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Mergers & Acquisitions Attorneys for Business Purchases, Sales, and Buyouts

Buying a business, selling the one you built, or buying out a partner? We protect your interests from the letter of intent through closing. Our mergers and acquisitions attorneys have handled hundreds of transactions with a combined value in the hundreds of millions of dollars.* From our offices in Norfolk and Raleigh, we represent clients in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the United States.

  • Hundreds of Transactions Handled
  • Hundreds of Millions in Combined Deal Value*
  • Licensed in Virginia & North Carolina
  • Business Transactions Nationwide

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WHERE WE WORK

VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA & NATIONWIDE

TRANSACTIONS HANDLED

HUNDREDS

COMBINED DEAL VALUE

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS*

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Whichever Side of the Table You Are On, We Focus Only on Your Side

Buyers, sellers, and business partners face very different risks in the same transaction. We represent one party in each deal and build our work around your goals, your timeline, and your exposure.

Buyers

You are committing savings, financing, or both. We help you learn what you are actually buying before you are bound to buy it.

  • Letter of intent review and negotiation
  • Legal due diligence and risk review
  • Purchase agreements, including SBA-financed deals

Sellers

You built the business. We help you get paid for it and limit what can come back to you after closing.

  • Review of buyer-drafted contracts
  • Limits on post-closing liability and indemnity
  • Seller financing, earnouts, and security

Partners & Co-Owners

An owner is leaving, retiring, or no longer aligned. We help structure an exit that is fair, documented, and final.

  • Partner and member buyouts
  • Operating and shareholder agreement updates
  • Valuation and payment terms

TRANSACTION SERVICES

Legal Support for Every Stage of the Deal

From the first term sheet to the last signature, we handle the legal work so you can keep running your business. Our transaction team works alongside our Business & Corporate Law and Contracts practices, and our Real Estate Transactions team handles any real property included in the deal.

Asset Purchases & Sales

Buy or sell the equipment, customer lists, goodwill, and contracts of a business while leaving unwanted liabilities behind.

Stock & Membership Interest Sales

Transfer ownership of a corporation or LLC as a whole, with the representations, warranties, and protections that structure requires.

Partner & Owner Buyouts

Negotiate and document the exit of a co-owner, including price, payment terms, releases, and restrictive covenants.

Ownership Restructuring

Bring in new owners, adjust percentages, or reorganize entities, with governing documents updated to match. Need a new entity for the deal? See Entrepreneurs & Startups.

Due Diligence

Review contracts, leases, licenses, liens, litigation, and corporate records to surface problems before closing, not after.

Letters of Intent & Deal Structure

Set the key terms early, including price, structure, exclusivity, and contingencies, so the final agreement starts from solid ground.

SBA-Financed Acquisitions

Coordinate purchase documents with lender requirements, closing conditions, and any real estate included in the deal.

Medical & Dental Practice Transactions

Practice purchases and sales handled through our Med Contract Law practice for physicians and healthcare providers.

Not Sure How to Structure Your Deal?

Asset or stock? Seller financing or bank financing? The answers affect your taxes, your liability, and your leverage. Schedule a free business strategy call before you sign a letter of intent.

BOOK A FREE STRATEGY CALL

THE PROCESS

A Clear Path from First Call to Closing

Every transaction is different, but most follow the same core stages. Here is how we guide you through each one.

1. Strategy Call

We learn your goals, timeline, and deal terms, and outline the right structure and next steps.

2. Letter of Intent

We draft or negotiate the LOI so price, structure, and key protections are set before momentum builds.

3. Due Diligence

We review the records that matter and report the risks in plain English, with options to address each one.

4. Definitive Agreements

We draft or negotiate the purchase agreement, ancillary documents, and any lender, landlord, or third-party consents.

5. Closing & Transition

We coordinate the closing and help with post-closing items such as filings, assignments, and transition terms.

WHY COUNSEL MATTERS

The Costly Problems Usually Hide in the Details

Most deal problems are not visible on the term sheet. They show up months after closing, when they are far more expensive to fix. Our job is to protect you and find the most efficient way to reach your goals.

Hidden Liabilities

Unpaid taxes, liens, pending claims, and contract obligations that follow the business.

Asset vs. Stock Structure

The structure affects liability exposure and tax treatment for both sides. Coordinate with your CPA early.

Leases & Key Contracts

Many leases, licenses, and customer contracts require consent before they can be assigned.

Unsecured Seller Financing

A promissory note is only as good as the guaranties and collateral behind it.

Weak Non-Competes

Restrictive covenants must be drafted to be enforceable under the governing state law.

