Breaking Up is Hard to Do: The Unique Perils of the NEPA “Business Divorce”

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s economy is built on the back of family-owned enterprises and closely-held partnerships. From construction firms passed down through generations to medical practices built by lifelong friends, our business landscape is personal.

But when these relationships fracture, the fallout is rarely just about a contract. It is an emotional and financial crisis that requires a delicate touch.

Why “Volume” Law Firms Fail at Partnership Disputes

Many high-volume law firms treat shareholder disputes or partnership dissolutions like simple math problems: divide the assets and move on. But in a closely-held NEPA business, the assets are often intangible. How do you value a reputation? How do you split a client list built over 30 years? How do you remove a partner who is also a cousin without destroying the family Thanksgiving?

The “Value Law” Difference

At Polishan Solfanelli, we do not practice “volume” law. We practice “value” law. We understand that a “business divorce” sits at the volatile intersection of law, reputation, and finance.

We act as strategic General Counsel for business owners in these critical moments. We know how to aggressively protect your equity and intellectual property in court if necessary, but we also know how to structure negotiated exits that preserve the legacy of the business.

Because we are a boutique firm rooted in this community, we can offer the high-level counsel needed to navigate these complex “bet-the-company” moments without the impersonal, bill-by-the-second approach of some firms who handle matters of this sort. When your livelihood and legacy are on the line, you need a trusted strategist, not a bill churner.