What Does ‘Selling’ A Law Practice Really Mean?

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What Does ‘Selling’ A Law Practice Really Mean?

Different ideas come to the minds of attorneys when they hear ‘selling a law practice’. Some think of just the sale of their fixed assets to an up-and-coming attorney or new firm in town and shutting down their actual law practice. Others think maybe they could sell the phone number and that may have some value.

In today’s marketplace selling a law practice takes many forms which are from the basic and lowest value to the more strategic with a higher value to both seller and buyer. Typical sale transactions take various structures, but are usually one of the following:

  • Outright Sale. An outright sale of assets (including your personal and firm brands) to another attorney or law firm as a buyer to continue your firm under their ownership.
  • Merger/Joinder. A merger or joinder by your firm or you with another firm to continue your firm’s services and provide a financial incentive for allowing them to be your firm’s successor as you slow down.
  • Affiliation With Succession. An Of Counsel or other affiliation with a law firm where you personally join the successor firm to continue your practice with the support of their resources until you decide you want to retire.

Each of these are done with your financial and overall succession goals in mind to allow you to transfer what you have built for value, but allow us to work with a buyer or successor to take different structures depending on your goals, the practice transition needs and the potential buyer or successor who may be interested. 

Selling a law firm or selling a law practice can take on several shapes and forms, but the key to remember is it involves your transition and that takes time. If you are pondering “should I sell my law practice?” then contact us today to discuss your options and which structure may work best for you.