Joint Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions

A joint venture is a short-term partnership between parties jointly engaging in a relationship for a defined purpose and period of time. Common examples include combining resources, such as capital, facilities or technical expertise, to develop a new product or use one company’s channels and access to market another’s product. An agreement between the partners in such a venture will establish how assets are contributed, risks are shared and governance is managed. A lawyer can advise you about whether a joint venture is the best structure given your situation and constraints. And, if you do decide to proceed, a lawyer can work with you to craft an agreement that protects your interests.

In an acquisition, one company purchases another through stock or assets. Legal considerations for any acquisition include structure, intellectual property, employment, tax, securities and financing. An attorney can help advise you on the optimal structure of the acquisition, negotiate the key terms and conduct due diligence. 

A merger is the legal combination of two separate entities, in which there is no designated acquiring company. Like acquisitions, mergers have very complicated legal implications. An attorney can help you create a merger agreement to establish terms of the merger, including the governance structure of the newly formed entity. Your attorney will also advise you if a merger is the appropriate approach for your corporate transaction.