Experienced Legal Counsel for Closely Held Businesses and Families
I advise closely held businesses, business owners, and families on complex legal matters involving business law, transactions, and estate planning.
With more than 25 years of experience—including extensive mergers and acquisitions work and service as a partner at two of Michigan’s largest law firms—I provide senior-level legal counsel grounded in clarity, judgment, and practical results.
Clients work directly with me from initial strategy through final documentation. My practice is intentionally structured to provide continuity, accountability, and senior-level guidance on every matter, without delegation or handoffs.
-Michael M. Antovski
Practical Solutions
Closely held businesses and families often face legal issues that are interconnected rather than isolated. Entity structure, ownership arrangements, contracts, transactions, tax considerations, and estate planning frequently overlap.
My practice is built to address these issues holistically—so decisions made in one area support broader business and family objectives. A core part of my role is translating complex legal concepts into clear, practical guidance. The goal is not legal theory, but solutions clients can understand, evaluate, and implement with confidence.
Tailored Advice for Closely Held Businesses
I represent closely held businesses and their owners across the business lifecycle, from formation and governance through strategic transactions and exit planning. My background includes representing clients in numerous mergers and acquisitions, both large and middle-market, as well as advising on a wide range of commercial and ownership matters.
Typical engagements include:
- Entity formation and structuring (LLCs, corporations, partnerships)
- Operating agreements, shareholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, and related governance documents
- Commercial contracts and strategic relationships
- Mergers, acquisitions, and business sales
- Ownership transitions and investor-related matters
My advice is tailored to each client’s business model, ownership dynamics, and long-term objectives. The focus is on identifying material risks, negotiating key terms, and ensuring that documentation reflects the client’s priorities rather than unnecessary complexity.
Estate Planning and Family Guidance
I advise individuals and families on estate planning matters, often in coordination with closely held business interests. Drawing on my transactional background, I help clients implement estate and succession plans that account for ownership structures, management continuity, and long-term family objectives.
Estate planning services commonly include:
- Wills and revocable trust planning
- Business succession planning
- Powers of attorney and health care directives
- Coordination of estate plans with business ownership
Estate planning decisions can be complex and personal. My approach emphasizes clear explanations and thoughtful planning so clients understand their options and the consequences of their decisions.