Business Transactions, Strategic Planning and Counseling

The Commercial Transactions Group of Morris James is distinguished among legal practices in Delaware for depth of experience, broad-based knowledge, uncommon business insight, and outstanding capability in the complexities and nuances of commercial transactions. Our attorneys have structured, negotiated, and documented a wide variety of transactions, including asset and stock acquisitions, mergers and reorganizations, joint ventures, uniform commercial code transactions, and general contractual matters. We provide sophisticated and comprehensive representation to clients across a wide range of commerce, industries, markets, and professions, and in local, regional, national, and international settings.

Morris James’ team of transactional and litigation attorneys are routinely engaged to assist with a multitude of complex and unique legal issues related to Delaware corporations, LLCs, partnerships and trusts. Our attorneys have extensive experience throughout the life cycle of every type of Delaware business entity, and provide advice on mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, conversions, and domestications of those entities. We often advise clients on day-to-day issues, such as charter and by-law provisions or meetings of directors or stockholders, as well as issues involving interpretation of Delaware General Corporation Law. Our attorneys are actively involved with the committees responsible for drafting and revising the statutes governing Delaware corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and trusts.

Attorneys in Morris James’ Corporate Trust and Fiduciary Services Practice have represented every major financial institution located in Delaware, offering corporate trust and fiduciary services to the business community. Our decades of experience in this area and our range of representations span the entire spectrum of transactions, from straightforward local matters to complex international transactions involving both private and public investment.

The attorneys of Morris James’ Delaware Advantage Trusts Practice possess extensive knowledge of the laws governing Delaware trusts, as well as substantial experience in the Delaware Court of Chancery. We counsel clients on the benefits of bringing their trusts to Delaware, and the appropriate use of all unique aspects of Delaware trusts. A significant component in the development of asset protection strategies, Delaware trusts are often used to prevent erosion of assets by estate and inheritance taxes and creditor claims. For more information on Delaware Advantage Trusts, click here.

Morris James’ Healthcare Industry Team has long represented many of Delaware’s preeminent hospitals, physicians, and nursing homes, as well as a broad range of medical professionals, including individual physicians, physician networks, physician groups, and healthcare professionals at all levels. 

Morris James’ Legal Opinions Practice covers all aspects of Delaware law and certain aspects of federal law, including tax and bankruptcy law. The firm is frequently engaged, including by non-Delaware counsel, to render opinions on Delaware corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and trusts in connection with a wide array of matters, including entity formations, corporate governance issues, mergers and acquisitions and the structuring of large domestic and cross border transactions, both public and private.

Serving the needs of a wide range of clients, Morris James’ Real Estate Law Practice is among the leaders in the industry in Delaware. We provide comprehensive services on issues that arise in connection with real estate acquisition and disposition, land use and zoning matters, new project creation and development, and financing and real estate disputes. In addition to real estate transactional and litigation matters, Morris James provides legal counsel and representation on related issues, including mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, taxation, and estate planning.

The Structured Finance Transactions Practice at Morris James is strong and active, and extensively experienced in the structuring, formation and use of corporations, LLCs, statutory trusts, common law trusts, and other types of special purpose entities in a wide variety of public and private structured finance and capital market transactions.

The attorneys of Morris James’ Succession Planning Practice have guided a wide array of closely held or family-owned businesses and professional practices through successful business transitions. We enable our clients to achieve their strategic goals by developing appropriate succession strategies, managing execution of the plan, and devising methods to address challenges effectively. Our objective is to develop a plan that provides the most efficient means of transferring ownership and the optimal timing of the transfer, while maximizing benefits and minimizing tax and adverse estate planning consequences.

Morris James' tax attorneys represent business clients and business owners in developing successful tax strategies through the entire cycle of entity formation, business operations, acquisitions, disposition and reorganization transactions, and succession planning. In addressing both planning and compliance aspects of Federal, State, and local taxation, as well as ERISA, we provide representation before appropriate authorities and administrative agencies in examination proceedings at all levels. We also represent clients in the financial sector, both nationally and internationally, on a variety of tax-related matters, including complex aspects of carried interest programs and tax equalization analysis, together with related litigation and arbitration of claims. A significant component of our practice is the representation of physicians, physician groups, and professional practices whom we advise on formation, practice operation, compensation structure, acquisitions and affiliations, network formation, retirement, and succession planning.