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Fennemore Craig's Equine Law Practice combines attorneys with experience in unique aspects of the equine industry, many of whom own horses and participate in various equine disciplines, together with the legal services needed by today's equine businesses:

• Acquisition, sale and leasing of horse properties
• Creditors' Rights and Chapter 11 Reorganizations
• Entity formation, partnerships and dispositions
• Immigration, including visas for riders, trainers, grooms and managers
• Insurance and bad faith disputes
• Labor and employment counsel
• Litigation and alternative dispute resolution
• Management and training agreements
• Releases and indemnity agreements
• Syndication, sale and leasing of horses
• Tax counsel
• Trademarks, trade names, patents and licensing

Our lawyers draft agreements for the purchase, sale and leasing of horses, as well as management and training agreements, releases and indemnity agreements, and rules and regulations for stables. They form and handle the filing of entities and provide tax counsel for such entities, including gaining tax exempt status for horse therapy programs. They draft and assist in the negotiation of contracts of all types, including those involving trade associations. They also provide counsel for financing, joint ventures, syndications, sales and horse product vendors. Our creditors rights, insolvency and bankruptcy attorneys can assist in restructuring loans and with bankruptcy matters, advising you as to your rights if things do not go as planned.

Real estate attorneys focus on the acquisition, sale and leasing of horse properties, including construction issues, land use, entitlements, permits, financing and contracts, and assistance with tax treatment.

The immigration attorneys are experienced in the equine industry, having worked with major equine enterprises to develop seasonal worker and international training programs. They have also worked with employers to ensure immigration compliance by conducting internal I-9 audits and developing hiring policies and procedures. They regularly assist with obtaining work authorization and appropriate immigration status for individuals employed by a variety of equine related businesses, including:

• Breeding farms
• Equine hospitals and veterinarian clinics
• Equine transport
• Equine research facilities
• Racing, competition and event facilities
• Sales and consignment operations
• Training stables

Our attorneys have obtained visas for a host of equine-related positions, including: athletes (riders/jockeys); trainers; farm managers; grooms; veterinarians; farriers; bloodstock analysts; animal scientists; and equestrian event organizers.

Our attorneys have significant experience in negotiating and preparing licensing and distribution agreements in the U.S and around the world. We assist clients in all aspects of intellectual property, including patent, trademark, trade secret, trade dress and related rights. We can litigate if necessary, but we seek to avoid litigation where possible by identifying and protecting intellectual property in commercial transactions, including licenses, joint development agreements, and e-commerce strategies.

Our Labor and Employment attorneys provide counsel in virtually all aspects of the employment relationship. We work with clients to develop programs designed to improve and define employment relationships and reduce the likelihood that disputes will arise. In the event that disputes occur, we regularly represent our clients in labor arbitrations, wage and hour issues, employment contract disputes, discrimination matters and in contested cases in state and federal courts. In addition, we appear frequently on behalf of clients before federal and state administrative agencies.

Fennemore Craig's litigators will work on your behalf to resolve disputes when possible and serve as aggressive advocates on such equine-related matters as veterinary malpractice, equine product litigation, insurance and bad faith disputes, and fraud. Where appropriate, we look to alternative dispute resolution. Many of our attorneys act as mediators and arbitrators and can assist in those capacities.