How to Work Out Your Deals with Your Partners & Investors

Your relationship to your co-founders and investors can make – or break – your business. Trouble is, your relationship is 1 part communication to 5 parts law – and the law parts are a mystery. Join us at 2112 Chicago on Tuesday, April 24th at 6pm for HOW TO…

Bow Truss v. The Profit: Better Than Reality TV

I’ve been following and writing about the Bow Truss v. Marcus Lemonis kerfuffle – now lawsuit – because messy litigation is my reality TV. And, this is messy. As a lawyer, my stock in trade is careful, calibrated elocutions of ambivalence. But, here, I’m not lawyering, I’m writing, so…

How I Know Your Business “Marriage” Ain’t Gonna Make It

In the midst of providing Business “Marriage” Counseling to two or more business partners, there is a moment when I have to predict a course. See, there are only a couple of paths we can take. People who come to me to work on their intra-company relationships have usually…

Business Partnership Lessons from the Bow Trust Deal Death

Last week, Crain’s reported that Brow Truss coffee houses had closed their doors. Left behind are dozens of employees with unpaid wages and one hysterical owner who is blaming the guy who backed away from buying him out. Marcus Lemonis, the star of MSNBC’s The Profit, had agreed to…

7 Traits You Want to Find in a Business Partner

Much like a marriage, a business partnership is nothing to enter into lightly. Many possible perils await co-founders of a business when they haven’t carefully considered the pros and cons of such a relationship. Some of that includes considering the traits your business partner(s) brings to the table. As…