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Business law

Counsel for Florida business owners

Running a business in South Florida means decisions that carry real weight. John Clarke is the steady counsel behind the formation, contracts, and succession choices that keep your company protected and pointed in the right direction.

·Formation & contracts·Operating agreements·Succession planning
What we handle

What we handle for your business

Most business problems are far cheaper to prevent than to fix. John gets the foundation right early, the entity, the agreements, the contracts, so your business is built to last and to weather a dispute.

  • Choosing and forming the right entity: LLC, corporation, or partnership
  • Operating agreements and bylaws that prevent disputes down the road
  • Contracts, leases, and vendor agreements, reviewed and drafted
  • Buy-sell agreements and succession planning for owners
  • Everyday legal questions, answered by someone who knows your business
Ask about your business
A Fort Lauderdale business with its legal foundation in place
The approach

Counsel that grows with you

Three steps, from first formation to long-term succession, with one attorney who knows your business throughout.

01

We learn the business

What you do, who you work with, and where the risk really sits. Good counsel starts with understanding how your company actually runs.

02

We set the foundation

The right entity, clear operating agreements, and contracts that hold up. The groundwork that keeps small disagreements from becoming lawsuits.

03

We grow with you

As the business changes, John is there for new contracts, partner changes, disputes, and eventually a clean succession or sale.

Business law

Structuring your business for success

John Clarke has helped numerous clients achieve success and preserve their assets through tailored business planning and protective structures. Here is how we can help.

Schedule a free consultation

Entity formation and structuring

We help you choose the most appropriate legal structure (a limited liability company, S corporation, C corporation, or limited partnership) based on your goals, tax situation, and liability concerns. Choosing the right entity for your situation is one of the most important factors in a business's success. The formation, management, and third-party liability of these entities are governed by the Florida statutes, including Chapter 605 (Limited Liability Company Act), Chapter 607 (Business Corporation Act), and Chapter 620 (partnership laws).

  • Multi-entity structures: For businesses with multiple lines or properties, we establish structures that compartmentalize risk, such as forming a separate LLC for each property or venture, so a liability in one area does not reach the others.

Asset protection

  • Protection strategies: We design and implement strategies to shield personal and business assets from creditors, lawsuits, and other risks, including trusts, LLCs, and family limited partnerships.
  • Homestead exemption planning: Florida's homestead exemption provides strong protection for a primary residence against creditor claims, and we advise on how to structure ownership to maximize it.
  • Liability limitation: We draft contracts, leases, and other documents that limit the business's liability and protect the owner's personal assets from business debts.
  • Layering: Our most effective plans layer protection through multiple entities, for example a separate LLC for each investment property, with a family partnership holding the ownership interests. Each structure protects on its own, and together they protect far more.

Tax planning

  • Tax-efficient structures: We work with tax advisors to structure your business so that it minimizes state and federal tax liability, including income, capital gains, and estate taxes.
  • Avoiding double taxation: For businesses considering incorporation, we advise on strategies such as electing S-corporation status or using pass-through entities like LLCs.

Integrating business and estate planning

  • Succession planning: We create a detailed plan so your business continues smoothly in the event of your retirement, incapacity, or death, using tools such as buy-sell agreements, trusts, or transfers to family members or key employees.
  • Estate plan integration: By bringing your business interests into your estate plan, we align your business and personal assets for tax efficiency and asset preservation, often through living trusts, gifting strategies, or charitable planning.
  • Minimizing estate taxes: We help structure your estate so that as much of the business's value as possible is preserved for your heirs or successors.

John Clarke has helped dozens of clients structure their businesses for maximum efficiency, profit, and protection from liability. Learn more about John, or schedule a consultation to talk through your business.

Client reviews

What our clients say

5.0

Rated 5.0 across 55 verified reviews on Avvo, Google & Thumbtack

John was very knowledgeable and helpful in giving advice on the handling of my father's estate. He provided a step-by-step course of action to probate the estate. I would definitely recommend him.

Nat L.

Probate · via Thumbtack

Jan 2026

I am pleased to share my highest recommendation for Clarke Law PA. From our very first interaction, John demonstrated a deep understanding of the law, communicated clearly, and gave guidance that was both practical and strategic for my needs. Every question was answered promptly, and I always felt fully informed and supported.

Heleven M.

Estate planning · via Thumbtack

Dec 2025

I am very impressed by John Clarke's skills as a lawyer and advocate. He helped me plan my estate and helped my father qualify for Medicaid long-term care. He was knowledgeable, caring, and very efficient. I would definitely use Mr. Clarke again.

Drew H.

Elder law & Medicaid · via Thumbtack

Apr 2019

Questions

Business law questions

Practical answers for business owners.

What kind of businesses does John work with?

Small and mid-size Florida businesses, owners, and professionals. If you run the company or own a piece of it, John can be the lawyer in your corner.

Do I need an LLC or a corporation?

It depends on your goals, your taxes, and your risk. John explains the trade-offs in plain language and helps you pick the structure that actually fits your business.

Can you review a contract before I sign?

Yes, and it is usually money well spent. A short review now can save you from a clause that costs you dearly later. John drafts contracts too.

What is a buy-sell agreement and do I need one?

It is the agreement that decides what happens to an owner's share if they leave, die, or want out. If you have a partner, you want one in place before you ever need it.

Do you handle business disputes?

Yes. When a deal or a partnership goes sideways, John works toward a practical resolution and protects your interests, in or out of court.

Do I work with John directly?

Yes. You work with John himself, not a call center or a junior associate, from the first call onward.

Still have questions?

Call or schedule a free consultation. John will talk it through with you.

From the blog

Business law reading

Free consultation

Build your business on solid ground

Talk to John about your entity, your contracts, or a deal on the table. The first consultation is free, with straight answers and no runaround.

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Clarke Law, P.A. office in Fort Lauderdale
Call(954) 556-8952Emailjohn@clarkelawpa.com
Office1975 E. Sunrise Blvd., Suite 626, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304Get directions
HoursMon to Fri, 8am to 6pm. Evenings and weekends by appointment.

Serving clients across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.