting requirement (adopted 2019) pulls affiliated entity income into the tax base, which can affect the tax cost of acquiring multi-entity targets
New Jersey Bar Authority
New Jersey State Bar Association. Voluntary bar. The Supreme Court of New Jersey handles attorney admission and discipline separately.
Business court: New Jersey Complex Business Litigation Program (established 2015) Statewide complex business litigation program handling high-value and complex commercial disputes. Operates in multiple vicinages including Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, and Union counties.
New Jersey M&A Market Context
New Jersey M&A is driven by pharmaceutical and life sciences (largest pharma cluster in the U.S. by employment), financial services, and logistics, with significant private equity activity proximate to New York City.
Watchpoints
Common Short Hills Mergers & Acquisitions Law Pitfalls
These are the items we see derail mergers & acquisitions law transactions in the Short Hills market. Each one is rooted in current statutory law, recent legislative changes, or recurring patterns from the deals Alex has handled.
1
New Jersey non-compete enforcement and earn-out exposure
State legal framework
Enforceable with three-pronged test. Reformation available.
"When the other side returns a redlined definitive, you don't need to be an attorney to scan the document and see whether it's signal or noise. If the entire document is now red, you can see it visually. The quick scan is whether these are actually important points or whether this is grammatical nitpicking for the sake of grammatical nitpicking. The latter is a pretty big red flag pretty quickly. In a good transaction, the redlining focuses on risk allocation, earnouts, exclusivity. The structural points that matter to the client on either side. That's fair. That's fine. When you see the same point reraised three rounds later, you have to ask whether that's a memory problem or just another way to keep the meter running. Sometimes I wonder if the firms are working together to make sure it goes back and forth. I'm not part of that."
2
New Jersey regulatory framework attorneys flag at LOI
State statute
Securities regulated by New Jersey Bureau of Securities within the Division of Consumer Affairs (njconsumeraffairs.gov/bos). Blue Sky notice filings required for Reg D.
3
Common mergers & acquisitions law mistake from the field
From Alex Lubyansky
The conversation you're avoiding today becomes the lawsuit you're defending tomorrow.
Guides and Resources
In-depth guides to help you prepare for your transaction
