The Farmington Hills Mergers And Acquisitions Lawyer Your Company Deserves

Last updated on September 14, 2026

Buying & Selling a Small Business in Farmington Hills & Metro Detroit?

When you’re ready to buy, sell or transfer your business, the Brown Borkowski & Morrow Farmington Hills mergers and acquisitions lawyers are here to guide you. We know what you care about most: getting the deal done efficiently, protecting your investment and avoiding costly surprises.

We work with entrepreneurs and small-to-midsize business owners throughout Oakland County and the Detroit metro area. Whether you are acquiring a local shop, transferring a service firm or structuring a commercial real estate deal, we handle the heavy lifting. We will support you from the initial Letter of Intent (LOI) to final filings with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and tax clearances through the Michigan Department of Treasury. We protect your business interests at every stage under the Michigan Business Corporation Act.

Why Brown Borkowski & Morrow Delivers Results

Many small business owners hesitate to hire an attorney out of fear of excessive fees or deal-stalling legal jargon. At Brown Borkowski & Morrow, we use our over 25 years of collective business law experience to give you five critical advantages:

• Right-sized guidance: We focus on small-to-midsize business purchases, partner buyouts and B2B acquisitions. You get practical legal protection tailored to the true scale of your transaction, without paying large-firm fees.
• Pragmatic problem-solving: Our goal is to help you close smoothly. Senior attorney Matthew Morrow focuses on finding sensible, efficient solutions rather than overcomplicating negotiations.
• Tailored deal structures: We avoid rigid templates, creating custom agreements around your specific goals, tax obligations and risk tolerance.
• Proven local recognition: Recognized by Best Lawyers for corporate law, Matthew Morrow regularly advocates for business owners in the Oakland County Circuit Court’s Business Court Division.
• Client-centered accessibility: We meet on your schedule and travel to your location when necessary. We take the time to explain your options clearly so you can make informed decisions.

To keep your transaction on track and within budget, we provide a visual transaction checklist and deal timeline. From the moment you sign the LOI through final LARA filings, you will always have complete visibility into where your deal stands and what comes next.

Industry Experience Across Michigan

While Michigan is famous for supporting all levels and sizes of the automotive industry, Brown Borkowski & Morrow brings broad-based experience in supporting a variety of local Michigan businesses:

• Professional practices: Medical, dental, CPA, legal and chiropractic practices
• Service and hospitality: Restaurants, retail franchises, trade contractors and commercial service providers.
• Real estate and construction: Construction companies, renovation businesses, commercial leasing, holding companies and investment property management firms

Regardless of your field, our background across these local sectors allows us to spot industry-specific legal nuances early. This helps ensure your purchase or sale is structured to protect your business interests from day one.

Avoid Common LOI Pitfalls: Asset Purchase Vs. Stock Purchase Agreements

One of the most common and expensive mistakes unrepresented buyers or sellers make is signing a standard “broker-provided” LOI before an attorney reviews the structure. Failing to define the transaction structure early can stall or derail a deal, creating unexpected delays and legal fees.

Choosing the right structure determines your tax obligations and liability exposure:

• Asset Purchase Agreements (APAs): APAs let buyers select specific assets (equipment, inventory, customer lists) while avoiding unwanted liabilities like pending lawsuits or past debts.
• Stock Purchase Agreements (SPAs) / Membership Transfers: SPAs transfer the entire corporate entity, maintaining business continuity but inheriting all existing liabilities unless protected through carefully negotiated Representations and Warranties (R&Ws).
• Partner Buyouts: Structuring smooth transitions when one partner acquires another while preserving ongoing business operations.

We analyze your situation early to recommend the structure that maximizes your advantage under Michigan corporate law.

Minimizing Risk Through Comprehensive Commercial Due Diligence

We conduct thorough legal investigations reviewing material contracts, real estate holdings, employment matters and intellectual property rights. Our team searches Oakland County court records for outstanding litigation and negotiates robust representations and warranties that give you legal recourse if sellers make false disclosures.

We also investigate critical third-party considerations that often surprise buyers. This includes whether a commercial landlord can terminate a lease upon ownership change or if local permits and licenses can carry over to the new owner.

