New Jersey and New York Business Lawyers

The Rivkind Law Firm represents businesses throughout New Jersey and in New York City. Our clients come to us to form companies, draft agreements for their customers and employees, negotiate commercial leases, address regulatory requirements, and resolve contract disputes. Some call with one agreement they need reviewed before Friday. Others have called on us for years because we know their business, the people involved, and the history behind the question they’re asking today.

Over 39 years in practice, Shari A. Rivkind has represented hundreds of physicians and medical practices, dozens of restaurants and catering halls, and businesses ranging from salons, clothing stores, and interior designers to roofers, contractors, sporting goods retailers, and about every type of vendor in the wedding industry. Her clients have also included chemical and oil companies, spa chains, product brands, online sellers, content creators, consultants, and coaches. That experience shapes one of the first questions we ask a business owner: How does this actually work in your business? The answer matters whether we’re drafting your first client agreement or helping you decide what to do when someone breaks it.

Business Formation and Ownership Agreements

When you start a company, there’s the question of which business structure to choose and the equally important question of how you intend to run it. If two people are going into business together, who can sign a lease, borrow money, or commit the company to a major purchase? If one owner puts up most of the money and the other runs the business, how will they make decisions? What happens if one wants to leave?

We help clients form LLCs and corporations and put ownership and management arrangements in writing. We also review existing agreements when a company brings in a new owner or when the people running it realize that the arrangement they made years ago no longer fits the business they have today.

Client Contracts, Vendor Agreements, and Licensing

A good client contract begins with an understanding of what happens between the day someone hires you and the day you get paid. A catering hall needs a final guest count in time to order food and schedule staff. An interior designer may have to pay for custom furniture months before it arrives. A contractor needs a way to document the extra work a customer requests halfway through a job. Each needs a contract that accounts for when the business commits its own time and money.

We draft and negotiate client contracts, vendor agreements, and licensing agreements. We address the scope of work, payment schedules, deposits, approvals, changes, cancellations, and who owns or may use the finished work. If a customer, supplier, or brand sends you its own agreement, we explain what you would be agreeing to and help you decide which terms are worth negotiating.

Employment Agreements

The details of a compensation arrangement are often clear to everyone on the day an employee is hired. Questions tend to come later. If an employee earns a commission, is it earned when the sale is made, when the customer pays, or when the project is complete? What happens to a pending commission if the employee leaves?

We help employers draft and review employment agreements that address responsibilities, compensation, confidentiality, ownership of work, and the end of the employment relationship. We also revisit agreements when an employee takes on a new role, gains access to sensitive business information, or moves to a different compensation structure.

Commercial Lease Review and Negotiation

For a business taking on space, the monthly rent is only part of the commitment. A restaurant may need months of construction before it can seat a customer. A medical practice may need a particular use permitted before the space is suitable. And an owner signing a personal guarantee needs to understand what the landlord could seek from the owner personally.

We review and negotiate commercial leases and renewals with those practical concerns in mind. We look at when rent begins, what additional charges you’ll pay, who is responsible for repairs and improvements, what the lease allows you to do in the space, and what options you have if you want to renew, relocate, or sell the business.

Regulatory Compliance and Medical Practices

A compliance question can arise well before an owner hears from a regulator. Adding a service, changing how a practice operates, or entering a new business arrangement can raise questions worth addressing while the decision is still yours to make. We help business owners identify the requirements that apply to their operations and respond when a regulator makes an inquiry.

Representing physicians and medical providers has long been a substantial part of Shari’s practice. Her work includes medical licensing and board matters, disputes with insurers, and New Jersey PIP arbitrations. Our medical practice clients can also turn to us for the business issues that come with running a practice, including employment agreements, vendor contracts, and office leases.

Contract Disputes and Commercial Litigation

When a client withholds payment or a vendor fails to deliver, we start with two questions: What did each side agree to, and what would a good resolution look like for your business? Sometimes the priority is getting paid. Sometimes you need a supplier to finish an order because your own customers are waiting. Sometimes you want to end the relationship and understand what it will cost to do so.

We review the contract along with the proposals, invoices, correspondence, and other records that show what happened. We explain your options, negotiate on your behalf, and represent your business in commercial litigation when the matter calls for it.

Schedule a Business Law Consultation

If you’re starting a company, need an agreement prepared, have a document waiting for signature, or want to discuss a dispute, call (201) 330-0061 to schedule a consultation. If you have a signing date, lease renewal, or response deadline coming up, let us know when you call.

We represent clients throughout New Jersey. Consultations are available by Zoom, by telephone, or in person. Our attorneys are licensed in New Jersey and New York.