Sherman Antitrust Act: Federal antitrust law that prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace. Must be considered when structuring joint venture to ensure compliance with competition laws.
Clayton Act: Federal law that supplements the Sherman Act, addressing specific practices not explicitly covered in the Sherman Act, including mergers and interlocking directorates.
Federal Trade Commission Act: Federal law that created the FTC and prohibits unfair methods of competition and deceptive practices. Joint ventures must ensure compliance with FTC regulations.
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act: Requires companies to file pre-merger notifications for large transactions, potentially applicable to substantial joint ventures.
Securities Exchange Act: Federal law governing securities trading and public company requirements. Relevant if the joint venture involves public companies or plans to issue securities.
State Corporation Laws: State-specific laws governing the formation and operation of corporations, which may affect how the joint venture is structured and operated.
State Partnership Laws: State-specific laws governing partnerships, relevant if the joint venture is structured as a partnership rather than a corporation.
State Limited Liability Company Laws: State-specific laws governing LLCs, important if the joint venture is structured as an LLC.
Intellectual Property Laws: Federal and state laws protecting patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Critical for joint ventures involving IP sharing or creation.
Fair Labor Standards Act: Federal law establishing standards for wages, overtime pay, and employment conditions. Must be considered for joint venture employment practices.
Internal Revenue Code: Federal tax laws affecting how the joint venture will be taxed and how profits/losses will be distributed and reported.
Uniform Commercial Code: Standardized state laws governing commercial transactions, relevant for joint venture operations and contracts.
CFIUS Regulations: Federal regulations governing foreign investment in US companies, applicable if the joint venture includes foreign partners.
State Securities Laws: Also known as 'Blue Sky Laws', these state-specific regulations govern securities offerings and transactions within each state.
Equal Employment Opportunity Laws: Federal and state laws prohibiting workplace discrimination and ensuring equal employment opportunities in the joint venture.
