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Business Law · Dallas, TX For businesses For homes
Business formation, governance and disputes, in plain terms
Steven Besly is a Dallas business attorney, licensed in Texas since 1998, who forms and advises companies, nonprofits and associations and litigates business, construction and ownership disputes. His firm, Steven Besly, PC, works from One Campbell Centre on North Central Expressway, and his approach is Straight Talk Counsel: clients understand their own documents well enough to govern their entity without creating personal liability.
- Licensed in Texas since 1998
- Admitted, Northern and Western Districts of Texas
- Dallas business practice since 2003
- Five State Bar of Texas sections
Problems Steven solves
Sound familiar?
Starting a company with partners before anything is in writing
Bylaws, company agreements, shareholder agreements and buy-sell agreements decide what happens when a partner leaves, dies or stops pulling weight. Steven drafts them to the owners' circumstances, because, as his site puts it, litigation years later can turn on what was or was not done at formation.
Not sure which entity to form
Steven works with the owner and their CPA to weigh tax treatment and liability protection across sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations with or without an S election, LLCs, series LLCs, limited partnerships and professional entities such as a PC, PLLC or PA.
A dispute with a partner or minority shareholder
Member buyouts, claims of minority shareholder oppression, enforcement of shareholder agreements and rights of first refusal, and business and commercial litigation are part of his practice, with the stated aim of client-controlled, cost-effective representation.
A nonprofit or association board unsure of its compliance obligations
Steven helps boards choose between incorporated and unincorporated structures, pick the right 501(c) exemption, and keep up the filings that protect the exemption. For associations, he advises on antitrust questions such as membership criteria, expulsion, standard setting and competitor collaboration.
A construction dispute or a lien
He handles construction disputes under the Residential Construction Liability Act, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, trust fund and mechanic's lien litigation, and served as Secretary of the Texas Residential Construction Commission's Arbitration Taskforce.
A subpoena or notice from a state or federal agency
Administrative hearing defense covers matters before the Texas Workforce Commission, Railroad Commission, SEC, FINRA, Comptroller, IRS and Secretary of State. Steven's view is that money spent on compliance saves far more when a dispute arrives.
Services
What Steven does
Business entity formationChoosing and forming the right entity for tax and liability protection, with the owner's CPA.
Company, shareholder and buy-sell agreementsGoverning documents drafted to the specific owners and their plans.
Governance counselAdvice on financing, cash calls and dilution, distributions, minority rights, stock buybacks and officer and director changes.
Nonprofit formation and exemptionStructuring a nonprofit and applying for the right 501(c) exemption, then keeping it.
Association counselFormation, governance, regulatory compliance and antitrust guidance for professional, homeowner and condo, alumni and business associations.
Business and commercial litigationTrials, arbitrations and appeals in business, contract, lease and business tort matters.
Owner and shareholder disputesMember buyouts, minority shareholder oppression claims and enforcement of covenants.
Non-compete and trade secret litigationEnforceability of covenants not to compete and confidentiality and nondisclosure disputes.
Construction disputesRCLA, DTPA, trust fund and mechanic's lien litigation.
Probate, trust and administrative hearing defenseProbate, guardianship and trust litigation, plus defense before state and federal agencies.
Service area: Dallas, Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas state courts, U.S. District Courts, Northern and Western Districts of Texas
Credentials and guarantees
✓Licensed to practice in the State of Texas since 1998
✓Admitted to practice in the Northern and Western Districts of Texas since 1998
✓Principal Shareholder, Steven Besly, PC; associated with Collins Law Group and Collins & Bassinger, PC in Dallas since 2003
✓Member, Business, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust, and Construction Sections of the State Bar of Texas
✓Secretary, Texas Residential Construction Commission Arbitration Taskforce, which reported to the 79th and 80th Texas Legislature
✓2013 Chair, Dallas Bar Association Speakers Committee
✓J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law (per Justia listing)
In businesslicensed since 1998
TeamSteven Besly, PC, Principal Shareholder Steven Besly
About
Steven Besly
Steven Besly has been licensed to practice in Texas and in the Northern and Western Districts of Texas since 1998. His firm, Steven Besly, PC, works from One Campbell Centre at 8350 N Central Expressway in Dallas, and he practiced with Collins Law Group and Collins & Bassinger in Dallas from 2003. He describes his approach as Straight Talk Counsel: clients should understand their own documents well enough to govern their entity without creating personal liability.
On the formation side, Steven helps owners and their CPAs choose and set up the right entity, from LLCs and corporations to professional entities, and he forms nonprofits and associations, including homeowner and condo associations, professional associations and charitable foundations. The work continues after formation with bylaws, company agreements, shareholder and buy-sell agreements, and governance advice on financing, distributions, minority rights and buyouts.
When disputes arise he handles business and commercial litigation, member and shareholder buyouts, non-compete and confidentiality cases, construction disputes, HOA and COA matters, probate and trust litigation, and administrative hearing defense before state and federal agencies. He is a member of the Business, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust, and Construction Sections of the State Bar of Texas.
Why clients choose Steven
- Licensed in Texas and the Northern and Western Districts since 1998, practicing business law in Dallas since 2003
- Works alongside the owner's CPA so the entity fits both tax and liability goals, then drafts the governing documents to the actual owners
- Handles formation, governance and litigation, so the attorney who drafted the agreement can also enforce it
Who should call
A business owner forming a company with partners who wants the ownership, buyout and governance terms settled before there is money to fight over, or who already runs a company and needs its agreements to match reality. Also an owner in a dispute with a partner, a board of a nonprofit or association unsure of its obligations, or a business facing a construction, contract or agency matter.
Works alongside: Works alongside the owner's CPA on entity structure and with boards of nonprofits and associations on governance.
Guide by Steven
You started a company with a partner and never wrote down what happens if one leaves
9 min read. What is happening, what you can check yourself, and when to call.
Read the guideQuestions people ask Steven
Which business entity should I choose?
Steven works with owners and their CPAs to weigh tax treatment and liability protection across sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations with or without an S election, LLCs, series LLCs, limited partnerships and professional entities such as a PC, PLLC or PA. The answer depends on the owners, the profession and the plan for the business.
We already formed the company. Do we still need an attorney?
Steven treats a certificate of formation as the beginning of the paperwork, not the end. Bylaws, company agreements, minutes, shareholder agreements and buy-sell agreements need to fit the specific owners.
Does he handle lawsuits as well as paperwork?
Yes. He handles trials, arbitrations and appeals in business and commercial disputes, owner buyouts and minority shareholder claims, non-compete and nondisclosure cases, construction disputes, HOA and condo matters, and probate and trust litigation.
Can he help a nonprofit or an association?
Yes. He helps boards choose between incorporated and unincorporated structures, select the right 501(c) exemption and stay compliant, and advises associations on governance and antitrust questions.
Where is the office?
One Campbell Centre, 8350 N Central Expressway, Suite 1900, Dallas, Texas 75206. Phone 214-273-6446.
Contact
CompanyStraight Talk Counsel
Phone214-273-6446
Website214legal.com
Office8350 N Central Expwy, Ste 1900, Dallas, TX 75206
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