By Founder of GK Law Co. and Managing Attorney, Gaea Kassatly. When founders come to me to form a new company, one of the very first questions is: “How should we split the equity?” Most default to something like 50/50, 60/40, or “a third each.” It feels simple, fast, and “fair enough” in the moment. The problem?Your startup is about to go on a long, unpredictable journey, and that fixed split is based entirely on guesses about the future. If the equity split is wrong, it beco

A. Seller Checklist – “Exit Readiness” & Deal Execution 1. Strategy & Valuation Clarified your goals (full exit vs partial sale vs partner buy-in). Obtained a valuation (formal appraisal or broker’s opinion of value). Reviewed with tax advisor for likely tax consequences (capital gains, ordinary income, etc.). 2. Financial Clean-Up Identified personal/non-business expenses run through the company. Prepared clean, recent financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow). Ga

Selling or buying a business is never just about a purchase price. It’s about structure, risk, people, licenses, timing, and emotions—especially in highly regulated industries like pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturing. This blog post, by Gaea Kassatly Managing Attorney at GK Law Co., walks through the full life cycle of a deal: from “I might sell one day” to the wiring of funds and the chaos of closing week. Below is a practical breakdown with specific examples for pha