Business Law Attorneys for
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Acquisitions and Sales
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Documents and Contracts
Employment Law
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Practical and actionable advice rooted in a deep understanding of your business.
Dalton & Tomich is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services to small and midsize businesses in Michigan. We understand the unique challenges facing small and midsize businesses and the entrepreneurs who operate them, and we offer tailored solutions to help them succeed.
Our experienced attorneys can assist with a wide range of business law matters, including entity formation, governing documents, contracts, employment law, and commercial transactions, among other issues.
Our goal is to provide practical legal advice that helps businesses thrive. We understand that every company is unique, and we take the time to get to know each client’s business and its goals. As Michigan lawyers, we help Michigan businesses navigate the legal landscape and achieve success.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The answer depends on what type of business you are running and what you would like to protect at the onset. In general, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and a tax identification number should be secured by the startup business.
We can work with your company to figure out a flat fee arrangement that will allow you to budget for legal fees throughout the year while still providing attentive service to the legal needs you may have.
Every project is different, but we know that time is a valuable commodity in business. Let us know your timetable, and we will do everything in our power to meet any deadlines you may have. In situations that require a long-term solution, we will give you regular checkpoints and communicate with you every step of the way.
We usually start with an introductory meeting to learn more about you and what makes your company tick. If there is a workplace involved, we would like to visit it and learn as much about your organization as possible before we begin the project. We will start with an informational meeting and then send you drafts by email for review and comments to ensure the key parties understand the content. Once we have finalized a document, we can either meet to execute documents or circulate them for signature electronically. We would tailor the process to your needs and expectations.
We understand that it can be frustrating to determine the costs and other factors that go into the important choice of what attorney to hire for your business. We will work with you to take the frustration out of this process, taking the time to understand your needs so we can help you determine your budget and the scope of services that will give you the best value for your money. We enjoy working with clients to formulate cost-effective and creative solutions so you can make the right choice for your company. We offer flat fee arrangements that are appropriate for some clients looking to manage cash flow without surprise bills.
Business Law FAQs
A fractional general counsel (fractional GC) is an experienced business attorney who serves as your company’s part-time or on-call legal advisor — providing the same strategic legal oversight as a full-time in-house general counsel, at a fraction of the cost. For small to mid-sized businesses, startups, and growing companies that can’t justify a full-time hire, a fractional GC delivers ongoing legal strategy, contract review, compliance oversight, and executive-level counsel without a six-figure salary. If your business regularly faces legal questions, contract negotiations, employment issues, or regulatory concerns, a fractional general counsel is likely the smartest legal investment you can make.
A fractional general counsel provides a wide range of ongoing legal services, including contract drafting and review, corporate governance, employment law compliance, vendor and partnership negotiations, intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, litigation management, and strategic business advice. Unlike a transactional attorney hired for a single matter, a fractional GC integrates into your leadership team — advising on day-to-day legal questions, reviewing high-stakes decisions before they become problems, and acting as a consistent legal voice in your business.
A traditional business attorney typically handles discrete, one-off legal matters — forming an LLC, litigating a dispute, or drafting a specific contract. A fractional general counsel goes deeper: they develop an ongoing understanding of your business, your industry, your risk tolerance, and your goals. The result is proactive legal advice rather than reactive fixes. You get consistent representation, faster turnaround, institutional knowledge of your company, and strategic input — all at a predictable, often flat-fee or retainer-based cost. For businesses that need legal help more than once a year, a fractional GC is almost always more efficient and cost-effective.
Fractional general counsel services are typically structured as a monthly retainer, flat fee, or hourly engagement — and cost significantly less than hiring a full-time in-house attorney (whose total compensation often exceeds $200,000–$400,000 per year). Pricing varies by firm, scope of services, and the size and complexity of your business. Our firm offers transparent and customized arrangements tailored to your budget and legal needs. Businesses often find that the cost of a fractional GC is offset by avoided disputes, better contracts, and faster deal cycles.
General counsel refers to a company’s primary legal advisor — the attorney or legal team responsible for managing all of the company’s legal affairs. For growing businesses, having access to a general counsel means you have a trusted advisor who can review contracts before you sign, flag employment compliance issues before they become lawsuits, advise on business structure and governance, and guide major decisions like acquisitions, partnerships, or fundraising rounds. Our firm provides outsourced general counsel services that scale with your business, offering senior-level legal support without the overhead.
Even small businesses face legal exposure every day — in the contracts they sign, the employees they hire, the intellectual property they create, and the regulations they must follow. A business lawyer helps you avoid costly mistakes before they happen, not just clean them up after the fact. From choosing the right legal entity structure to protecting your assets in a dispute, having experienced legal counsel means you can focus on running your business, knowing your legal foundation is solid. Many small business owners only call a lawyer when something goes wrong — working proactively with a business attorney is almost always cheaper and less stressful.
A business attorney can draft, review, and negotiate virtually any commercial agreement your company uses, including: client service agreements, vendor and supplier contracts, partnership and joint venture agreements, employment and independent contractor agreements, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, commercial lease agreements, licensing agreements, and merger or acquisition purchase agreements. Having an attorney review contracts before you sign, rather than after a dispute arises, is one of the highest-ROI legal services a business can use.
Employment law compliance is one of the most complex and fast-changing areas of business law. A business attorney can help you develop legally compliant employee handbooks, structure your hiring and termination procedures to reduce liability, ensure proper classification of employees vs. independent contractors, navigate wage and hour requirements, implement workplace anti-discrimination and harassment policies, and respond to EEOC charges or employment disputes. Businesses that invest in proactive employment law compliance face far fewer claims, lower legal costs, and reduced regulatory risk.
If your business is facing a lawsuit or legal threat, contact an experienced business litigation attorney immediately: before responding to any claims, signing anything, or communicating with opposing counsel. Early legal involvement is critical: it preserves your options, protects privileged communications, and prevents inadvertent admissions. Our attorneys evaluate the strength of claims, develop a defense or counter-claim strategy, explore settlement options, and represent your interests through litigation if necessary. Most business disputes are resolved before trial. Having skilled counsel early dramatically improves outcomes and reduces costs.
Yes. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are among the most legally complex and high-stakes transactions a business will ever undertake. A business attorney guides you through every stage: evaluating deal structure (asset sale vs. stock sale), conducting or responding to legal due diligence, negotiating and drafting letters of intent and purchase agreements, managing representations and warranties, coordinating with tax and financial advisors, and closing the transaction. Whether you are buying a competitor, selling your company, or bringing in a strategic partner, experienced M&A counsel helps protect your interests and maximize deal value.
Choosing the right business entity structure (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, partnership, or sole proprietorship) depends on several factors: your tax situation, the number and type of owners, how you plan to raise capital, your liability exposure, and your long-term exit or succession plans. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. A business attorney will analyze your specific goals and circumstances and recommend the structure that best protects your assets, minimizes tax liability, and positions your company for growth. Getting this decision right at the start (or restructuring it properly later) can save significant money and complexity over time.
