As a business owner, you know that one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make is deciding to buy or sell a business. A merger or acquisition can be a fast track to growth or an opportunity to move on to something new—particularly in highly regulated industries such as alcohol related businesses and cannabis businesses, where compliance and deal structure are especially critical. Hiring competent legal business attorneys is essential at this pivotal juncture, as there are many complex, fast-moving parts, including how the deal is structured (stock sale, asset sale, or merger), letters of intent, due diligence, purchase and sale agreements, loan documents, confidentiality and noncompetition agreements, employment agreements, real estate matters, vendor and customer contracts, tax considerations, and bills of sale.