Designing effective buy-sell provisions for New York and New Jersey closely held businesses: common failures in existing operating agreements, triggering events (death, disability, voluntary departure, involuntary termination with for-cause distinction, deadlock with shotgun and right-of-first-offer mechanisms), fixed price and formula and appraisal valuation methodologies, life insurance funding through entity purchase and cross-purchase structures, installment payment provisions, rights of first refusal, tag-along and drag-along rights, non-compete enforceability, and the interaction between contractual provisions and BCL Sections 1104-a and 1118 and N.J.S.A. 14A:12-7.

This article explains the Supreme Court's May 14, 2026 decision in Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties, No. 25-83, which unanimously holds that a federal court that stayed claims under FAA Section 3 retains jurisdiction to confirm or vacate the resulting arbitration award under Sections 9 and 10, without requiring the confirmation motion to independently establish federal jurisdiction. It covers the FAA's arbitration framework including the mandatory stay requirement under Smith v. Spizzirri, the distinction between Jules (prior federal lawsuit followed by arbitration) and Badgerow v. Walters (freestanding confirmation without prior federal lawsuit), the narrow substantive grounds for vacating an award under FAA Section 10, arbitration clause drafting considerations including scope, delegation, institutional rules, seat, governing law, and emergency relief carve-outs, post-award enforcement strategy including the Section 9 one-year confirmation window, and collectibility assessment before and after arbitration.

This article explains the legal framework governing equipment purchase and sale agreements in New York and New Jersey under UCC Article 2, as enacted at N.Y. U.C.C. §§ 2-101 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 12A:2-101 et seq. It covers express warranties under UCC Section 2-313, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness under UCC Sections 2-314 and 2-315, warranty disclaimer requirements under UCC Section 2-316, risk of loss allocation under UCC Section 2-509, inspection and acceptance under UCC Sections 2-513 and 2-606, the seller's right to cure under UCC Section 2-508, limitation of consequential damages under UCC Section 2-719, UCC-1 financing statement perfection requirements, the four-year statute of limitations under UCC Section 2-725, and special considerations for used equipment transactions including UCC lien searches and pre-purchase inspections.

This article explains what a letter of intent (LOI) is and when it creates binding legal obligations under New York and New Jersey law. It covers the four-factor test New York courts apply to preliminary agreements, the distinction between binding and non-binding provisions, the risks of exclusivity and confidentiality clauses, and what a well-drafted LOI should include to protect both parties.

A lawsuit against a U.S. subsidiary can create direct legal exposure for the Korean parent through alter ego liability, draw Korean-held documents into U.S. discovery, and require parent-level decisions under tight deadlines unfamiliar to Korean corporate practice. Parent companies should retain U.S. counsel and issue litigation holds — in Korea and in the U.S. — immediately upon service.

Under UCC Article 2, a purchase order can constitute a binding contract even without a formal signed agreement — and a buyer who accepts delivery generally cannot later dispute that a contract was formed. Sellers holding unpaid invoices should move to enforce promptly; delay weakens collection prospects and forecloses pre-litigation settlement opportunities.

In New York and New Jersey, courts look at a document's substance, not its title. An LOI or MOU may contain enforceable provisions — exclusivity, confidentiality, termination fees — even when the rest of the document is non-binding, and in some cases the entire document may constitute a binding contract.

A non-disclosure agreement creates enforceable confidentiality obligations when sensitive business information must be shared with employees, contractors, investors, or partners. This article explains how NDAs work, when to use them, how to choose between mutual and one-way structures, what key provisions mean in practice, and how courts in New York and New Jersey approach enforcement and remedies.

Non-compete agreements in New York and New Jersey are enforceable today — but may not be for long. New York's Senate passed a bill in June 2025 that would ban most non-competes for employees earning under $500,000 per year, and the bill remains pending before the Assembly. New Jersey introduced an even broader bill that would void most existing agreements retroactively. This article explains the current law in both states, what the pending legislation would change, and what employers should do now.

Closely held corporations are especially vulnerable to internal shareholder disputes arising from unclear ownership rights, management authority, exit strategies, and valuation methods. This article explains the key provisions every shareholder agreement should include—such as governance rules, transfer restrictions, buy-sell mechanisms, deadlock resolution clauses, and dispute resolution terms—to help business owners reduce litigation risk and preserve long-term enterprise value.

Minority shareholder oppression occurs when majority owners in closely held New York businesses abuse control to exclude minority shareholders from the economic benefits of ownership. Common issues include freeze‑outs, withheld distributions, lack of transparency, and self‑dealing. New York courts offer remedies ranging from damages to buy‑outs and dissolution, making early legal guidance critical.

Breach of fiduciary duty claims in New York City commonly arise in closely held businesses, LLCs, partnerships, and nonprofits. Directors, officers, managers, and controlling owners owe duties of care and loyalty, and violations can result in serious legal and financial consequences. Understanding common risk areas—such as self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and misuse of assets—can help business owners avoid disputes and protect their organizations.

This article explains how internal governance documents—bylaws, operating agreements, and certificates—interact with state laws in New York and New Jersey. It highlights how default and mandatory statutes affect corporations, LLCs, and nonprofits, and why clear, up-to-date governance documents are essential for avoiding disputes and ensuring effective management.

Disputes among shareholders or partners can disrupt even the most successful businesses. This article explains how to address deadlocks, buyouts, and fiduciary-duty issues under New York and New Jersey law.

Every business contract contains clauses that can make or break your protection. This article explains termination, indemnity, confidentiality, and arbitration clauses—helping small business owners understand how to manage risk and protect their interests.

This article explains how to choose the right business entity in New York and New Jersey. It covers LLC formation under New York Articles of Organization and New Jersey Certificate of Formation, the New York publication requirement and its cost, the New York City Unincorporated Business Tax, corporation formation under the New York Business Corporation Law and New Jersey Business Corporation Act, C corporation double taxation and S corporation pass-through elections, New York's separate state S corporation consent requirement versus New Jersey's automatic conformity, nonprofit corporation formation under the New York N-PCL and New Jersey Title 15A, IRS Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ for 501(c)(3) status, New York Charities Bureau registration and reporting obligations, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs charitable registration requirements, foreign entity registration for cross-border operations, the decision framework for choosing between LLC, corporation, and nonprofit, and single-member LLC operating agreements.

Many companies need regular legal advice but not a full-time lawyer. An Outside General Counsel provides ongoing legal support—reviewing contracts, managing risk, and helping leadership make informed decisions. This article explains how Good Pine serves as a practical legal partner for businesses in New York and New Jersey through the Outside General Counsel model.