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Business changes. So does life. But that doesn’t mean you have to change your legal counsel. At Levy & Craig, we realize our clients’ needs evolve over time, and we will be there as they do. We’ve structured our firm to be your sole source for legal solutions.
A full-service firm, we offer expertise in the following practice areas:
Banking
Levy & Craig represents financial institutions and individuals in virtually every phase of the banking relationship – from complex loan documentation and security interest perfection to acquisitions, collections, workouts and bankruptcy. Documented transactions alone include:
> Real estate loans
> Commercial and industrial loans
> Bank stock loans and acquisitions
> Asset-based lending
> Cash flow lending involving detailed financial covenants
> Tax-exempt bonds
> Loans involving non-traditional collateral
In addition, our attorneys are experts in:
> Defaulted loan collection
> Routine collection cases
> Complex replevin, foreclosure, workout, lender liability and related
commercial and bankruptcy litigation matters, including tax-
exempt bond-financed projects
> Negotiable instruments
> Letter of credit matters, including issuance, documentation,
collection and payment denial
Construction
Levy & Craig’s commitment to the construction industry is unequaled in the Kansas City area. Our attorneys have deep and direct involvement in several construction and surety trade organizations. In fact, one of our attorneys is the first to be named chairman of the board of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Heart of America Chapter.
We know construction from the inside out. That means we can handle any aspect of the construction process, from start to finish. Retain us to:
> Draft and negotiate bidding, contracting and change order
documentation
> Assist you when problems occur on the project
> Represent you in a lawsuit or help you collect payment
We represent clients at all levels of a construction project, including owners, general contractors, specialty subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, sureties and lenders.
Although a negotiated settlement often is the best outcome, we know there are times when disputes can only be resolved through litigation. Either way, we have the experience and knowledge to help you accomplish your goals.
Corporate Law
Levy & Craig provides corporate law services to complement your in-house legal team or to serve as your company’s primary counsel. Retain us to:
> Form or dissolve a business entity, such as a corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership or business trust
> Draft anti-takeover provisions in shareholder and partnership
agreements
> Formulate stock option and appreciation plans
> Draft contracts or agreements pertaining to sales and distribution
confidentiality or trade secrets
> Shape policies and review procedures so you avoid legal problems
Family Law
Prenuptial agreements. Divorce. Child custody. Family financial support. These are the legal issues of the heart and home. Sometimes, they represent the dreams you want to build your life around. And, sometimes they are the realities that threaten the life you’ve built.
When these family matters arise, our attorneys will help you protect life’s tangible assets, such as property and wealth accumulation, as well as its intangible, irreplaceable facets, such as family. Our breadth of family law knowledge spans more than 20 years and 10 specialty areas:
> Divorce, legal separation and modification of decrees
> Child custody, parenting time and visitation
> Child support
> Spousal support and alimony
> Grandparents’ rights
> Paternity
> Litigated family law matter
> Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
> Property rights and equitable distribution, including issues in large
and high-end asset divorces
> Adult and child orders of protection
Fidelity/Surety
In counseling clients nationwide, Levy & Craig:
> Advises sureties on options and strategies to complete
performance bond claims.
> Investigates, defends and advises on coverage issues in a
wide variety of fidelity matters involving employee dishonesty
and faithful performance claims.
> Evaluates payment performance and bond claims.
> Provides on-site construction evaluation services.
Levy & Craig attorneys represent:
> Construction industry participants, including:
> General and specialty contractors
> Subcontractors
> Suppliers
> Designers
> Insurance companies that write several performance, payment,
bid, commercial and miscellaneous forms of bonds
> Sureties and contractors in government contract matters
Litigation
Levy & Craig attorneys will help you plan carefully to avoid litigation and its consequences. However, if a matter should arise, you can turn to our team for experience in a variety of business, construction and real estate disputes, and lawsuits involving commercial, construction, fidelity/surety and real estate property foreclosures and breach of warranty claims. We also handle alternative dispute resolution and dispute mediation for our clients.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Levy & Craig’s multidisciplined merger and acquisition practice handles transactions of up to $1 billion for investment bankers and a variety of clients representing the alternative fuel, technology, medical and media industries. These clients rely on our expert attorneys to guide them in:
> Stock and asset purchases
> Mergers and reverse mergers
> Corporate finance
> Securities
Skilled at navigating complex issues, our senior M&A attorneys also are adept at handling matters with multiple layers, including institutional investors and venture capitalists, private equity funds, conventional lenders and mezzanine financing.
Rely on Levy & Craig for experienced counsel on general securities law and investment matters. We serve as borrower’s counsel in many private financings, capital investments and securities offerings. We also counsel lenders and borrowers in numerous loan transactions.
