Business Law
Small and mid-sized businesses need counsel who can both paper the deal and fight about it if they must.
We advise closely held businesses on formation, contracts, and transactions — and represent them in commercial litigation when relationships break down: partnership and shareholder disputes, breach of contract, and business torts.
Adam Glassman taught law at Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business for years; that same instinct for making complex commercial concepts clear serves clients in the boardroom and the courtroom alike.
What We Handle
- Business formation and governance
- Commercial contracts and transactions
- Partnership and shareholder disputes
- Breach of contract litigation
- Business torts and fraud claims
Setting up the business correctly
The choice of entity — a limited liability company, a corporation, or a partnership — affects liability, taxes, and how decisions are made. For New York LLCs, the law requires a written operating agreement and a publication requirement after formation, and failing to complete publication can suspend the company’s authority to do business.
The most valuable time to plan for a dispute is before one exists. Operating and shareholder agreements should address how decisions are made, what happens when owners disagree, and how an owner can leave, retire, or be bought out.
Contracts and disputes
We draft and negotiate commercial contracts, leases, and transaction documents, and we litigate when agreements are broken. In New York, most breach-of-contract claims must be brought within six years (CPLR 213(2)), but contracts can shorten that period, and other claims carry shorter deadlines.
When owners of a closely held business reach an impasse, New York law provides remedies that can include court-ordered dissolution or a buyout of an owner’s interest. Those cases turn on the entity’s documents and on the facts of how the business was run, and they reward early, careful strategy.
Common Questions
Does my LLC need an operating agreement?
Yes. New York requires LLC members to adopt a written operating agreement. It is also the single most important document when members disagree.
How long do I have to sue for breach of contract?
Generally six years in New York, but the contract itself may set a shorter period, and related claims may have different deadlines. Check sooner rather than later.
My business partner and I are deadlocked. What can I do?
Options range from negotiated buyouts to court proceedings for dissolution. The right path depends on your agreements and the facts; we can review them with you.
This page is general information about New York law, not legal advice about your situation. Deadlines and rules can change and depend on the facts; call the office to discuss your matter.
Begin the Conversation
Your case deserves more than a case number.
Speak directly with Adam Glassman. Free, confidential, and without obligation.