A COOPERATIVE is an organization of individuals or businesses (“members”) that provides services that the members need. The goal of a cooperative is to provide services to its own members at a lower cost, and more efficiently, than if third parties were used. Unlike a corporation, members of a cooperative share equal control and ownership (“one member, one vote”).  Also unlike a corporation, a member’s interest in a cooperative is not saleable (however, an interest may be transferable, if allowed under the cooperatives articles of incorporation or bylaws).

VARIOUS ENTITIES AVAILABLE FOR COOPERATIVES

In California, the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law, enacted in 1982, regulates entities which operate as cooperatives. However, cooperatives may be organized as corporations, limited liability corporations (LLC), or even remain unregistered with the State.

TYPES OF COOPERATIVES

The U.S. Tax Court has divided cooperatives into two categories: consumer and producer. In consumer cooperatives, the members are consumers, and the cooperative offers products to benefit the members. In a producer coop, the members are producers, and the product the members make is processed or marketed by the coop.

INDUSTRIES

Cooperatives exist in many industries, including agricultural (e.g. Sunkist, Blue Diamond, Sun-Maid, various cannabis producers/retailers); utility (e.g. Palo Alto Park Mutual Water Company, Central Florida Electric Cooperative); housing; consumer goods (e.g. REI, ACE Hardware); education. Cooperatives can be established in nearly any industry, for any purpose, so long as they are organized and conduct business activities primarily for the benefit of its members, and not to make a profit.

ANAND LAW represents cooperatives and collectives of all types and sizes.  Our services include:

•  FORMATION

  • Articles of Incorporation / Organization

  • Operating agreement

  • Joint Venture agreement

  • Non-profit formation

• TRANSACTIONS

  • Employment / Independent Contractor Agreement

  • Non-Disclosure (NDA) / Confidentiality

  • Franchise Agreement

  • Distributor Agreement

  • Real Property Leasing / Purchase Agreement

  • Bulk Asset Sale Agreements

  • Construction / Development Agreement

  • Intellectual Property (“IP”) Licensing Agreement

  • Development Agreement

    (Software, Artist, Industrial Design, Other IP)

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

  • Copyright

  • Trademark

• LITIGATION

ANAND LAW is composed of attorneys, business/financial strategists, and real estate brokers.   We represent businesses in the cities and areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, Oakland, Berkeley, Stockton, Pasadena, Arcadia, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge, Covina, West Covina, Downey, Santa Monica, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Hollywood, Atwater Village, Echo Park, Glassell Park, Loz Feliz, Silverlake, Highland Park, Boyle Heights, Hancock Park, Cheviot Hills, Koreatown, Miracle Mile, Mid City, Venice, Van Nuys, Encino, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Panorama City, North Hills, West Hills, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Granada Hills, Long Beach, Glendora, Anaheim, Inglewood, Santa Ana, Beverly Hills, Pomona, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Mar Vista, Culver City, Cheviot Hills, Holmby Hills, Westchester, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Moorpark, and communities throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, San Diego and Ventura Counties.