Corporate Attorney in Oakland County, Michigan

Oakland County businesses most commonly need corporate counsel for three categories of work: transactions (acquisitions, sales, mergers, capital raises), ongoing corporate governance (board matters, shareholder agreements, equity plans, buy-sell agreements), and regulatory compliance (securities law, industry licensing, employment law). The relative priority of these categories shifts depending on the stage of the business. An early-stage Oakland County company typically needs entity formation, operating agreements, and foundational contracts. A mid-market Oakland County company approaching a liquidity event needs exit planning, transaction preparation, and M&A counsel. Acquisition Stars focuses primarily on the transactional and securities law categories for established Oakland County businesses.

Acquisition Stars is based in Novi, Oakland County. The office is at 26203 Novi Road Suite 200, Novi MI 48375. Oakland County is home to a high concentration of established, profitable businesses - many of them privately held by founders who will eventually face a sale or succession decision. The county's economy is deeply integrated with the automotive and technology sectors but has diversified significantly. Alex Lubyansky serves Oakland County businesses as the home market, with direct knowledge of the business environment, the buyers active in the market, and the specific considerations that affect Oakland County M&A transactions.

A general business attorney handles a broad range of corporate matters: contracts, employment, real estate, litigation, compliance. An M&A attorney has specific expertise in transaction structuring, due diligence, purchase agreement negotiation, and the legal mechanics of buying and selling businesses. For an Oakland County business owner preparing for a sale or acquisition, a general business attorney can handle many ongoing legal needs but is typically not the right choice for leading the M&A transaction itself. M&A work requires familiarity with deal market terms, negotiation of representations and warranties, indemnification structuring, and the full legal workflow of a transaction - from LOI through closing. Acquisition Stars focuses on this transactional layer.

Acquisition Stars serves Oakland County businesses across a range of industries, with particular depth in: technology and software companies (SaaS, enterprise software, IT services), automotive technology and supply chain businesses, healthcare and professional services, manufacturing, and business services. The common thread is not industry - it is transaction type and size. Oakland County businesses with enterprise values in the $2 million to $50 million range, facing a buy or sell decision, represent the primary client profile.

A buy-sell agreement is a contract among co-owners of a business that governs what happens to an owner's interest in the event of death, disability, departure, or a desire to sell. For Oakland County closely-held businesses with multiple owners, the absence of a buy-sell agreement creates significant risk: a deceased owner's estate may need to be bought out on terms that strain the business, a departing partner may be able to sell to an unknown third party, or a dispute among owners may have no structured resolution path. A well-drafted buy-sell agreement addresses valuation methodology, funding mechanisms (often life insurance), transfer restrictions, and the rights of remaining owners. This is foundational corporate governance for any Oakland County business with more than one owner.

Securities law applies to Oakland County businesses when they raise capital from investors - even if they are privately held. Any equity or debt offering to investors involves the issuance of securities, which are subject to federal and state securities laws. Private placements under Regulation D allow Oakland County businesses to raise capital from accredited investors without full SEC registration, but require compliance with exemption conditions and filing requirements. Securities law also applies to Oakland County businesses that are considering going public, pursuing a reverse merger, or listing on the OTC markets. Acquisition Stars handles both private placement compliance for Oakland County businesses and the full going-public process for those pursuing a public company structure.

Oakland County business owners who are preparing to sell should address several legal matters before going to market: corporate records cleanup (ensuring the corporate records, cap table, and organizational documents are in order), contract review (identifying change-of-control provisions in customer and supplier agreements that need to be managed in the transaction), employment matters (non-compete agreements with key employees, benefit plan documentation), intellectual property documentation (ensuring ownership of key IP is properly documented in the company's name), and tax structure planning (the structure of the sale - asset vs. stock - has significant tax implications for the seller). Beginning this preparation 12 to 18 months before a planned sale creates the most flexibility.

Engagement terms for Oakland County corporate counsel vary based on the type and scope of work. Transactional engagements - M&A, going public, capital raises - are structured based on the complexity and scope of the specific transaction, not on fixed fees. Ongoing corporate governance work is typically handled on a retainer or hourly basis depending on the volume and regularity of legal needs. The starting point for any Oakland County business engagement is submitting transaction or matter details so the appropriate engagement structure can be discussed. Acquisition Stars does not use fixed-fee structures for complex transactional matters.