Vague Buyout Terms

Unclear valuation, payment, and release language is a common source of disputes between former partners.

M&A LEGAL GUIDES

Legal Guides for Business Buyers and Sellers

Start with our Legal Guide to Buying or Selling a Business, then go deeper on the issues that matter most to your deal.

Considering a Purchase, Sale, or Buyout?

The earlier we are involved, the more options you have. Tell us about your deal and we will help you plan the next step, wherever the business is located.

GET STARTED

What Business Buyers and Sellers Say About Working With Us

Real reviews from clients we have represented in business purchases, sales, and transactions. Read all client reviews.

Ryan H.

5-Star Client Review
Wow! Had Emma and John work with me in regard to an asset purchase and they were nothing short of incredible. They were fast, efficient, kind, and understanding. They will without a doubt be my first stop for any future legal needs, including referrals to areas that may not be in their purview.

Randy T.

5-Star Client Review
When the party we had contacted with to buy our family business decided they didn’t like the terms to which they had agreed stopped paying us the agreed upon amount we went to John. A few emails and phone calls later and the buyer agreed to pay us what was agreed on and to catch up all the past payments. Johns firm, quick, and decisive actions resolved the matter of a few weeks negating the need to go to court for resolution which saved us quite a bit of money. If you ever need an attorney, you will not go wrong hiring John. He is everything you would hope to find in an attorney.

Quint B.

5-Star Client Review
John did an exceptional job and went above and beyond to assist us in handling a commercial transaction and everything that comes with it. We got sidelined by a larger firm and decided to go with John after talking with him; turned out to be one of our best decisions! He did a great job all around, especially good at communicating (phone, email), really helped us throughout the negotiation process, tells it to you straight (even the hard truths), phenomenal work ethic, and is very well respected by his peers. Can’t recommend him highly enough! He’s the only attorney we want to work with in the future. Thanks John!

Google Reviewer

5-Star Client Review
John did a great job helping me with a business transaction. He was responsive, informative, knowledgeable, and I always felt like I was in capable hands.

    Who You’ll Be Working With

    Our transactional attorneys combine legal knowledge with practical business experience. We focus on getting deals closed on terms that protect you, and we explain every step in plain English.
    John McCormick, Founder and Managing Attorney of McCormick Law & Consulting

    John McCormick

    Attorney & Founder

    John McCormick is an attorney, entrepreneur, and community leader who helps business owners build, buy, sell, and transition companies. As the founder of McCormick Law & Consulting, he works closely with buyers, sellers, and business partners on asset and stock purchases, partner buyouts, ownership restructurings, and SBA-financed acquisitions.

    John is licensed in Virginia and North Carolina and leads a team that handles business transactions for clients across the country, coordinating with local counsel when a deal turns on another state’s law.
    Read More about John

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between an asset purchase and a stock purchase?
    In an asset purchase, the buyer acquires selected assets of the business and generally takes on only the liabilities it agrees to assume. In a stock or membership interest purchase, the buyer acquires the company itself, along with its history and liabilities. Each structure has different tax, liability, and third-party consent consequences, so the right choice depends on your situation.
    How long does it take to buy or sell a business?
    Timelines vary with the size of the deal, the financing, and how quickly records and consents can be obtained. Lender-financed transactions and deals that require landlord or licensing approvals often take longer. We will give you a realistic timeline during your strategy call.
    I already have a business broker. Do I still need a lawyer?
    A broker helps find a buyer or seller and bring the parties to agreement on price. A broker does not give legal advice and is usually paid when the deal closes. Your attorney’s role is to protect your legal interests in the documents you sign. The two roles work well together.
    Can one attorney represent both the buyer and the seller?
    Buyers and sellers have opposing interests on price, risk, and liability. In nearly all cases, each side should have its own counsel. We represent one party in a transaction and will tell you up front which party that is.
    How much will legal fees cost?
    Fees depend on the size and complexity of the transaction. We discuss the scope of work and fee structure during your strategy call and confirm them in a written engagement agreement before work begins.
    Do you handle transactions outside Virginia and North Carolina?
    Yes. We represent buyers, sellers, and owners in business transactions across the country. Our attorneys are licensed in Virginia and North Carolina. When a deal turns on another state’s law, such as local filings, real estate, licensing, or employment issues, we coordinate with local counsel in that state so your transaction stays on track.

    *The combined transaction value reflects the cumulative experience of the firm’s attorneys. Results depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future matter. Client reviews reflect individual experiences. Attorneys licensed in Virginia and North Carolina; local counsel is engaged where required for matters governed by the law of other states.