Business lawyer in Silverdale and Kitsap County, WA

Business

Legal help that fits how your business actually runs

Kitsap Law Group is a small business too, so we know what it is like to juggle payroll, customers, contracts and growth at the same time. Our attorneys help owners in Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo and across Kitsap, Jefferson and Mason Counties put the right legal structure in place and keep it in good order.

Every business has different needs. A sole owner opening a shop in Silverdale has different questions from a family company bringing in a new partner, or a nonprofit board updating its bylaws. We start by understanding what you are building, then help you choose and form the entity that suits it and prepare the documents that hold it together.

When a deal comes along or a dispute starts, we can help with that too. Because the firm also handles civil litigation, the same team that drafts your agreements understands how those agreements hold up when they are tested.

Entity selection and formation
Operating, partnership and governance documents
Buying and selling a business
Contract, partner and shareholder disputes
Collections

Managing Partner David P. Horton working at his desk in the Kitsap Law Group office

Serving businesses across the West Sound

Kitsap County's business community is a mix of family companies, contractors, professional practices, retailers, nonprofits and firms that serve the military and public sector. We work with owners at every stage, from the first filing with the state to the sale of a business someone has spent decades building.

Running a business means legal questions come up at inconvenient times. Our office staff will help you get an appointment promptly, and our attorneys will give you straightforward answers about where you stand and what your choices are.

What we handle

Business matters we handle

We work with for-profit companies, nonprofits and individual owners throughout the West Sound.

Forming your business

Help choosing between a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, and filing the necessary documents with the state and federal government.
Governance documents

Bylaws and corporate governance documents for profit and nonprofit corporations, LLC operating agreements and partnership agreements.
Buying or selling a business

Reviewing and negotiating purchase terms, working through due diligence and handling the closing of the transaction.
Mergers and acquisitions

Guidance when two businesses combine or one acquires another, including the agreements that set out who owns and controls what.
Contracts and strategic planning

Drafting and reviewing the contracts your business depends on, and thinking ahead about how the company will grow or change hands.
Partner and shareholder disputes

Help resolving disagreements among business partners, members and shareholders, whether through negotiation or in court.
Contract disputes

Representation when a customer, vendor or other party does not hold up their end of an agreement.
Collections

Pursuing unpaid invoices and amounts owed to your business through demand, negotiation and, when needed, the courts.

Our approach

How we work with business owners

Good business law work is mostly about prevention: clear documents, clear roles and clear expectations. We take the time to learn your business so the paperwork reflects how you actually operate, not a generic form.

Learn your goals
We talk through what you do, who you work with and where you want the business to go.
Explain your options
We lay out the choices in plain language, along with the tradeoffs of each.
Prepare and review
We draft or review the documents and walk you through them before anything is signed or filed.
Stay available
As your business changes, we can update agreements and help with new questions as they come up.

Partner David A. Weibel at his desk with a laptop and legal pad

Who handles it

Attorneys who handle business

These attorneys advise and represent businesses, corporate clients and business partners in transactions and disputes.

Meet the full team

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Which business entity is right for me?

It depends on how many owners you have, how you plan to manage the company, how you want to handle liability and taxes, and where you see the business going. We explain the differences between a corporation, an LLC and a partnership and help you choose and form the one that fits.

Do I really need an operating agreement or partnership agreement?

When there is more than one owner, a written agreement is one of the most useful documents a business can have. It sets out who contributes what, how decisions are made and what happens if an owner wants to leave. Many partner disputes start because those questions were never answered in writing.

Can you help with a nonprofit corporation?

Yes. We prepare corporate governance documents for nonprofit corporations as well as for-profit companies, and can help a board review and update its documents.

I am buying or selling a business. When should I call?

As early as possible, ideally before you sign a letter of intent or purchase agreement. That gives us time to review the terms, identify issues to look into and help you through the closing.

My business partner and I disagree about the company. What are my options?

Start by gathering your governing documents, since they often set out how disputes, buyouts and departures are handled. We can review them, explain your options and help you work toward a resolution through negotiation, or represent you in court if that becomes necessary.

A customer owes my business money. Can you help collect it?

Yes. Collections is part of our business practice. We can review your contract and records, send a demand and, when it makes sense, pursue the debt through the courts.

Do you work with businesses outside Silverdale?

Yes. Our office is in Silverdale, and we work with businesses throughout Kitsap County as well as Jefferson and Mason Counties.