Category: Corporate & Business law

BGS Attorney to Present at Business Succession Seminar

October 8, 2013  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

Northeast Bank is sponsoring a seminar called “Succession Planning Strategies” on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 from 7:30-9:00 am. BGS Corporate and Business law attorney Daniel Ganter has been invited to participate and speak during this event. Dan will be speaking and answering questions about succession planning along with CPA Tim Kenyon of Cummings, Keegan & Co. PLLP. Dan and Tim will cover succession planning time line and process, as well as the role and importance of buy/sell agreements. The talk will help guide listeners in understanding how a business sale progresses and occurs to help secure the future of the business. Ganter has practiced corporate and business law for over 28 years. He has handled many buy-sell agreements over the course of his career. This is the third seminar he has participated in this year. He presented at a National Business Institute Seminar this past spring entitled: “Helping Your Client Buy or Sell a Small-to-Medium Sized Business.” Ganter also participated in a Minnesota Small Business Symposium called “Buy/Sell Techniques for Business” in January. He routinely handles many other business issues as well. “Succession Planning Strategies” will be held at Jax Café, 1928 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN. To register for the seminar, visit

Read More

Beware of the Franchise

July 8, 2010  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

by Kip R. Peterson and Dainel D. Ganter, Jr. Spring 2010  In Brief Newsletter Believe it or not, your business could be a FRANCHISE.  If so, failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could result in serious consequences.  Ignorance of these laws and regulations is no defense. When most people think of a franchise they think of fast-food restaurants, fitness chains and hotels.  However, Minnesota law broadly defines the term “franchise,” potentially expanding the reach of the franchise laws and regulations to include legal arrangements such as license agreements, consulting agreements, and distribution agreements.  It is important to note that it doesn’t matter what the parties call their relationship.  If the elements of a franchise are met, the parties must comply with the franchise laws and regulations. Minnesota law defines a “franchise” as a contract or agreement between two or more persons which satisfies the following elements: (1) a franchisee is granted the right to engage in the business of offering or distributing goods or services using the franchisor’s trade name, trademark, service mark, logo or other commercial symbol or characteristics; (2) the franchisor and franchisee have a “community of interest” in the marketing of goods or services; and (3) the franchisee pays a franchise fee. Two of the three elements of…

Read More