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Strobl PLLC

Strobl PLLC

Business and Corporate Law Firm

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(248) 540-2300

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    • Henry J. Andries, Jr.

      Henry J. Andries, Jr.

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2710

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Healthcare Law, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience

      Since 1995, Henry J. Andries, Jr. has engaged in private practice with a concentration in employment law, complex civil litigation...

    • Lynn M. Brimer

      Lynn M. Brimer

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2772

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Non-Profit Law, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Assist taxpayers with representation before the internal Revenue Service, the State of Michigan Department of Treasury and other taxing authorities...
    • Jon P. Everly

      Jon P. Everly

      Managing Member

      Phone: 248.205.2759

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Non-Profit Law, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Advises closely held businesses and their owners in a broad range of legal matters, including formation, taxation, succession planning, and...
    • Michael L. Geller

      Michael L. Geller

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2770

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Healthcare Law, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Advises and assists clients in the creation and structuring of their business entities.
      • Regularly counsels clients relative to employment issues that...
    • Jeffrey T. Goudie

      Jeffrey T. Goudie

      Member

      Phone: 248-205-2767

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Represents financial institutions in licensing matters, regulatory matters, and transactional matters
      • Provides vendor contract review for financial institutions
      • Litigates title issues and...
    • Paul M. Kavanaugh

      Paul M. Kavanaugh

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2711

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Healthcare Law, Labor & Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate

      Experience

      In his more than 30 years of practicing law, he has helped businesses protect their financial and intellectual property, minimize...

    • Michael A. Kus

      Michael A. Kus

      Member

      Phone: 248-205-3090

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Advises financial institutions on compliance and regulatory laws and policies and procedures
      • Provides guidance and assistance to banks and thereby reducing...
    • Jay R. LaBarge

      Jay R. LaBarge

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2778

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Healthcare Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Non-Profit Law, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Advises clients on a full range of real estate matters, including drafting and negotiating purchase agreements and residential, commercial and...
    • Brian J. McCullough

      Brian J. McCullough

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2715

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Healthcare Law, Real Estate

      Experience
      • All legal aspects pertaining to healthcare providers, including licensing, certification issues, survey and compliance issues, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance-related...
    • Pamela S. Ritter

      Pamela S. Ritter

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2765

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Litigation, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Counsel to lenders in a range of loan origination transactions, including commercial and industrial loan facilities, real estate and construction...
    • James A. Rocchio

      James A. Rocchio

      Of Counsel

      Phone: 248.205.2748

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax

      Experience

      Mr. Rocchio has deep expertise in the area of taxation. Over the course of his legal career, he has counseled...

    • Nelson B. Stieper

      Nelson B. Stieper

      Of Counsel

      Phone: 248.205.2742

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

      Connect:

      Practice Areas

      Estate & Succession Planning

      Experience
      • Performs probate and trust administration, revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, special needs planning, gift planning, and asset protection
      • Advises on divorce,...
    • Thomas J. Strobl

      Thomas J. Strobl

      1942 – 2023

      Phone: 248.205.2713

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Labor & Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Advises a broad spectrum of purchasers and sellers in merger and acquisition transactions involving primarily private companies.
      • Represents financial institutions and...
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The 50/50 Partner Trap

January 3, 2022

Frequently when two people start a business, the new business partners agree on a 50/50 partnership, where they share equal authority over the operation of the business and share equally the profits and losses of the business. Even though a 50/50 split appears to be a fair way to establish the partnership, the problem with such an arrangement is every business decision now must be unanimous. When partners cannot agree on a course of action, deadlock occurs and there is no ability for one party to make any decision to resolve the disagreement.

Deadlock often carries these consequences:

• Paralysis of company operations
• Lost business opportunities
• Uncertainty among employees or vendors
• Breakdown of the partner relationship

A common way for partners to avoid deadlock is to form the business with one of the partners taking a majority 51% ownership. In order to make this work, the partner with 49% interest must place their trust in the 51% partner who will hold the veto power. Typically, the more significant financial contributor takes on the role of the majority partner.

If a 50/50 partnership cannot be avoided, the partners should adopt certain measures to mitigate deadlock. Dispute resolution and buy/sell clauses are two measures written into owner agreements for this purpose. With a provision for dispute resolution, the partners may delegate final decision-making authority to a known third party in order to break a deadlock. For example, disagreements involving distributions or other financial matters can be resolved by the company’s Certified Public Accountants (CPA).

For a buy/sell clause, a partner is enabled in the event of deadlock to offer to buy out the other partner. The other partner would then have a period of time to either accept the offer or elect to buy out the first partner on the same terms.

Mitigating deadlock is crucial for partners serious about building a successful business. These measures keep the partners out of court and their company still running.

Strobl is a team of experienced and trusted lawyers that can advise on all legal matters relating to startups and business partnerships. For more information, visit Strobl online at StroblLaw.com or on LinkedIn.

Uncategorized buy/sell partner,  deadlocked partnership,  fifty fifty partner,  partnership,  partnership deadlock

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At Strobl PLLC, our attorneys are committed to your team. We collaborate with clients to share our expertise and guide them to success.

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(248) 540-2300

33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 125
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

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