The BriefingNotes for people who run companies
The Briefing
Minority Owner Oppression in Michigan: Your Options
Michigan law gives minority shareholders and LLC members a direct statutory cause of action when those in control freeze them out, withhold distributions, or undermine their reasonable expectations. Understanding MCL 450.1489 and MCL 450.4515, the fair value standard, and the remedies available is the foundation of any credible response. This guide walks through what qualifies as oppression, what courts can order, and where minority owners make costly mistakes.
ReadBreach of Contract in Michigan: 4 Elements to Prove
Michigan courts require proof of four specific elements to win a breach of contract claim. Understanding exactly what you must establish, and where claims break down, shapes every decision you make from the moment a dispute arises.
ReadBusiness Divorce: Dissolve a Michigan LLC Without Court
Michigan gives LLC co-owners multiple paths to end a business partnership without filing in court, and most of them start with the operating agreement. This article walks through the four-step sequence, the valuation fight, and the mistakes that turn a manageable situation into a prolonged court battle.
ReadMichigan Sales Representative Commission Act: A Principal's Guide
The Michigan Sales Representative Commission Act (MCL 600.2961) creates real statutory liability for companies that use independent sales reps, including out-of-state principals and Michigan mortgage and lending firms. This guide explains who is covered, what violations cost, and which contract provisions limit your exposure before a termination dispute becomes a six-figure problem.
ReadTrade Secrets in Michigan: Protecting What Makes the Business Work
Michigan's Uniform Trade Secrets Act protects your CRM data, pricing matrices, and underwriting models if you take the right steps before a problem arises. This guide explains what qualifies, what courts actually look for, and what to do in the first 72 hours after suspected theft.
ReadTortious Interference in Michigan: Where Competition Ends
Michigan recognizes two distinct tortious interference claims, and the line between hard competition and actionable conduct turns on a single question: did the defendant use improper means or motive? This guide breaks down both claims, explains the improper means standard, and shows Michigan mortgage lenders exactly what to document before and after interference occurs.
ReadNon-Solicitation Agreements in Michigan
A non-solicitation agreement in Michigan can protect your customer relationships and your team, but only if it is drafted to survive the reasonableness test under MCL 445.774a. This guide walks Michigan employers through what the law requires, what courts reject, and what to do when a former employee starts calling your clients.
ReadWhat Business Litigation Actually Costs (and What Drives the Number)
The honest answer to what a commercial case costs is that it depends, but the drivers behind that number are knowable. Here is how to see them before you commit.
ReadIndependent Contractor Misclassification: The Risk Michigan Employers Underestimate
Labeling a worker an independent contractor does not settle the question. Agencies and courts look at the actual relationship, and getting it wrong is expensive.
ReadLitigate or Settle? A Framework for Commercial Disputes
The decision to fight or settle should be made with a spreadsheet, not with pride. Here is the framework we use to make it clear-eyed.
ReadMinority Shareholder Oppression in Michigan: Your Rights When You Are Frozen Out
Being pushed out of a business you own a piece of is not something Michigan law asks you to simply accept. Oppressed minority owners have real leverage.
ReadThe Elements of a Breach of Contract Claim in Michigan
Winning a breach of contract case is not just about being wronged. It is about proving four specific things. Here is what each one requires.
ReadDemand Letters: How to Send One, and What to Do When You Receive One
The demand letter is the most underrated tool in commercial disputes. Done well, it ends the matter. Done badly, it hands the other side ammunition.
ReadHow to Respond to an EEOC Charge Without Making It Worse
The way an employer responds to an EEOC charge in the first weeks often matters more than the underlying complaint. Here is how to get it right.
ReadTerminating an Employee Without Inviting a Lawsuit
At-will employment is a defense, not a shield. The difference between a clean termination and a lawsuit is usually made in the weeks before the firing.
ReadThe Employee Handbook Mistakes That Quietly Create Lawsuits
The handbook is supposed to protect the company. Written carelessly, it does the opposite, handing a plaintiff the company's own words to use against it.
ReadAre Non-Compete Agreements Enforceable in Michigan?
A non-compete is only as good as its reasonableness. Michigan courts enforce the measured ones and rewrite or discard the overreaching ones.
ReadWhen a Business Partner Breaches Your Operating Agreement
The operating agreement is the constitution of your company. When a co-owner breaches it, your remedies begin in that document, and moving deliberately matters.
ReadTalk to us
Have a dispute, or want to prevent one?
Tell us what is going on. You will get a straight read on where you stand, the range of outcomes, and what it costs, before you commit to anything.