Dear Friends,
I have been working on a new slogan for my law firm. This has been challenging because I spent three years at law school where they replace creativity and free thinking with logic and risk aversion. They were only partially successful. Here is what I came up with-“Steve Snelling, Not Just Another Lawyer.” Try to let it sink in a little before you really let me know what you think.
Quote of the Week
Legend has it that Larry Dowell, Founder and Chief Manager of Dowell Management, was once heard saying:
“I don’t always hire a lawyer, but when I do, I prefer Steve Snelling” (© The Interesting Guy from Dos Equis).
In addition to the newsletter, you can find out more about Snelling Law Office, LLC at the company website, www.stevesnellinglaw.com. I will post versions of these newsletters to the website, just in case you can’t believe I actually said it in writing.
In each edition of this newsletter I will offer (free of charge) “Legal Advice from the Hip,” which hopefully provides the reader with some seemingly helpful advice about a specific aspect of the law or my practice. The phrase “From the Hip” just means that advice in this newsletter does not address any specific case or factual situation and should not be used without further consultation (or compensation). I will also use this segment of the newsletter to answer questions you may ask, if they are both relevant and interesting, yet uncomplicated.
Legal Advice: I have some advice for those of you who want to read on. I see you have made it this far, thank you. Having practiced business and real estate law for over twenty-five years, I have worked on all kinds of transactions and I have met all kinds of people involved in those transactions. When I wore a younger man’s clothes (© Billy Joel, The Piano Man), say in my late twenties or early thirties (picture me now but with dark, flowing hair and a nice figure), I thought that the most important component in any transaction was the value of the business or property to be bought and sold, or the profitability or plan of, say, a new partnership.
However, as we have all seen over the years, the success of almost every transaction or business plan is at one time or another challenged. When that happens, the original, perceived value of the business or property or the projected profitability or plan of the partnership becomes relatively unimportant. What is then very apparent, and sometimes painfully so, is that the most important piece of any transaction or partnership is, and always was, the integrity of the principals involved and the integrity of the people that surround them. My advice? And I learned this the hard way so I know it is true. If you feel uncomfortable undertaking a transaction or partnership with a particular company or person on just a handshake, you probably have no business retaining a lawyer to draft an agreement to document the terms for you.
My practice areas include corporate, transactional and real estate. Here are some examples:
- Organizing companies (forming companies, organizational documents, resolutions, investor documents)
- Owner agreements (member control and shareholder buy-sell agreements)
- Acquisitions (buying and selling ownership interests and businesses)
- Business succession planning
- Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
- Employment, independent contractor, non-compete and separation agreements
- Real estate purchase agreements and lease agreements
- Deeds, easements, title work and closings
- Contract drafting and review.
Please remember me for your business and your referrals. Thanks for your support.
My nicely decorated office is located in Suite 100 on the first floor of the Stonebridge Professional Building in Lilydale, Minnesota, near the northwest intersection of Highways 13 and 35E.
El Burrito Mercado
My Client Spotlight for this Newsletter is El Burrito Mercado. My wife Sue and I have been buying groceries from their store for years, especially the fresh salsa. They also have great lunches and more recently, they opened their full service restaurant for dinner. It is fantastic!
I also act as their corporate attorney, and work on contracts, lease agreements and other legal documents. The following is a note from Co-Owner and President, Milissa Silva-Diaz…
El Burrito Mercado has been owned and operated by the Silva Family since 1979. The founders, Tomas and Maria Silva, are from Aguascalientes, Mexico. They have a tremendous passion for Mexican food and Mexican culture, which has been passed on to their children and management team. The moment you enter El Burrito Mercado, you know that you are somewhere unique, and the experience begins! Before you even enter the Mercado, you can begin to smell the delicious aromas from our onsite kitchen. And as you enter the Mercado, you are indulged in the smells, the vibrant décor, the Spanish music background and the Spanish speaking employees and customers. It all feels so real! El Burrito Mercado is La Experencia Mexicana. The Silva family owns and manages the hands-on details, and they never compromise quality, service, nor authenticity. For the Latino who seeks home away from home, and for the non-Latino that chooses to venture out or who has fallen in love with the Mexican culture, you’ll find the experience at El Burrito Mercado is one of a kind. If you’ve ever been to Mexico and fallen in love with the food, the people and the culture, then you’ll find nostalgia when visiting us. For those who have never been to Mexico, well, come enjoy a taste of La Experencia Mexicana at El Burrito Mercado.
El Burrito Mercado, a St. Paul mainstay since 1979, also opened a second location in Midtown Global Market in 2012, and in 2013 began selling imported gifts and furniture from Mexico at the International Bazar at the Minnesota State Fair. In addition, in 2006 we began packaging and selling private label chips and tortillas under the El Burrito brand in other retail stores.
Sincerely,
Milissa Silva-Diaz, Co-Owner and President
EL BURRITO MERCADO
175 Cesar Chavez Street
St. Paul, MN 55107
651-227-2192
MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET LOCATION
920 E Lake St., Ste. 118
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-224-9286