{"id":156,"date":"2026-10-16T17:27:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T17:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-24-254-23.nip.io\/?page_id=156"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:53:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:53:17","slug":"business-acquisition-and-sale-law-firm-fort-lauderdale","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/business-acquisition-and-sale-law-firm-fort-lauderdale\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Acquisition and Sale Attorney for Fort Lauderdale Clients | KEW Legal, Coral Gables"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-dark\" style=\"min-height:460px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-secondary-background-color has-background-dim-60 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-153\" alt=\"Shareholders seated around a boardroom table reviewing sale and succession documents beneath framed company history on the walls.\" src=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shareholders-seated-around-a-boardroom-table-reviewing-sale-photo.jpg\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shareholders-seated-around-a-boardroom-table-reviewing-sale-photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shareholders-seated-around-a-boardroom-table-reviewing-sale-photo-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shareholders-seated-around-a-boardroom-table-reviewing-sale-photo-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shareholders-seated-around-a-boardroom-table-reviewing-sale-photo-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shareholders-seated-around-a-boardroom-table-reviewing-sale-photo.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 825px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Business Acquisition and Sale Attorney for Fort Lauderdale Clients | KEW Legal, Coral Gables<\/h1><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+13059902300\">schedule a consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/contact-us\/\">schedule a consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By Kristina E. Wilson \u00b7 Published October 10, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n<h2>Business Acquisition and Sale Attorney for Fort Lauderdale Clients<\/h2>\n<p>KEW Legal is a business acquisition and sale law firm that handles the legal work of buying or selling an existing company. That work runs from the first letter of intent through closing and the handover that follows. The firm focuses on these matters as part of its outside general counsel practice for business owners and investors. Clients in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County are served from the firm&#8217;s Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach offices. This page explains what that work covers, how it runs, and what to ask before you sign anything.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a-lawyer-in-a-modern-office-meets-with-clients-in-a-serious-photo.jpg\" alt=\"A lawyer in a modern office meets with clients in a serious discussion about a business deal.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-contrast-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--surface,#f2f3f5);color:var(--wp--preset--color--contrast,#22252b);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-contrast-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+13059902300\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What Business Acquisition and Sale Counsel Covers<\/h2>\n<p>Business acquisition and sale counsel covers the legal work of buying or selling an operating business. It starts with the first deal terms and ends after closing, when the business changes hands.<\/p>\n<p>Deal stage matters. An offer, a letter of intent, and a signed purchase agreement each carry different legal weight, so each one needs a close read.<\/p>\n<p>This work fits four kinds of readers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Founders selling a company they built.<\/li>\n<li>Owners planning an exit from a business they run.<\/li>\n<li>Buyers acquiring an operating business, such as a competitor or a key supplier&#8217;s company.<\/li>\n<li>Investors buying a business that comes with real estate or a commercial lease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>KEW Legal focuses on these matters within its outside general counsel practice. The service can address how a deal affects contracts, leases, and staff. Broward County clients are served from our Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach offices.<\/p>\n<p>Many deals also raise state tax questions. A seller who owes unpaid Florida tax can leave a buyer exposed, so tax risk belongs in the deal review from the start.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Included in a Business Sale or Purchase<\/h2>\n<p>A business sale or purchase includes the deal terms, the transfer structure, the purchase agreement, due diligence, and the closing papers.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Letter of intent and term sheet review.<\/strong> We check price, exclusivity, confidentiality, and deposit terms. We also flag which clauses bind the parties.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Asset or ownership-interest structure.<\/strong> An asset deal moves chosen assets and debts. A stock or membership-interest deal moves ownership instead. When a purchasing corporation makes an election under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/26\/338\">Section 338 of the Internal Revenue Code<\/a> for a qualified stock purchase, the target corporation is treated as having sold all of its assets at fair market value at the close of the acquisition date in a single transaction. A tax advisor should review the structure against the facts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Purchase agreement.<\/strong> We draft and negotiate representations and warranties, indemnification, escrow or holdback terms, and closing conditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Due diligence.<\/strong> We review corporate records, contracts, employment matters, leases, litigation history, licenses, and intellectual property. You can check a company&#8217;s entity status through the <a href=\"https:\/\/search.sunbiz.org\/Inquiry\/CorporationSearch\/ByName\">Florida Division of Corporations entity search<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Non-compete terms.