Practice Groups

Our attorneys bring deep industry insight, practical business acumen, and skilled legal counsel to every engagement, serving as trusted advisors to owners, executives, and independent stakeholders alike. We provide comprehensive support across every stage of corporate growth, from formation and capital raising, to corporate governance and complex transactions and regulatory compliance.

• Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, & Business Planning
• Employment Law
• Technology Transaction Law
• Trademark & Copyright Law

Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, & Business Planning

Our corporate attorneys represent clients ranging from public companies to closely held and emerging businesses. We advise on entity formation and structuring, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities law compliance, director duties, minority shareholder disputes, charter and bylaws best practices, and general business.

We guide clients through choice-of-entity decisions, navigating corporate, LLC, partnership, joint venture, and professional association forms of entities. We structure and prepare Articles of Incorporations, Bylaws, buy-sell agreements and other shareholder agreements, and other documents for corporations, Articles of Organization and Operating Agreements for limited liability companies, partnership agreements, joint venture agreements, and other organizational documents. We craft stock option plans, phantom equity plans, and other equity incentive arrangements. In addition, we advise clients in business succession planning.

Shapiro Sher guides its clients through public and private securities transactions and we regularly serve as counsel in Reg D and other private limited offerings. Whether structuring a start-up, negotiating financing, or navigating disclosure obligations, our attorneys bring decades of experience in both complex corporate law and the practical realities of business.

Our attorneys have served as independent counsel to Special Committees, Boards of Directors, and individual directors of publicly held real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other public corporations, advising on corporate governance, conflicts of interest, business combinations, and other matters. We have served as expert witnesses in matters of corporate law and director’s duties under Maryland law.

Our corporate lawyers are leaders in the Maryland corporate bar, participating in annual legislative initiatives in Annapolis to maintain the Maryland General Corporation Law as an attractive choice for corporate and “Article 8” REITs, registered closed-end funds, business development companies (BDCs), and several operating companies.

Employment Law

Every employer, no matter its size, must contend with state and federal workplace laws and regulations. Our employment law team works to help companies meet their many obligations while maintaining productive, harmonious work environments. Whether your business has hundreds of employees or only a few, Shapiro Sher’s knowledgeable and experienced employment lawyers are prepared to assist. Our relationship with clients is proactive: we believe that most employment law problems can be avoided with proper policies in place. For that reason, we often meet with clients and their management teams early on to discuss everything from background checks of potential candidates to the handling of complaints brought by employees. We then help put into place the preventative measures and protocols that are conducive to a smoothly operating workplace.

We serve as outside counsel to clients who turn to us not only during times of crisis, but also for day-to-day counsel regarding new developments in state and federal law and general human resources policies. Our employment practice group shares each client’s interest in establishing a workplace that advances the client’s overall business goals. We help companies apply the protocols and procedures that mitigate the risk of troublesome inquiries, allegations, and litigation.

Our employment law group advises companies on a range of subjects, including:

• Recruiting and hiring practices
• Employee Handbooks
• Employment discrimination
• Employment, separation, and severance agreements
• Wage-and-hour disputes
• Sexual harassment
• Retaliation
• Terminations, including wrongful termination claims
• Non-disclosure and non-compete agreements
• Independent contractors
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
• The Family and Medical Leave Act
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• Other federal and state laws and regulations affecting employers

We also defend companies before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. When investigations do occur, we strategize with clients to ensure that these matters are addressed swiftly and efficiently.

Though our emphasis is on avoiding litigation, we know that sometimes litigation is inevitable. In these instances, Shapiro Sher’s team of experienced employment litigators is prepared to defend clients facing lawsuits brought by individuals as well as by the EEOC and other regulatory agencies. We handle all forms of employment litigation, including actions to enforce non-competition or non-solicitation agreements, claims alleging breach of employment agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, or violations of federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

Technology Transaction Law

Our attorneys help clients protect, manage, and maximize the value of their intellectual property across every state of innovation and commercialization. Shapiro Sher’s Technology Transactions group counsels businesses on all forms of IP trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights, as well as matters involving the Internet, e-commerce, technology transactions, licensing, and technology transfer.

What sets our approach apart is our business mindset. We view intellectual property not just as a legal asset, but as a strategic driver of growth and competitive advantage. Whether prosecuting a patent, structuring a licensing deal, or developing internal policies that strengthen IP portfolios, we partner with clients to turn innovation into opportunity, and ideas into value.

Trademark & Copyright Law

Our intellectual property attorneys help businesses protect, manage, and maximize the value of their creative and technological assets. We counsel clients on trademarks, copyrights, and technology transfer issues, ensuring IP strategies align with broader business objectives.

We assist with registration, enforcement, licensing, and transactional matters, and work closely with patent counsel on due diligence and portfolio management. Our team also supports universities, inventors, and research institutions navigating complex ownership and commercialization challenges.

At Shapiro Sher, we combine deep legal insight with business practicality, helping clients safeguard what they create and strengthen their competitive advantage in the marketplace.

To learn more about the Firm’s Corporate & Securities practice, please contact William E. Carlson at wec@shapirosher.com or Jason A. Wasserman at jaw@shapirosher.com.