Business

The hallmarks of Butzel Long's Business Group are superior, efficient legal representation creative problem solving prompt, effective communication with the client and a level of service that extends beyond the routine client-counsel relationship to build a partnership that's driven by results and is based on a deep investment in our client's success. Bringing to bear years of experience and deep understanding of our client's businesses, we act as a trusted resource for our clients, understanding the challenges they face as business leaders and working to tackle issues ranging from the highly complex to the kind of day to day matters that businesses face on a regular basis.

We advise a range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to regional enterprises and smaller owner-operated businesses, and count a broad cross-section of manufacturing, healthcare, publishing, real estate and financial concerns as clients. The members of this group also work closely with Butzel Long lawyers in various other practice areas to ensure a sophisticated breadth of legal analysis. Further, the firms' participation in Lex Mundi, a global organization of over 160 independent member firms, enables the group to provide access to legal assistance throughout the world.

Butzel Long's attorneys appreciate the business, economic and often public concerns that drive many transactions in today's challenging marketplace and possess the expertise and insight to structure and consummate these increasingly complex deals. Our range of experience includes advising and assisting clients in complying with federal and state securities laws in matters of capital formation and mergers and acquisitions structuring sophisticated finance transactions and relationships for both corporate and public entities involving multi-tiered, multi-lender relationships counseling clients in structuring, restructuring and liquidating corporate and non-corporate entities as well as assisting with entity formation issues such as drafting start-up documentation and negotiating and preparing commercial documents. Butzel Long attorneys have assisted in the creation and growth of some of the largest corporations in the world. We help entrepreneurs and small businesses build a sound foundation for long-term success. And many of our corporate relationships are more than a half-century old -- testimony to the deep commitment we bring to the success of our clients' enterprises.

