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Multi-Entity Fleet, Brokerage & Warehouse Separation
Structuring separate carrier, freight-brokerage, equipment-owning, and warehouse realty LLCs with documented intercompany agreements and corporate minute compliance.
Asset Isolation & Contract Counsel for Logistics, Fleet & Distribution.
Protecting freight brokers, 3PL warehouses, fleet operators, and wholesale distributors on highway risk isolation, broker-carrier agreements, warehouse leases, and owner-operator compliance.
Industrial, Supply Chain & Technology ยท Lead Counsel: Reese Serra (P74482), Brian D. Harrison
Sector FocusLogistics, 3PL & Distribution
Lead AttorneysReese Serra (P74482) & Brian D. Harrison
Court VenuesOakland, Macomb, Wayne & Federal Courts
Headquarters125 E. 3rd St, Suite 100, Rochester, MI
How do trucking and distribution companies isolate fleet liability from core enterprise value?
Logistics and distribution enterprises separate high-exposure over-the-road fleet operations from warehouse real estate, freight brokerage contracts, and intellectual property using distinct corporate entities, arm's-length intercompany service agreements, separate insurance towers, and strict corporate formalities to defeat alter-ego veil piercing.
Core legal architecture for logistics, 3pl & distribution.
Structured entity isolation, commercial contract precision, tax alignment, and courtroom enforcement built for owners and executive teams.
Discuss This Mandate →
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Broker-Carrier, Carmack & Warehouse Contracts
Drafting shipper/broker contracts, Carmack Amendment cargo liability allocations, UCC Article 7 warehouseman lien terms, and fuel/detention schedules.
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Owner-Operator & Workforce Classification Audits
Auditing independent-contractor truth-in-leasing agreements (49 C.F.R. Part 376) and defending unemployment, wage, and commercial collection disputes.
Controlling statutory framework.
Every operating agreement, acquisition, lease, and litigation strategy is anchored to the Michigan and federal authorities governing logistics, 3pl & distribution.
Statutory & Regulatory Benchmark 01
Federal Truth-in-Leasing Regulations (49 C.F.R. Part 376) & Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. 14706)
Statutory & Regulatory Benchmark 02
Michigan UCC Article 7 Warehouse Liens & Documents of Title (MCL 440.7209)
Statutory & Regulatory Benchmark 03
Michigan Corporate Veil & Entity Integrity Principles
Principal counsel & trial readiness.
Your matter is led directly by senior attorneys who combine entrepreneurial ownership experience, CPA tax fluency, and decades of Michigan courtroom advocacy.
Founding Attorney & Managing Member ยท Bar P74482Reese SerraSenior Litigation & Trial CounselBrian D. HarrisonAttorney & Certified Public Accountant (JD / CPA)Matt Wozniak
Driver & Warehouse Workforce FICA Reduction
3PLs, distributors, and W-2 fleet employers lower annual payroll taxes while giving drivers and warehouse teams 24/7 preventive telehealth and wellness coverage.
Frequently asked questions: Logistics, 3PL & Distribution
Direct answers to the structural, transactional, and litigation questions Michigan owners ask most often.
Does forming multiple LLCs protect a fleet owner if bank accounts and payroll are commingled?
No. Michigan courts pierce corporate veils when sister entities commingle funds, share undocumented assets, or hold themselves out as a single enterprise. Clean intercompany leases and separate accounting are mandatory.
How does a Michigan warehouse operator preserve its statutory lien on stored inventory?
Under MCL 440.7209, a warehouse preserves its lien against the bailor through a compliant warehouse receipt or storage agreement specifying storage, handling, and preservation charges before releasing the goods.
What contract error hurts wholesale distributors most when a retail customer files bankruptcy?
Failing to include written reclamation, PACA/statutory trust (where applicable), personal guaranty, or purchase-money security interest (PMSI) language before shipping high-dollar inventory on credit.
Can The Private Firm serve as ongoing Outside General Counsel for a regional distributor?
Yes. Many distribution and logistics clients engage us on predictable general-counsel retainers for continuous contract review, HR/driver matters, lease renewals, and rapid dispute response.