Business and Corporate Law

• Commercial and Transactional
• Banking and Financial Services
• Employment Law

For more than 50 years, Wendland Utz has helped Minnesota business owners realize their business objectives. We work primarily with small and medium-sized businesses in diverse industries, including service businesses, retailers, wholesalers, restaurant chains, manufacturers, food service, food processing, land development and construction companies, and medical technology businesses. Whether you need help starting your own business, buying or selling a business, or drafting or reviewing a contract tailored to your specifics business goals, our experienced attorneys can provide timely, skillful and practical business legal counsel to help you achieve your goals.

We also represent business clients pursuing and defending claims in complex business disputes and litigation, including breach of contract, unauthorized use of confidential information, trademarks and trade secrets, and shareholder disputes.

Examples of specific matters our commercial attorneys handle include:

• Formation of Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and other business entities
• Corporate and Business Planning
• Business Succession Planning
• Business Financing (Secured and Unsecured Loan Transactions)
• Preparation and Interpretation of Commercial Contracts
• Shareholder and Partner Disputes
• Business and Tort Claims
• Collections

We also represent banks and financial institutions in all stages of the lending process.  From commercial real estate loans to workout and foreclosure, Wendland Utz frequently assists regional and community banks and other financial institutions. Our lawyers and staff work with banks to appropriately negotiate, document and close loans, both secured and unsecured. Whether it’s a complex, multi-bank loan facility or a straight-forward residential finance closing, our team provides competent and timely legal services and support to lenders. These services include the following:

• Documenting and Closing
• Unsecured and Secured Commercial Loans
• Construction Loans
• Residential Loans
• Structuring Inter-creditor Arrangements
• Workout and Foreclosures
• Loan Disbursing Services
• Title Insurance

Finally, Wendland Utz provides counsel to businesses of all types and sizes regarding interviewing, hiring, disciplining, rewarding, and terminating employees. Each stage of the employment relationship will present different goals, challenges and legal issues. The legal and practical issues an employer faces in rewarding an outstanding and loyal employee differ greatly from those an faced in disciplining a problem employee, creating a productive and pleasant workplace, or defending a wrongful termination claim. We utilize decades of experience in advising business owners in providing comprehensive and practical employment advice.

We can assist your business in reaching your employment-related goals, including counsel regarding the following:

• Employment Agreements
• Noncompete/Nonsolicitation Agreements
• Employee Incentive Agreements (Deferred Compensation Plans, Phantom Stock Plans, etc.)Employment Manuals and Creation of Employment Policies
• Severance Agreements
• Wrongful Termination Litigation Defense
• Employment Discrimination Litigation Defense