MWBE Certifications And MWBE Joint Ventures
Our lawyers have deep experience in assisting clients in becoming certified as minority or women-owned business enterprises (“MWBE”) with leading certifying bodies. We have assisted on various aspects of MWBE matters ranging from drafting MWBE legislation, counseling on preparing certification applications and assisting clients in appeals of certification denials. Our lawyers have deep experience in counseling on joint venture arrangements in various areas from technology, to industrial and manufacturing, to financial services. When it comes to JV’s involving MWBEs, we have considerable experience with both the traditional issues involved in structuring joint ventures such as ownership arrangements, management and control and tax structuring as well as experience conforming business arrangements to the requirements of the certifying bodies.
Whether the JV is formed by creating a new entity or by entering into true joint ventures through special purpose vehicles, joint marketing agreements, license agreements, subcontracts or other arrangements, we help our clients evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of alternative structures. We advise on the best structure for the deal among the venture partners, the tax impact of such structure and arrangements, management and governance matters and on the particular issues involved in MWBE certification, RFP responses and qualifications.
In addition to our considerable experience with the business and corporate aspects of joint ventures, our partners and counsel have a wealth of knowledge in specialty areas such as tax, intellectual property, executive compensation and real estate, among others. Over the course of their careers, our lawyers have represented public and private companies, institutional investors and serious entrepreneurs on all types of mergers, acquisitions and business transactions, including tax–free and taxable purchases and sales of equity in operating and investment companies, acquisitions of targeted assets and divisions and spin-offs. We also have extensive experience representing clients in acquiring, restructuring and disposing of hard and soft assets, including equity and debt instruments, and joint venture, partnership or limited liability company interests. This experience gives us a deeper understanding of the long-term goals of JV partners, including with respect to exit events.