Navigating Regulatory Compliance And LARA Filing Hurdles

We handle all necessary filings with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), obtain required tax clearances and assess whether your deal triggers federal Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act antitrust review. We coordinate industry-specific approvals, ensuring every regulatory checkpoint is cleared before closing.

Strategic Contract Negotiations From Letter Of Intent To Closing

We guide you from the preliminary Letter of Intent (LOI) through the binding purchase agreement. Our attorneys aggressively advocate during disputes over business valuation, earn-out formulas and working capital adjustments while addressing indemnification caps, escrow holdbacks and closing conditions.

Post-Closing Security: Noncompetes, NDAs And Transition Services

We draft enforceable noncompete agreements that comply with Michigan standards, nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) protecting confidential information and transition services agreements (TSAs) ensuring smooth post-merger integration with defined deliverables and payment terms.

Challenges Your Business May Face During Post-Merger Integration

After a merger, the real work begins: integrating two distinct entities into one seamless operation. Here are common hurdles we help you prepare for:

• Cultural differences: Aligning the corporate cultures and management styles of two companies.
• Systems integration: Merging different IT and operational systems without disrupting daily activities.
• Redundancy: Identifying and managing overlaps in employee roles and responsibilities.
• Communication: Keeping all stakeholders informed and on board with integration strategies.

Navigating the challenges of a merger successfully is crucial for achieving your business goals. Our team guides you through each step to ensure a smooth transition and help you realize the full potential of your newly merged company.

What Regulatory Hurdles Might You Encounter?

Navigating the regulatory landscape is a critical step in any business transaction. Here are key regulatory areas we help you evaluate:

• Antitrust laws: Ensuring the merger or acquisition does not create unfair competition.
• Securities regulations: Complying with all disclosure requirements.
• International laws: Adhering to international regulations, if the companies involved are in different countries.
• Local permits and licensing: Determining whether municipal and state licenses transfer or require reapplication.
• Environmental regulations: Assessing and addressing any potential environmental liabilities.

These regulations may seem intimidating, but legal guidance can help you understand and face them confidently. We help you identify and address potential issues early in the process, paving the way for a smoother transaction.

Flexible Options For Structuring Your Transaction

Deciding how to structure your merger or acquisition is crucial for both the immediate and long-term success of the transaction. Here are some common structuring options:

• Stock purchase: You buy the target company’s stock directly from the shareholders.
• Asset purchase: You buy only the company’s assets, not the stock.
• Merger: Your company and the target company combine to form a new entity.
• Consolidation: Both companies dissolve and combine to form an entirely new corporation.

Each option has its benefits and considerations. We’ll work closely with you to determine the best structure based on your specific goals and the nature of the target company.

With You From The Start To The End Of An M&A

We have represented Michigan businesses of all entities at every stage of the transaction. Just a few of the many issues on which we advise clients during the mergers and acquisitions process include:

• Contract drafting, modification and review
• Accurate business valuation and purchase price negotiations
• Business reorganization
• Financing issues
• Executive roles
• Assets and stocks
• Workforce downsizing
• Regulatory compliance

As our business and corporate attorneys assist with your consolidation, purchase or sale, you can expect us to focus on the details while also looking at the broader picture for your company. Our high skill level, combined with our personalized client service, is what brings clients back to us over and over and gives us a high number of referrals.

Choose Brown Borkowski & Morrow For Mergers And Acquisitions Success

Transferring a business brings up many complications that necessitate knowledgeable corporate law attorneys. We are the firm for these transactions because we put our clients first.

Our attorneys can meet with you on your schedule, even if it’s on the weekend or in the evening, so that you can focus on your business. We return calls promptly and can travel to meet with you when necessary. Our experienced mergers and acquisitions attorneys understand the ins and outs of business and corporate law in Michigan. In other words, we work hard to put your business in a position to succeed in a way no one else can.

Contact Our Farmington Hills Mergers And Acquisitions Lawyer For A Free Consultation

Take the first step toward a successful merger or acquisition. We offer free initial consultations with no obligation. Meet with our experienced corporate and business attorneys to explore how we can support your M&A journey. Call 888-757-1681 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation today. Let us help you overcome post-merger integration challenges, navigate due diligence, explore deal structuring options and address regulatory hurdles in your M&A endeavors.