Don knows business law!

Not just another lawyer – There is a stigma that attorneys are a pain, socially awkward/quirky, take too long, etc. (the list goes on), but not with Don. He’s practical! He’s innovative! He’s Don Petersen, your future problem solver!

How it all started – Don studied Economics at the University of Chicago, and continued his business and legal journey at Harvard Law School, which paved his path to success. In his spare time, Don teaches business law at SMU, bestowing years of experience and education on his students, and he’s writing a business-law treatise for Westlaw (Thomson Reuters® Publications).

Practice leads to Permanent – With over 20 years of experience with legal professionals and savvy business leaders, Don’s acquired a knack for providing quick legal and business solutions.  Unless he’s in a dead zone, Don will immediately return your call, (contact info below).

The Meat – Though Don has considerable trial experience, he stresses “dispute avoidance;” i.e., through proper planning, a business can manage its risk and avoid litigation. Don has stated numerous times that “sound advice and well-drafted documents in plain English can keep you out of court.”

Examples of U.S. and International Deals:

Real Estate:

o  buying $20 million apartments and selling a $85 million vacant parcel

o  developing shopping centers, office buildings, manufactured-housing communities, etc.

Buying/Selling Assets

o  Russian clients paid $30 million for an international auction house

o  family-owned truck-stop with environmental contamination and title issues selling its assets for $10M

General Business

o  negotiating and drafting operating agreements, asset-purchase agreements, employment agreements, etc.

o  forming equipment leasing, jewelry repair, bicycle-assembly companies, etc.

o  de facto General Counsel to numerous companies; e.g., finance companies, truck stops, office buildings, multi-unit mobile-home retailers, etc.

Commercial Loans

o  analyzing loan documents, identifying lender defaults, and negotiating a solution that eliminated a $3M loan debt

o  closing a $250M line-of-credit for the city of Moscow in Moscow

Don’s here for your business – email him at: dpetersen@bennettweston.com, call him at (214) 691-1776, or call/txt him at (616) 389-4960.