What are the legal costs of being acquired?

While most lawyers won't make their fees "contingent" on closing (meaning they are not due and payable if the deal doesn't close, like an investment banker), it is in fact very common practice to have the fees paid at closing, which is when you most likely have the cash to pay them.

Any commentary on the actual cost is pretty much a guess, because the cost varies wildly depending on the circumstances. These are not "cookie cutter" transactions where it's easy to estimate the cost. If you are actually planning a sale, get a fee estimate from your current counsel and possibly some other ones, that will give you a good idea of what it should cost.

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