Rhode Island Business Law Attorneys

Most Rhode Island businesses choose between a limited liability company (LLC), an S corporation, a C corporation, or a partnership. The right choice depends on how many owners you have, how you plan to raise money, how you want profits taxed, and how you may eventually exit. We walk through those goals with you, explain the trade-offs, and prepare the filings with the Rhode Island Department of State along with the governing documents that should accompany them.

It depends on the work. Defined projects such as forming an entity or drafting an operating agreement are often handled for a flat fee, while disputes and litigation are usually billed hourly. Companies that want ongoing support can use our Fractional General Counsel service for a predictable monthly fee. Your first consultation is free, and we explain fees and scope up front, before any work begins.

Not every agreement requires an attorney, but templates rarely reflect Rhode Island law or the specific risks in your deal. A lawyer can help define payment terms, liability limits, termination rights, and how disputes will be handled — the provisions that tend to matter most when a relationship breaks down. For high-value, long-term, or ownership-related agreements, attorney review is strongly recommended.

Start by preserving the agreement, emails, and financial records, and avoid signing anything new. We review the agreement's notice, buyout, and dispute-resolution provisions, assess your options, and often begin with a demand letter or negotiation. If that does not resolve the matter, mediation, arbitration, or litigation may be available, depending on the agreement and the facts.

Bring in counsel when control, money, or risk is about to change — forming or restructuring a company, adding or removing an owner, signing a significant contract, hiring or classifying workers, receiving a demand letter, or preparing to sell. Involving an attorney early can cost far less than repairing a problem later.

A sale or merger typically moves through valuation and deal structure (asset sale or equity sale), a letter of intent, due diligence, negotiation of the purchase agreement, and closing. We help prepare your records before diligence begins, negotiate key terms such as representations, indemnities, and earn-outs, and coordinate with your accountant so the deal is structured with tax and liability exposure in mind.