Experience

Representation of French company in joint venture with Japanese company including negotiations and preparation of joint venture agreement, structuring joint venture capital contributions and addressing governance issues.
Represented a private equity investor in the lengthy and complicated effort to purchase all of Ford Motor Company's glass manufacturing operations in North America
Prepared marketing presentations for advisory services
Represented a Mexican corporation in the purchase of the exhaust system business from a major Tier 1 auto supplier in a Section 363 bankruptcy sale; facilities located throughout the world
Represented LG Chem in the acquisition of land, obtaining various government grants and tax incentives and the drafting and negotiating of the construction contract for a $303 million advanced lithium ion battery manufacturing facility.
Represented a large consumer products company with respect to multiple threats of litigation from competitors, alleging that the client's distribution and discount agreements with retailers supported claims of monopolization
Acted as counsel in international acquisition of software company. The transaction included multi-jurisdictional asset transfers, export controls issues and special licensing and development agreements.
Preparing operating agreements for joint ventures and start-ups
Representation of a multinational engineering and infrastructure services company as major shareholder in consortium formed to tender a proposal for the build-operate-transfer concession for the $2.0 billion Tel Aviv Red Line light rail project.
Worked with client to obtain $1 million Single Business Tax Credit.
Represented auto supplier in major US and foreign antitrust investigation
Negotiation of complex Settlement Agreement with an OEM of claims arising under long-term Supply Agreement
Representation of Fortune 500 company in disposition of two health care subsidiaries. Issues included structuring for tax and regulatory considerations, state licensing transfer requirements and filings.
Represented U.S and German subsidiaries of Japan-based manufacturing company in acquisition of aerospace and defense company from subsidiaries of U.K.-based manufacturer, which included CFIUS and ITAR filings
Lead counsel for global polymers manufacturer in multiple acquisition and disposition transactions, including complex, multi-continent acquisitions, numerous acquisitions of U.S. based distributors and disposition of operations in Canada and the U.S.
Representation of company for purchase of telecommunications business in over 25 countries.
Represented an automotive fasteners company in a disposition merger
Defense of major regional hospital system in an anti-trust case alleging conspiracy among hospital and physicians to exclude a cardiologist from the hospital staff
Represented Corporation in federal antitrust civil class action re automotive products
Assisted a large IT consulting company in a disposition merger with a major industry participant
Marketing antitrust and sales advice to consumer electronics company
Represented President of Corporation in federal antitrust investigation re compressors
Successfully negotiated dispute with large shareholder including redemption of shares and related tax and financing issues
Commercial counsel for automotive companies
Counsel and represent several large corporations with respect to antitrust issues implicated by a wide variety of licensing, pricing and distribution arrangements as well as proposed transactions and combinations
Assisted Lakeshore Engineering Services Inc. in their acquisition of Toltest Inc., creating Lakeshore Toltest Corp., one of the largest federal and municipal contracting companies in the Midwest.
Lead counsel in defense of a US subsidiary of an international cement and concrete company against civil price fixing and related Section 1 conspiracy claims.
Asset Purchase in industrial furnace industry
Represented multiple Corporations in federal antitrust investigation re highway contracts
Representation of French company in acquisition of troubled assets of automotive supplier with U.S. and Canadian operations.
Obtained not guilty verdict at criminal antitrust trial for President of concrete company
Represented one of Greece's largest business enterprises in the $650 million acquisition of the United States operations of a major multinational construction materials company.
Lead counsel for major auto supplier in numerous M&A transactions, both those based solely in the US and those with US and foreign components
Complex, multi-continent acquisitions of companies for an international polymers manufacturer
Negotiation of a Complex Supply Agreement for major Tier I Automotive Supplier with an OEM; included subsidies and exit provisions
Counsel and represent several large corporations with respect to antitrust issues implicated by a wide variety of licensing, pricing and distribution arrangements as well as proposed transactions and combinations.
Represented multiple employees/ executives/ officers in major US and international antitrust investigations
Represented publicly-held utility holding company in proposed $3 billion acquisition by private equity investors.
Counsel an international consumer electronics company with respect to pricing and distribution issues, including minimum and maximum resale price maintenance, MAP programs, and Robinson-Patman compliance.
Analyzed antitrust risk of pending transactions for hedge funds and financial institutions.
Acted as interim general counsel for publicly-held technology company and supervised company’s adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance procedures and insider trading policy.
Represented an international media conglomerate in connection with the European Commission's investigation into Google's actions in the online search market
Successfully defended national media client in claim for violation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act before the United States Department of Labor.
Purchase and sale of portfolio companies for PE firm
Lead counsel for asset purchase transaction of Aerospace and Medical Devices manufacturers
Marketing antitrust and sales advice to consumer electronics company; product recall advice
Provided due diligence for large acquisition
Sold a U.S. based defense subcontractor to a subsidiary of an Israeli defense contractor; project involved a CFIUS filing, notifications and filings under ITAR
Asset acquisition for major international manufacturer
Representation of engineering services client in acquisition of other engineering services company structured share exchange.
Represented Greek Government interests in variety of matters involving public and private international law
Represented attorney in federal antitrust.-related investigation
Represented Company in federal antitrust investigation re transportation industry
Defended national health care certifing board in action alleging antitrust and false advertising violations; one of the leading 6th Circuit cases on false advertising law
Represented an infrastructure investment fund with the acquisition of port facilities and in proposals to acquire other infrastructure assets
Represented the sellers in connection with the sale of the build-operate-transfer franchise for a state highway in California.
Represented a publicly-traded diversified resources company in the acquisition of more than 40 construction materials, construction and other businesses since 1997 for a total of more than $900 million.
$75 million acquisition of US and non-US assets; complex deal involved acquisition of stock and assets located in North America, Europe, Asia and South America
Represented global polymers manufacturer in acquisition of assets of Hydro Components Research and Development Corporation.
Asset sale for automotive supplier
Product liability and general corporate advice to OEM manufacturer
Incorporated new Michigan corporation for media purchase
Restructuring of European companies and their subsidiaries in numerous countries to achieve optional organizational benefits
Negotiated a settlement agreement for a major auto supplier with an OEM resulting in $40,000,000 in payments to the supplier, deal also included commitment by OEM to provide significant additional future business to supplier
Represented Greek Government interests in variety of matters involving public and private international law
Worked with client to obtain $1 million Single Business Tax Credit, approval of brownfield plan and negotiation of brownfield agreement with city
Defended a major issuer of credit and debit cards against a class action of merchants claiming that its rule constituted a tie in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act as well as a monopolization of the alleged market for debit cards.
Prepared sales representative agreements for garment distributor
Represented private equity firm in connection with recapitalization of engineering business.
Represented a multi-national engineering and infrastructure services firm in the acquisition of engineering businesses in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Asset acquisition for publicly traded foreign-based corporation