<\/strong> Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0500-0599\/0542\/Sections\/0542.335.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335<\/a>, a restrictive covenant must be set out in a writing signed by the person against whom enforcement is sought. The party seeking enforcement must also plead and prove one or more legitimate business interests, and plead and prove that the restraint is reasonably necessary to protect those interests.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Assigning trademarks and leases.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/15\/1060\">The federal trademark assignment statute<\/a> provides that assignments shall be made by instruments in writing that are duly executed. It is void against a later purchaser for valuable consideration without notice unless it is recorded within 3 months after the assignment or before that later purchase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-contrast-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--surface,#f2f3f5);color:var(--wp--preset--color--contrast,#22252b);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-contrast-color has-text-color\">Have questions about what happened?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask our team directly. The first conversation is free, confidential, and there is no obligation to continue.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+13059902300\">Talk to our team<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/contact-us\/\">Talk to our team<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How the Acquisition or Sale Process Works<\/h2>\n<p>A typical deal moves through six stages, from the first consultation through closing and the handover afterward.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Consultation.<\/strong> We identify the deal type, the parties, your goals, and any known problems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Letter of intent.<\/strong> We review which terms are binding before detailed diligence starts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diligence.<\/strong> We send a request list, review the documents, and give you a written issue memo.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Purchase agreement.<\/strong> We draft and negotiate the agreement and related documents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Closing preparation.<\/strong> We track closing conditions, third-party consents, lease assignments, and the funds flow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Closing and after.<\/strong> We confirm signed documents, file required transfers, and handle items such as assignment of contracts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Timelines depend on deal size, diligence scope, and third-party consents, such as a landlord&#8217;s approval. Missing records and slow consents often hold up a closing, so start those requests early. KEW Legal does not promise a closing date or a deal outcome.<\/p>\n<p>Keep your own list of open items, and bring it to the first meeting. Ask early for the seller&#8217;s state tax status, because it can change how the price is paid.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Work With KEW Legal on a Deal<\/h2>\n<p>KEW Legal handles business acquisition and sale matters as one part of its outside general counsel practice. A single deal can involve several of these matters at once.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>One review of the whole business.<\/strong> A sale can touch contracts, leases, employees, and succession plans. Outside general counsel work can address each of those matters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reviewing the deal documents.<\/strong> The contracts involved in a purchase or sale can be reviewed to see how Florida law may affect their terms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stated office locations.<\/strong> Our offices are in Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach. Broward County clients are served from those offices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Written scope.<\/strong> Before work begins, the engagement letter describes what the firm covers and what it does not.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stated fees.<\/strong> Any fee or cost we quote lists everything you may owe. Quoted fees stay in effect for at least 90 days unless we state a shorter period.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Referral disclosure.<\/strong> If your matter needs a lawyer outside our practice areas, we will say so. It may be referred to another lawyer or firm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-contrast-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--surface,#f2f3f5);color:var(--wp--preset--color--contrast,#22252b);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-contrast-color has-text-color\">Want to know where you stand?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell us what happened and our team will walk you through the options available to you, at no cost.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+13059902300\">Get a free review<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/contact-us\/\">Get a free review<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Common Questions About Buying or Selling a Business in Florida<\/h2>\n<p>Short answers can help you decide when to bring in counsel.<\/p><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Is a letter of intent binding?<\/summary><p>Some parts, such as confidentiality and exclusivity, are often binding. Price terms are often not binding until a purchase agreement is signed. The exact wording controls.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Can a buyer hold back money to cover the seller&#8217;s taxes?<\/summary><p>Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0200-0299\/0213\/Sections\/0213.758.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758<\/a>, a buyer may withhold a portion of the consideration equal to the tax the seller owes. The buyer must pay that amount to the state within 30 days after the transfer. In certain business transfers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0200-0299\/0213\/Sections\/0213.758.