What Entrepreneurs Need To Know Before Selling Their Business: Insights From M&A Attorney Kevin Shaw

Kevin Shaw is a Shareholder and Corporate Attorney at Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC (NPW Law), based in Westlake Village, California. An experienced business attorney, Kevin advises entrepreneurs and business owners on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, financing, and business law. He is known for his expertise in structuring a wide range of agreements, from stock and asset purchases to licensing, distribution, manufacturing, and software contracts. Kevin has represented both regional and global clients in critical transactions, with notable achievements including guiding successful multimillion-dollar exits and negotiating complex agreements that protect clients’ interests, mitigate risks, and maximize outcomes.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[5:00] Kevin Shaw shares wild surf stories, including encounters with bull sharks and banditos
[11:55] Why Kevin originally wanted to become a Navy SEAL and how he pivoted to law
[16:52] The early struggles of leaving litigation to pursue a transactional corporate practice
[20:37] Crucial legal protections entrepreneurs overlook when building or selling a business
[25:36] How Kevin helps clients structure exits to minimize risk and maximize proceeds
[30:52] What happens when you spend your sale proceeds before the deal closes?
[43:50] Why mindset, relationship fit, and abundance matter when choosing legal and financial advisors

In this episode…

Many entrepreneurs underestimate the legal complexities involved in growing or selling a business until it’s too late. From unclear partnership agreements to poorly structured exits, these oversights can lead to costly disputes and missed opportunities. How can founders protect themselves while still building for long-term success?

Kevin Shaw, a corporate and M&A attorney, offers practical advice for navigating critical business decisions with clarity and foresight. Kevin emphasizes the importance of involving legal counsel early — well before an acquisition offer is on the table — to help evaluate risk, strengthen operating agreements, and negotiate exit terms that preserve the full value of a sale. Drawing on real client stories, he shares how sellers can avoid legacy liabilities, why founders need to protect their equity, and how trusting the wrong buyer or the wrong advisor can derail everything. Entrepreneurs, he stresses, must build the right advisory team and stay grounded in both values and strategy.

In this episode of The Road Already Traveled, Rich Schuette interviews Kevin Shaw, Shareholder and Corporate Attorney at Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC (NPW Law), about legal strategies that protect entrepreneurs through growth and exit. Kevin explains how to prevent costly legal oversights, why relationships matter as much as contracts, and what makes a successful partnership. He also discusses early career lessons, personality fit in client relationships, and why he believes mindset shapes success.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

“Life’s too short. So that’s one of the things with some entrepreneurs is protecting them from themselves.”
“Every job’s a sales job. If you don’t have the relationships, you’re not going to be free.”
“Make sure you’re telling the truth. I don’t deal with clients that don’t tell the truth.”
“I’m not the low-cost option. I’m also not Kirkland and Ellis or fill in the blank.”
“We’re going to focus on what’s important when it’s important and give you good service.”

Action Steps:

Engage legal counsel early in your business journey: Early legal involvement helps prevent costly mistakes and ensures your agreements protect your interests.
Structure ownership agreements thoughtfully: Well-drafted operating and buy-sell agreements can prevent future disputes and clarify expectations among partners.
Plan your business exit well before an offer arrives: Advance planning allows time to optimize tax strategies, strengthen valuations, and align your advisory team.
Protect your deal terms with proper representation: Legal experts help preserve your purchase price and reduce liability when negotiating mergers and acquisitions.
Surround yourself with aligned, values-driven advisors: Choosing professionals who share your mindset builds trust and leads to better long-term outcomes.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is sponsored by Avalan, a wealth management firm dedicated to personalized financial, business, and investment planning.

We work with select high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and trusts, providing guidance tailored to their unique needs.

From supercar entrepreneurs to music industry entrepreneurs, our team employs proven investment strategies to help them preserve wealth, protect assets, and plan charitable giving.

With an unwavering focus on world-class service, our relationships are built to last generations, helping clients achieve lifelong goals through a thoughtful, consultative approach.

To learn how Avalan can empower you to reach your goals, visit https://www.avalanwealth.com/contact/.