Specialized legal expertise on entity formation and financing for new businesses.

We provide specialized advice on entity selection and structure after evaluating the nature of the relationships of the people involved and the specific circumstances and needs of the business in question, whether a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), partnership, professional corporation or limited liability partnership (LLP).

Once an entity is chosen, it is crucial for its long-term success to create an appropriate legal framework with an agreement among its owners. We work closely with our clients to draft vital partnership, shareholder or operating agreements among owners and investors covering management, operations, profit distributions, intellectual property, transferability of interests and myriad other client-specific matters.

When new companies need to raise money from outside sources to fund their opening costs, whether raising funds through loans, investments or both, we offer practical legal expertise as they develop their financing strategy. This includes drafting loan documents, convertible promissory notes, private offering memoranda for equity financing and reviewing institutional loan documents.

For succession planning or alternative incentive compensation to key-employees, whether in early stages or as founders are ready to phase out of their business, our services include drafting stock options, profits interests agreements, equity grants, and profit-sharing incentive agreements .

 Representing hospitality, restaurant and food service professionals with a personal approach

Carolyn J. Tawasha P.C. has an established reputation in the hospitality industry for representing chefs, restaurateurs and other food service professionals to successfully acquire, open, and operate their businesses.

Often the biggest challenge with starting a hospitality business or expanding to additional units is timing. Ideally, business owners want to raise the funds they need as they are looking for a space so it can be difficult to quantify their budget and financial needs. If they have identified a space, they might not want to form an entity or incur the legal expense of raising funds unless they are confident they have successfully negotiated a lease. We help our clients navigate these matters with an eye on costs and help them establish a realistic timeline for achieving these goals.

Our firm’s restaurant, food service, and hospitality practice is highly specialized, and our experience enables us to assist clients develop an optimal strategic business structure given our clients’ particular concepts, goals, location, and capital needs. Our network of consultants and professionals provides her clients with access to other professionals they need for every aspect of their business.

The firm has several clients whose restaurants have been ranked in the Top 10 and Top 100 in the Bay Area, and many have been awarded Michelin stars and James Beard awards. We also work with bar owners, sommeliers, managers, licensors, other food and beverage retail and wholesale enterprises as well as music and other entertainment venues.