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758<\/a> makes the transferee jointly and severally liable with the transferor for tax owed to the state from the transferor&#8217;s operation of the business, up to the transferee&#8217;s maximum liability for that tax.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Are non-compete agreements enforceable after a sale?<\/summary><p>Whether a Florida court will enforce one depends on its specific terms and the facts, so the wording deserves careful review before anyone signs. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0500-0599\/0542\/Sections\/0542.335.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335<\/a>, courts must construe a restrictive covenant in favor of providing reasonable protection to all legitimate business interests established by the person seeking enforcement.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What happens to the lease?<\/summary><p>Putting a commercial lease in a signed writing helps prevent later disputes over what the landlord and tenant agreed to. Many leases also require landlord consent to an assignment, so read yours first.<\/p><\/details>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a-lawyer-and-clients-meet-at-a-table-in-a-modern-office-duri-photo.jpg\" alt=\"A lawyer and clients meet at a table in a modern office during a business consultation.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>Talk With KEW Legal About Your Sale or Purchase<\/h2>\n<p>If you hold a letter of intent, a buyer&#8217;s offer, or a closing date, the next step is a conversation about those exact terms. A seller weighing an offer, or a buyer with a signed letter of intent, can have binding clauses, tax exposure, and lease consent reviewed early.<\/p>\n<p>Bring the drafts you have, even if they are unsigned. Then <a href=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/contact-us\/\">send us a message<\/a> or call 305-990-2300, and we will tell you what we would review first.<\/p>\n<p>No outcome is promised, and fees and costs are stated in writing before work begins. This page is published by KEW Legal. The firm is based in Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, and serves Broward County clients from those offices.<\/p>\n\n<\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>The engagement of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. The information on this website is general information about KEW Legal and the services we offer; it does not constitute legal advice and is intended for informational purposes only. Accessing this website or contacting our firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--primary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Ready to take the next step?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-0aa01211 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+13059902300\">schedule a consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/contact-us\/\">schedule a consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>KEW Legal focuses on business acquisition and sale matters for Broward County clients, served from its Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach offices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_review":"{\"v\": 1, \"checked_at\": \"2026-10-10T17:27:49+00:00\", \"checked\": true, \"jurisdiction\": \"Florida\", \"claims\": [{\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599\/0542\/Sections\/0542.335.html\", \"cite\": \"Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335\", \"heading\": \"Valid restraints of trade or commerce.\", \"support\": \"A court shall not enforce a restrictive covenant unless it is set forth in a writing signed by the person against whom enforcement is sought.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 542.18 and subsection (2), enforcement of contracts that restrict or prohibit competition during or after the term of restrictive covenants, so long as such contracts are reasonable in time, area, and line of business, is not prohibited. In any action concerning enforcement of a restrictive covenant: (a) A court shall not enforce a restrictive covenant unless it is set forth in a writing signed by the person against whom enforcement is sought. (b) The person seeking enforcement of a restrictive covenant shall plead and prove the existence of one or more legitimate business interests justifying the restrictive covenant. The term \u201clegitimate business interest\u201d includes, but is not limited to: 1. Trade secrets, as defined in s. 688.002(4). 2. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"**Non-compete terms.** Under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335, a restrictive covenant must be in a signed writing.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599\/0542\/Sections\/0542.335.html\", \"cite\": \"Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335\", \"heading\": \"Valid restraints of trade or commerce.\", \"support\": \"The person seeking enforcement of a restrictive covenant shall plead and prove the existence of one or more legitimate business interests justifying the restrictive covenant.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 In any action concerning enforcement of a restrictive covenant: (a) A court shall not enforce a restrictive covenant unless it is set forth in a writing signed by the person against whom enforcement is sought. (b) The person seeking enforcement of a restrictive covenant shall plead and prove the existence of one or more legitimate business interests justifying the restrictive covenant. The term \u201clegitimate business interest\u201d includes, but is not limited to: 1. Trade secrets, as defined in s. 688.002(4). 2. Valuable confidential business or professional information that otherwise does not qualify as trade secrets. 3. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"The party enforcing it must also show a legitimate business interest.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/15\/1060\", \"cite\": \"15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1060\", \"heading\": \"Assignment\", \"support\": \"An assignment shall be void against any subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration without notice, unless the prescribed information reporting the assignment is recorded in the United States Patent and Trademark Office within 3 months after the date of the assignment or prior to the subsequent purchase.