Newport Beach Business Lawyer

Over 150 Years of Combined Legal Experience in Southern California

At Messina & Hankin LLP, we assist clients throughout Southern California with complex legal matters involving business law, real estate, estate planning, and bankruptcy litigation. From our multiple locations, we provide individuals and business owners with honest counsel, dedicated legal services, and aggressive representation. Our attorneys serving Newport Beach bring diverse career backgrounds that inform how they interpret the law and apply it to each client’s circumstances. Whatever issue you face, we can explain your options and pursue a practical path forward.

Business Law Counsel in Newport Beach

We counsel business clients through decisions affecting ownership, operations, growth, and the future of a company. Our work includes business formation, contract drafting and review, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and business dissolution. When conflicts arise, we also handle contract litigation and business litigation.

Each of our corporate attorneys has at least 25 years of legal experience. Their backgrounds in finance, business law, and real estate provide additional perspective when a matter involves financial obligations, commercial property, or a complex transaction.

Comprehensive Legal Services We Provide

Our lawyers handle a broad range of legal matters. We have managed well over 1,000 cases in more than 45 years serving the area, combining that experience with personalized guidance and a collaborative approach throughout the legal process.

We handle cases involving:

• Business law
• Business litigation
• Business transactions
• Estate planning
• Probate and trust law
• Real estate law
• Employment law
• Bankruptcy and tax litigation

Our experience covers many complex legal needs, including:

• Contract and lease disputes
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Chapter 11 bankruptcy matters
• Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney
• The tax effects of filing for bankruptcy
• Discrimination and harassment claims

Throughout the process, we answer your questions and address your concerns at every stage while providing the uncompromising representation you need.

Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

Partnership and shareholder disputes frequently concern management authority, access to company information, ownership rights, or alleged breaches of corporate governance duties. California Corporations Code Section 309 requires corporate directors to act in good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person would use, and in a manner they reasonably believe serves the corporation’s best interests.

A shareholder derivative action is a lawsuit brought by a shareholder on the corporation’s behalf to address alleged harm to the corporation. A shareholder bringing this type of claim generally must have held shares when the disputed transaction occurred. The shareholder must also make a written demand on the board or explain why that demand would be futile.

California Corporations Code Section 1601 gives qualifying shareholders inspection rights involving corporate accounting books, records, and minutes. A shareholder generally exercises this right through a written demand stating a purpose reasonably related to the person’s interest as a shareholder.

Options for Resolving Business Disputes

The right path for a business dispute depends on the governing agreements, the parties’ objectives, and the issues in conflict.

Common dispute-resolution methods include:

• Negotiation: The parties and their attorneys communicate directly to explore terms for resolving the dispute.
• Mediation: A neutral mediator helps the parties communicate and consider resolution options but doesn’t decide the outcome.
• Arbitration: A neutral arbitrator hears evidence and arguments before issuing a decision. Binding arbitration generally waives the right to a trial and limits appeal rights.
• Settlement conferences: The parties and their attorneys meet with a judge or settlement officer who evaluates the case and facilitates negotiations without deciding the dispute.
• Trial: The parties present evidence and legal arguments so a judge or jury can decide the contested issues.

Speak with an Attorney at Messina & Hankin Today

We offer a free initial consultation for those who want to discuss a legal issue with one of our Newport Beach lawyers. Through personalized legal counsel, we combine the attentive service of a small firm with the dedication and drive of a large, experienced team. Our attorneys collaborate on cases without double billing clients, so you benefit from our combined perspective without being nickel-and-dimed.