The Challenge:
Residents of New York City, the co-founders of apple seeds LLC wanted a clean, safe place to take their children to run around and play with others. They also wanted a space where they could see friendly adult faces, and they wanted it in their neighborhood. So, apple seeds was born. apple seeds is a growing organization that provides indoor playground facilities, classes, birthday parties and other activities. They have a 15,000 square-foot, all-in-one play space for families with children newborn to age five. They also have a 7,500 square-foot location on the Upper West Side, a branded apple seeds play space with Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town, five other licensed playrooms around New York City, and master franchises in the United Arab Emirates and India. As an emerging and growing business, apple seeds needed a business-minded legal partner who understood the challenges of being a middle market business. They needed help building the company from the ground floor up, and providing a solid foundation for future growth.
The Results:
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin has been built with the scope of services required by middle market businesses. We are a good partner and a value-add in the apple seed relationship. Our corporate partners initially met apple seeds’ founders when the business was just an idea – a seed as it were. We guided the start-up process from name selection and limited liability company structuring, to drafting and negotiating the operating and loan agreements. Once the equity and financing were in place, we continued representing apple seeds on corporate, leasing and risk management issues. As apple seeds grew, our team grew with them, working on subsequent rounds of investor financing, licensing agreements and expansion. The owner-managers of apple seeds continue to rely on Tarter Krinsky & Drogin for ongoing legal counsel and business advice.