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 (4) An assignment shall be void against any subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration without notice, unless the prescribed information reporting the assignment is recorded in the United States Patent and Trademark Office within 3 months after the date of the assignment or prior to the subsequent purchase. (5) The United States Patent and Trademark Office shall maintain a record of information on assignments, in such form as may be prescribed by the Director. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"It is void against a later buyer without notice unless it is recorded within 3 months.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299\/0213\/Sections\/0213.758.html\", \"cite\": \"Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758\", \"heading\": \"Transfer of tax liabilities.\", \"support\": \"A transferee may withhold a portion of the consideration for a business, assets of the business, or stock of goods of the business to pay the tax owed to the state by the transferor taxpayer arising from the operation of the business.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 213.285, must be completed by the department within 90 days after the records are made available to the department. The department may charge a fee for the cost of the audit if it has not issued a notice of intent to audit by the time the request for the audit is received. (b) A transferee may withhold a portion of the consideration for a business, assets of the business, or stock of goods of the business to pay the tax owed to the state by the transferor taxpayer arising from the operation of the business. The transferee shall pay the withheld consideration to the state within 30 days after the date of the transfer. If the consideration withheld is less than the transferor\u2019s liability, the transferor remains liable for the deficiency. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"Under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758, a buyer may withhold part of the price.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299\/0213\/Sections\/0213.758.html\", \"cite\": \"Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758\", \"heading\": \"Transfer of tax liabilities.\", \"support\": \"The transferee shall pay the withheld consideration to the state within 30 days after the date of the transfer.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 (b) A transferee may withhold a portion of the consideration for a business, assets of the business, or stock of goods of the business to pay the tax owed to the state by the transferor taxpayer arising from the operation of the business. The transferee shall pay the withheld consideration to the state within 30 days after the date of the transfer. If the consideration withheld is less than the transferor\u2019s liability, the transferor remains liable for the deficiency. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"The buyer must pay that amount to the state within 30 days after the transfer.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599\/0542\/Sections\/0542.335.html\", \"cite\": \"Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335\", \"heading\": \"Valid restraints of trade or commerce.\", \"support\": \"A court shall construe a restrictive covenant in favor of providing reasonable protection to all legitimate business interests established by the person seeking enforcement.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 3. Shall consider all other pertinent legal and equitable defenses. 4. Shall consider the effect of enforcement upon the public health, safety, and welfare. (h) A court shall construe a restrictive covenant in favor of providing reasonable protection to all legitimate business interests established by the person seeking enforcement. A court shall not employ any rule of contract construction that requires the court to construe a restrictive covenant narrowly, against the restraint, or against the drafter of the contract. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"Courts read these covenants to give reasonable protection to those interests.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/26\/338\", \"cite\": \"IRC \u00a7 338\", \"heading\": \"Certain stock purchases treated as asset acquisitions\", \"support\": \"shall be treated as having sold all of its assets at the close of the acquisition date at fair market value in a single transaction\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 (1) shall be treated as having sold all of its assets at the close of the acquisition date at fair market value in a single transaction, and (2) shall be treated as a new corporation which purchased all of the assets referred to in paragraph (1) as of the beginning of the day after the acquisition date. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"When a purchasing corporation makes an election under Section 338 of the Internal Revenue Code for a qualified stock purchase, the target corporation is treated as having sold all of its assets at fair market value at the close of the acquisition date in a single transaction.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/15\/1060\", \"cite\": \"15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1060\", \"heading\": \"Assignment\", \"support\": \"Assignments shall be by instruments in writing duly executed.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"\u2026 (2) In any assignment authorized by this section, it shall not be necessary to include the good will of the business connected with the use of and symbolized by any other mark used in the business or by the name or style under which the business is conducted. (3) Assignments shall be by instruments in writing duly executed. Acknowledgment shall be prima facie evidence of the execution of an assignment, and when the prescribed information reporting the assignment is recorded in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the record shall be prima facie evidence of execution. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"**Assigning trademarks and leases.