Our Industries

The agriculture industry is one that requires a very specialized knowledge in a number of different areas. Blalock Walters offers sophisticated legal services that address the unique needs of the industry, providing services related to Corporate Law, Taxation, Labor and Employment, Environmental Law, Construction Litigation, Land Use, Real Estate, Family Succession Planning and Estate Planning. Our attorneys recognize the importance of these services for agribusiness, farm producers, and packers and growers, and continue to foster relationships with key industry groups, such as the American Farm Bureau, Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida Farm Bureau, Manatee County Farm Bureau, and Gulf Citrus Growers Association. Our decades of experience in agriculture and farming involves projects related to USDA and SBA financing, agritourism, private property rights, Bert Harris Act claims, and the Right to Farm Act.

Our integrated, business-focused law firm offers a complete range of legal services for representatives from the automobile industry. We specialize in assisting clients who are buying and selling automobile dealerships, purchasing real estate or negotiating commercial leases, or entering into floor plan financing arrangements. Our estate planning attorneys provide long-term estate and succession planning for family-owned dealerships. Our litigators are experienced in the effective defense of lemon-law cases, contract and employment lawsuits. We are also able to provide corporate formation and business strategies for dealing with changes in the automobile industry and maximizing your company’s tax and financial advantages.

We help business owners plan for the single most critically important event of their lives – the inevitable transition out of their businesses. Our 7-Step Exit Planning Process will help you identify your goals and create a strategic plan.

• Minimize taxes
• Reduce transaction risk
• Increase after-tax proceeds
• Ensure that you maintain control of your company during the transition
• Protect your loved ones

Don’t make the mistake of most business owners who have not done a great deal of succession planning. Leave your business in style, after you have attained all of your specific goals and objectives.

The complexities surrounding the residential and commercial construction industry require knowledge of construction contracts, construction liens, surety bonds, building codes, financing, insurance, construction defects, delays and disruptions, regulations such as OSHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), wage and hours laws, permitting and land use. We provide legal services in resolving disputes concerning construction law including mediation, arbitration, and trial.

• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
• Florida Home Builders Association
• Florida Realtors®
• Homebuilders Association Manatee-Sarasota
• Manatee Association of Realtors
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• Sarasota Association of Realtors

Blalock Walters is uniquely qualified to serve both the public and private sectors of the education industry. Our attorneys have extensive experience in representing governmental entities, including school boards, colleges and universities, and have also worked with private schools, charter schools and public-private partnerships (P3). Our firm has attorneys with experience in areas of law that would be regularly utilized by educational institutions including local government, land use and zoning, real estate, labor and employment, all phases of litigation, student discipline, civil rights, Sunshine law, ethics laws, and public records.

Blalock Walters understands the technical, corporate, and legal concerns related to technology industry related companies including licensing agreements, equipment leasing and purchase agreements, and hosting and internet service provider, as well as non-compete and other employment agreements. Our litigation group handles breach of contract, collections, and contract dispute issues relating to technology-related businesses. Our labor and employment group counsels with information technology companies as to day-to-day personnel practices and employee relations matters, employment agreements and labor relations.

We make a difference by understanding our clients’ business goals and technologies. From a quick contract review to complex contract drafting and negotiation, we strive to ensure that contracts and agreements are structured with a good foundation avoiding future surprises or issues.

Today’s manufacturers are faced with increased global competition and rising labor and litigation costs. The industry is focused on process improvement, best practices, and evolving efficient and streamlined internal operations. Blalock Walters represents all types of manufacturing, from small machine shops to top selling consumer goods to sophisticated medical products. Our team of attorneys can assist you in developing strategies for dealing with legal issues in the industry and make a difference in your company’s competitive advantage. Blalock Walters’ attorneys handle issues involving corporate structure, patents, business litigation, contract disputes, collections, labor and employment, immigration, as well and real estate law and litigation, environmental issues, permitting, land use and banking and finance. Our goal is to assist in the successful operations and best practices of your business.

• Bay Area Manufacturers Association
• Manufacturers Association of Central Florida
• First Coast Manufacturers Association
• Manufacturing Association of Florida

Assisting private foundations and nonprofit organizations in our communities has been a focus of Blalock Walters from the beginning. As nonprofits have become more sophisticated and complex through the years, and subject to increasing regulation, our estate planning, corporate, tax law, real estate law and employment law groups have effectively provided guidance and counsel to help the nonprofit environment thrive.

We provide specialized legal services in the charitable foundation and non-profit area, including:

• Formation of non-profit organizations and foundations;
• Tax exemption applications;
• Prohibited transaction analysis;
• Reasonable compensation analysis;
• Analysis and planning of corporate transactions involving tax-exempt organizations;
• Operational governance matters;
• Real estate purchases, leasing and construction;
• Employment matters; and
• Dissolution and liquidation of nonprofits.

Blalock Walters’ Private Equity attorneys have a comprehensive understanding of the market and trends, which positions us to have a client-oriented focus approach when working collaboratively to achieve your objectives. With the increasing sophistication and complexity of private equity transactions, this service has become increasingly important to the experienced attorneys at Blalock Walters.

How We Make a Difference

We offer an ideal blend of experience for companies and investors in every discipline and skill set you need to grow from the early stages of fund formation through financing, acquisitions, portfolio company management and exit strategies.

Blalock Walters’ private equity practice involves representing clients in many different industries, including buyers and sellers of both private and public companies. We also represent multiple private equity investors in “club” transactions. We have worked with numerous private equity and venture capital funds on every aspect of the fund life cycle, providing the full range of legal services including:

• Intellectual Property
• Employee benefits
• Tax structuring
• Finance
• Real Estate
• Corporate Transactions

Along with being qualified attorneys, we also are experienced entrepreneurs who will work with you as true partners as you create your fund, raise capital, form strategic alliances, analyze opportunities, execute deals, and carry out your exit strategy.

With many years involved in the sports industry in our communities, we offer a wide range of legal services to professional athletes and sports-related organizations.  Blalock Walters works with Major League Baseball players and organizations, as well as other professional sports industries, in the areas of real estate law, land use, litigation, construction law, estate planning, tax, immigration, labor and employment, contracts, and business operations. Additionally, we assist retired baseball players with their businesses, foundations, and tax and estate planning needs that are unique to the profession. Our knowledge of the industry allows us to keep our clients informed of the significant tax and legal issues that often arise for professional athletes and ensure that we provide the highest quality of service.