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LEGAL
SERVICES

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Click to view my YouTube videos about legal issues related to selling businesses​​

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Read about legal issues related to exiting, operating, and starting a small business

Exit Smoothly

Business Sale, Business Breakup, Generational Transfer

Joel has helped clients close hundreds of sales of assets and equity in diverse industries. He has represented sellers in deals to private equity firms and traditional search funds with purchase prices as high as $20 million. He will help you identify and assess the risks associated with exiting your business. Joel will guide you through your exit by helping you negotiate, draft, and review all transaction documents, from the Letter of Intent to the Purchase Agreement to the ancillary closing documents. He will help you respond to legal due diligence, advise you on deal structure, help you draft disclosure schedules, and assist you with providing seller-financing to your buyer. Joel will manage the deal process for you. 

Operate Smart

Contracts, Leases, Governance, Compliance, Disputes

​Small businesses regularly need help with legal issues as they operate, but typically cannot afford to have an attorney on staff full-time. Joel acts as a fractional outside counsel to Virginia businesses to help with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating key contracts; advising on legal compliance and business breakups; and resolving internal disputes among owners and disputes with suppliers, vendors, and customers.

Start Strong

Entity Creation & Key Contracts

Joel will help you determine whether you need an LLC or corporation, then set up that entity for you. He will also answer any legal questions you may have about starting your business. In addition, he will identify and draft essential contracts for your new business needs. Joel has helped founders launch hundreds of businesses, including consultants, freelancers, construction trades, retail, online, healthcare, real estate, and service businesses. ​​

Exit
Operate
OUR VISION

CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS AND OUTCOME

Selling your business is a processes, not an event.

Unfamiliarity with how to navigate the process can

cost you time and money and expose you to risks.

Joel uses his 30+ years of experience working on thousands of projects

to help guide small business owners through the sales process in a manner

that gives you confidence that your interests have been protected.

ABOUT

ATTORNEY

Joel Ankney

JOEL ANKNEY

BUSINESS LAWYER

Tel: 757.270.4088

e: joel@jalawoffice.com

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Joel graduated first in his class from law school, then practiced for 12 years at some of the nation's largest law firms. Joel started his own law firm in 2003 to represent small businesses in a more economical and efficient manner.

 

He is the author of three books which can help entrepreneurs start, acquire, operate, and exit their businesses.

 

Joel has guest lectured at leading business schools and on numerous podcasts about the process of buying or selling a small business.

With more than 30 years of experience helping business owners start, operate, and exit their businesses, Joel focuses on strategies that de-escalate tense negotiations and get your project done and your deal closed.

 

Connect with Joel on LinkedIn

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EDUCATION

J.D., William & Mary Law School, 1991

B.S., Organizational Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1987

BAR ADMISSION

 

Virginia, 1991

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

 

Collaborative Law Certificate

 

Basic Mediation Skills Training Certificate

RECOGNITIONS

Panelist, Southeast Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference

Guest Speaker, New Majority Capital

Guest Speaker, UVA Darden School of Business

Guest Speaker, William & Mary Entrepreneurship Hub

Guest Speaker, Columbia Business School ETA Class

Guest Speaker, Gies College of Business ETA Class

Virginia Elite Attorney, Business Law

Coastal Virginia Top Attorney, Business Law

Order of the Coif

William & Mary Law Review

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Selling your small business?
 



Click to learn more

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CONTACT

CONTACT
ANKNEY LAW

OUR ADDRESS

249 Central Park Ave., Ste. 300, Box 43, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Email: joel@jalawoffice.com
Tel:  757.270.4088

For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:

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