** The federal trademark assignment statute provides that assignments shall be made by instruments in writing that are duly executed.\"}, {\"url\": \"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299\/0213\/Sections\/0213.758.html\", \"cite\": \"Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758\", \"heading\": \"Transfer of tax liabilities.\", \"support\": \"shall be jointly and severally liable with the transferor for the payment of the tax owed to the state from the operation of the business by the transferor up to the transferee's or transferees' maximum liability for such tax due.\", \"verdict\": \"supported\", \"law_text\": \"(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) \u201cBusiness\u201d means any activity regularly engaged in by any person, or caused to be engaged in by any person, for the purpose of private or public gain, benefit, or advantage. The term does not include occasional or isolated sales or transactions involving property or services by a person who does not hold himself or herself out as engaged in business. A discrete division or portion of a business is not a separate business and must be aggregated with all other divisions or portions that constitute a business if the division or portion is not a separate legal entity. (b) \u201cFinancial institution\u201d means a financial institution as defined in s. \u2026\", \"sentence\": \"In certain business transfers, Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758 makes the transferee jointly and severally liable with the transferor for tax owed to the state from the transferor's operation of the business, up to the transferee's maximum liability for that tax.\"}], \"languages\": [{\"code\": \"en\", \"post_id\": 156}]}","chg_sendback":"","chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"name\": \"Business Acquisition and Sale Counsel\", \"@type\": [\"Service\", \"FAQPage\"], \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"audience\": {\"@type\": \"BusinessAudience\", \"audienceType\": \"Business owners preparing to sell, business buyers, and investors acquiring operating businesses\"}, \"provider\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"KEW Legal\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/\"}, \"speakable\": {\"@type\": \"SpeakableSpecification\", \"cssSelector\": [\"article > p:first-of-type\", \".wp-block-details p\", \"article > h1\"]}, \"areaServed\": [{\"name\": \"Broward County, Florida\", \"@type\": \"AdministrativeArea\"}, {\"name\": \"Fort Lauderdale, Florida\", \"@type\": \"City\"}], \"description\": \"Legal services for buyers and sellers of existing businesses, covering letters of intent, asset and stock or membership interest structures, due diligence coordination, purchase agreement drafting and negotiation, and closing and post-closing steps. Page answers common questions about deal structure, process stages, and the role of counsel.\", \"serviceType\": \"Business acquisition and sale legal services\", \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Kristina E. Wilson\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/our-team\/kristina-e-wilson\/\", \"jobTitle\": \"Founder\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.floridabar.org\/directories\/find-mbr\/profile\/?num=71205\", \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kristina-wilson-702b5410\/\", \"https:\/\/www.avvo.com\/attorneys\/33160-fl-kristina-wilson-3417246.html\"]}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"KEW Legal\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/\"}, \"reviewedBy\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Natalie Martinez\", \"jobTitle\": \"Associate Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.floridabar.org\/directories\/find-mbr\/profile\/?num=1003311\"]}, \"inLanguage\": \"en\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is a letter of intent binding?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Some parts, such as confidentiality and exclusivity, are often binding. Price terms are often not binding until a purchase agreement is signed. The exact wording controls.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can a buyer hold back money to cover the seller's taxes?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758, a buyer may withhold a portion of the consideration equal to the tax the seller owes. The buyer must pay that amount to the state within 30 days after the transfer. In certain business transfers, Fla. Stat. \u00a7 213.758 makes the transferee jointly and severally liable with the transferor for tax owed to the state from the transferor's operation of the business, up to the transferee's maximum liability for that tax.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Are non-compete agreements enforceable after a sale?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Whether a Florida court will enforce one depends on its specific terms and the facts, so the wording deserves careful review before anyone signs. Under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 542.335, courts must construe a restrictive covenant in favor of providing reasonable protection to all legitimate business interests established by the person seeking enforcement.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What happens to the lease?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Putting a commercial lease in a signed writing helps prevent later disputes over what the landlord and tenant agreed to. Many leases also require landlord consent to an assignment, so read yours first.\"}}]}, {\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Business Acquisition and Sale Attorney for Fort Lauderdale Clients | KEW Legal, Coral Gables\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/business-acquisition-and-sale-law-firm-fort-lauderdale\/\"}]}]","chg_meta_description":"KEW Legal focuses on business acquisition and sale matters for Broward County clients, served from its Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach offices.","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-156","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5477,"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156\/revisions\/5477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kewlegal.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}