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Your need for legal services parallels your business growth – and often outpaces it. Carlton Fields' Corporate & Tax Practice provides experienced assistance to private as well as public corporations and partnerships, limited liability companies and other business organizations of every size, at every stage. We are especially adept in assisting entrepreneurs and growth-oriented companies during their transition from small, closely-held enterprises to larger, widely-owned companies. Our clients are involved in a multitude of enterprises - manufacturing, technology, health care, financial services, electric utilities, telecommunications, construction, retail and wholesale businesses, and many more. The Firm provides counsel on a complete range of issues - from complex transactions involving major companies to relatively straight-forward matters that still require the high levels of skill and diligence. For example, we advise our clients on matters involving contracts with respect to technology, goods and services, employment issues, and government regulation. Our attorneys can handle all aspects of agreements relating to partnerships, shareholders, corporate governance, documents, stock options and warrants, purchase and sale, employment, and non-compete issues, among others.
Mergers and Acquisitions Carlton Fields' attorneys who practice in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions provide counsel in the sale and acquisition of: - Manufacturing companies
- Software and other technology companies
- Banks
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Home health agencies
- Temporary and technology staffing businesses
- Seafood processing companies
- Broadcasting stations
- Advertising agencies
- Electric utilities
- Automobile dealerships
- Sports franchises
- Construction companies
- Wholesale businesses in the building trades
Public Sector Transactions We also have substantial experience in public sector transactions. For example, we recently represented a public utility in purchasing a municipal electric distribution system. We also represented a county in the sale of its hospital. Our attorneys assist clients in raising capital, including: - Debt financing
- Equity capital
- Hybrid securities
- Venture capital
- Tax exempt debt financing
General Tax Carlton Fields provides comprehensive international, federal, and state tax services to individuals, businesses, organizations, and entities. The Firm handles virtually all kinds of tax controversies before state and federal administrative agencies and courts. We have represented clients in numerous major Florida tax matters, including documentary stamp taxes on conveyances and financing of real property, sales and use tax, and issues relating to rentals, intangible personal property taxes, and corporate income taxes. We act as tax counsel on Florida tax matters to numerous national investment companies and funds. And we have issued Florida tax opinions for such clients. Property Tax Carlton Fields regularly handles all types of ad valorem real and personal property tax assessment and collection issues. The Firm has represented clients on property tax issues in every major Florida metropolitan area, as well as in many rural Florida counties and the Caribbean. We have advised, analyzed, and challenged all aspects of ad valorem tax assessments, both for valuation and qualified exemptions. That experience includes direct contact with each Property Appraiser's office, filing appeals to - and processing hearings before - Value Adjustment Boards (including hearings before Value Adjustment Board Special Hearing Masters), as well as filing suits in Circuit Court challenging assessments. We have found that the best way to obtain a fair reduction of a client's assessment is often to negotiate with the Property Appraiser's office before it proposes a firm dollar amount. Such early intervention frequently results in fairer assessment levels and reduced legal fees. The Firm's property tax experience also includes filing for ad valorem tax exemptions and special classifications (e.g., agricultural, charitable, governmental, enterprise zones, etc.), as well as appealing denials of exemption requests. Through our Tallahassee office, the Firm monitors and participates in formulating laws, regulations, and procedures applicable to Florida ad valorem tax assessment and collection. This includes lobbying the Florida Legislature on behalf of interested parties.
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