Business Strategist
Beyond legal documents lies the territory where most attorneys stop — and where Debbie Faulkner's most valuable work begins.
Twenty years of advising business owners at every stage of the business lifecycle has taught Debbie Faulkner something most attorneys miss entirely: the most important legal decisions are not legal decisions at all. They are business decisions with legal consequences. That distinction — understanding both sides of the table — is what makes her a trusted strategic partner, not just a document preparer.
"The most expensive legal advice is the advice you didn't get before you made the decision. We help you think five moves ahead — then execute the plan."
Services We Provide
When is the right time to sell? To whom? At what structure? How do you minimize taxes on the proceeds? How do you protect key employees and the legacy you've built? We work through every dimension of your exit before you put a single asset on the market.
As businesses grow, ownership structures that made sense at formation can become costly, inflexible, or misaligned with your goals. We analyze your current structure and rebuild it to optimize for taxes, liability, succession, and operational efficiency.
Whether you are acquiring a competitor, selling a division, bringing in a partner, or navigating a distressed asset purchase, the deal structure matters as much as the price. We advise on structure, terms, and execution — bridging legal expertise with strategic business judgment.
Attracting and retaining key executives requires compensation structures that align incentives with business outcomes. We design and implement stock option plans, equity grants, deferred compensation, and bonus structures that work legally and strategically.
Business owners face unique exposure — from personal guarantees to professional liability to partnership disputes. We identify vulnerabilities and build legal structures that protect personal assets, business value, and operational continuity.
What We Handle for You
Exit strategy development and implementation
Ownership restructuring and buy-sell reconfiguration
Deal structure advisory — acquisitions and divestitures
Executive compensation and equity plan design
Business risk assessment and asset protection
Strategic planning facilitation across advisors
Why This Matters Strategically
Most business attorneys are equipped to execute on a strategy you have already decided. Debbie Faulkner brings the strategic perspective to help you decide — which direction to go, which structure to build, which risks to accept and which to eliminate. This is the service that CPAs, financial planners, and business brokers refer their most important clients for. They trust Debbie not just to do the legal work, but to help their clients think more clearly about the decisions that will define their financial future.
"I have worked with many attorneys over my 30 years in business. Debbie Faulkner is different. She thinks like a businessperson who happens to also be an excellent attorney. The strategic value she brings goes far beyond any document she has ever drafted for us."Verified Review · Business Owner · Strategic Advisory Client