The firm counsels clients in the areas of entity selection and formation, state and federal securities laws, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, employment agreements, business licenses and other operational matters.

Gilchrist & Rutter represents all forms of business entities, including closely-held and publicly-held corporations, not-for-profit corporations, limited liability companies, general and limited partnerships, and sole proprietorships in a wide variety of corporate and business matters.

Business Formation

We advise clients on alternative forms of business organizations, as well as entity formation and operation. We represent clients in securities offerings, including private placements, secondary offerings and Regulation D offerings.

Business Representation

We serve as general corporate counsel to a number of business entities. Such representation includes the preparation of general corporate documentation, employment and consulting contracts, advice on securities law compliance, and the negotiation of commercial financing documents and other operating agreements. We counsel clients on the preparation and filing of required securities reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the California Department of Corporations. We advise clients on all aspects of employment law matters and defend businesses involved in wrongful termination claims by employees. We handle licensing and other arrangements for the use of business names and other intellectual property rights.

Dissolution of Businesses

Our firm handles the termination and dissolution of businesses, including all related insolvency and bankruptcy issues that may arise.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Our corporate practice encompasses the acquisition, merger, spin-off and restructuring of business enterprises, including both asset and stock transfers.

Corporate Maintenance Services

Gilchrist & Rutter offers annual corporate maintenance to ensure that client-related entities maintain compliance in all applicable jurisdictions. The firm currently supports several hundred entities for large and small corporate clientele alike, including real estate investment and advisory companies.

Gilchrist & Rutter's corporate services extend beyond corporate maintenance into entity formation, inter-jurisdictional charters, acquisition and disposition of property and entity dissolution.

Gilchrist & Rutter uses the latest in "push technology" to support services for the entities it maintains. This includes the use of the hCue product by CT Corporation which provides a central repository for entity records, interactive tools, including a compliance calendar to track filing due dates. Forms and materials are also available for SEC filing preparation.

The hCue corporate records software utilized by Gilchrist & Rutter updates automatically to ensure that forms and calendaring are always in compliance with regulatory and public agency requirements. hCue hosts corporate records and documents in a secure environment that is securely backed-up by CT Corporation. Similar corporate compliance software sells for upwards of $25,000, but Gilchrist & Rutter's clients benefit from the use of this product simply by being a corporate client of the firm. 

Gilchrist & Rutter has been providing service in the real estate/transactional arena for over 25 years, and its corporate paralegal team has over 20 years of combined experience. Our client list includes some of the largest developers of commercial space in California, with real estate deals ranging from single-family residences to $30 Billion commercial office portfolios. Gilchrist & Rutter provides corporate services for clientele of all levels of complexity, from simple single-member or single-shareholder entities, up to and including multi-billion dollar, publicly-traded REIT's.

Business Disputes

Gilchrist & Rutter represents clients in the resolution of a broad range of business disputes, including disputes among shareholders, partners, and members of business entities; between customers and suppliers (including bankrupt customers and suppliers); disputes regarding intellectual property rights, including patents and licenses and trade dress rights; employment disputes and disputes arising in connection with the issuance of securities. We also handle disputes involving commercial credit facilities and real estate secured debt, and counsel our clients in connection with the restructuring of troubled loans.