And, whether you are an entrepreneur, real estate developer or business owner, Levy & Craig’s senior M&A attorneys can guide you safely and successfully through a range of transactional matters involving:
> Commercial lending
> Capital formation
> Real estate development
> Business expansions or start-ups of any size
> Contract negotiations
Real Estate/Development
Commercial real estate transactions, which often involve multiple stakeholders, myriad end goals and extensive complexities, can sometimes take on lives of their own. Levy & Craig simplifies the process, applying expertise honed in a well-established and growing real estate practice. Developers, property owners, purchasers, lenders, borrowers and investors regularly turn to us to provide resourceful solutions and complete seamless, cost-effective transactions.
At the outset of a transaction, we get to know your company well so we can fully understand your objectives. We then identify the difficulties you may face during the process, and develop approaches to mitigate potential problems. As needed, we also draw on the experience of attorneys within our construction, corporate, litigation and tax practices.
Our attorneys’ experience in and knowledge of the real estate marketplace ensures that our clients consistently receive responsive service and flexible, well-thought-out solutions to any challenges that may arise.
Our expertise includes:
> Acquisition and disposition of major real estate nationwide
> Lender representation
> Financing and syndicating real estate and business assets
> Troubled loan workouts and restructuring
> Creditor’s rights
> Development and leasing
> Zoning and land compliance
> Building code compliance
> Construction and renovation
> Municipal law
> Environmental issues
> Tax increment financing and benefits districts
Our clients have included partnerships, REITs, limited liability companies and corporate entities.
Renewable Energy
To be a leader in the fast-growing renewable energy industry, you first need a specialized legal team that can be of service at every turn of your business – from zoning, permitting, and engineering and construction contracts to complex financial facilities, such as equity, debt and mezzanine financing. You need Levy & Craig.
Located in the middle of America’s Corn and Soy Belts, Levy & Craig’s successful Midwest renewable energy practice has gained a reputation for being the industry’s “hometown” counsel. Having served a number of renewable energy clients through our merger and acquisition practice, our senior attorneys know the legal challenges associated with opening and operating a business. They have more than 15 years combined industry experience and are adept at handling the large-scale transactions prevalent in the renewable energy field.
These attorneys proudly represent a growing list of clients that are building, developing and financing alternative fuel manufacturing facilities nationally and internationally. They include:
> Alternative Energy Sources Inc.™
> KC Biodiesel LLC
> CleanFUEL USA
> Encore Energy Systems Inc.
Within the next few years, these clients alone will produce more than half a billion gallons of ethanol and more than 200 million gallons of biodiesel annually.
They fuel the world. Levy & Craig’s legal expertise fuels them.
Taxation
Tax law is complex and certainly not for the faint of heart. Fortunately, clients can rely on Levy & Craig’s tax attorneys, who are highly knowledgeable in the field. We take a long-term approach, bringing our clients strategic thinking that addresses their specific, ongoing tax issues, both small and large. When the needs are immediate, however, we move quickly to assemble critical information and resolve the client’s situation.
To get favorable results for clients, Levy & Craig’s tax attorneys maintain a deep understanding of current tax laws and IRS codes and regulations, and are skilled at negotiating with the IRS on clients’ behalf. In some cases, our work for clients is primarily or exclusively tax-oriented. In other cases, our tax attorneys work in conjunction with lawyers from other departments to develop alternative structures or new strategies to place clients in a more positive tax position.
You can turn to Levy & Craig tax attorneys for:
> Audit preparation
> Resolution and appeals
> Mergers and acquisitions
> Business disposition
> Federal, state and local tax law compliance
> Financing transactions
> Partnership syndications
> Federal and state tax litigation
> Counsel on tax problems
> Tax planning for privately held state, national and international
corporations
Trusts and Estates
Levy & Craig attorneys recognize that planning a personal trust or creating a succession plan for the long-term health of a business are highly individualized and sensitive tasks. We don’t take lightly our responsibility as your partner in this process.
Regardless of the value of your assets or the complexities of your estate, we make it our job to understand your individual and business goals, and the issues that impact your decision-making. Based on your objectives, we help you structure plans that will ensure a sound, tax-advantaged financial future for your family or your company. We also help reduce your tax burden during your lifetime and plan for your long-term needs, including eldercare.
We handle a range of financial planning issues – from individual trusts and estates to those of closely held business entities. We have worked with clients to establish charitable trusts, and to structure charitable foundations. Charitable trusts and foundations often turn to us for counsel on tax and corporate issues, as well.
Our expertise includes:
> Estate and tax planning
> Estate plan and probate administration
> Ownership and succession planning for business owners
> Wealth preservation and transfer
> Business exit strategy development
> Buy-sell agreements
> Litigation involving probate, trust and other asset disputes
Multidisciplined. Multitalented. That’s the Levy & Craig edge. |
