sellers-counsel-opinion

name	sellers-counsel-opinion
title	Opinion of Seller's Counsel (APA)
description	Drafts Opinion of Seller's Counsel letters for APA closings per ABA Legal Opinion Accord standards. Use when drafting closing opinion letters, seller's counsel opinions, third-party legal opinions, or APA closing deliverables in M&A asset purchase transactions.
author	CaseMark
author_url	https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/sellers-counsel-opinion
license	Apache-2.0
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	us
practice	corporate
language	en

Opinion of Seller's Counsel (APA)

Drafts a closing opinion letter from seller's counsel in an asset purchase transaction, conforming to ABA Legal Opinion Accord standards and current market practice.

Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

• Executed APA with all exhibits, schedules, and disclosure letters
• Ancillary agreements — TSA, non-competes, escrow, IP assignments, bills of sale
• Seller org docs — articles/certificate of formation, bylaws/operating agreement, amendments
• Authorization records — board/manager resolutions, shareholder/member consents if required
• Good standing certificate — current, from seller's state of organization
• Lien/litigation searches — UCC, judgment, litigation results
• Officer's certificate — factual representations from seller's officers
• Consents — governmental, lender, and third-party consents obtained
• APA opinion section — scope, addressees, and reliance permissions

Quick Start

1. Identify the APA opinion-delivery section to determine required scope and addressees
2. Extract party names, dates, jurisdictions, and consent requirements from matter documents
3. Draft the opinion letter following the structure below
4. Apply assumptions, qualifications, and reliance limitations per ABA Accord

Letter Structure

1. Letterhead & Addressee

• Firm name/address, closing date, buyer entity + buyer's counsel (exact legal names from APA)

2. Introduction

• Reference APA by full title, execution date, all parties with legal names and jurisdictions
• State role as seller's counsel; confirm delivery as condition precedent under APA § [specify]
• Define scope boundaries

3. Documents Examined

Organize by category:

• Transaction docs — APA, ancillary agreements
• Org docs — articles/certificate, bylaws/operating agreement, amendments
• Corporate records — resolutions, consents, minutes, ledgers
• Government/third-party — good standing, tax clearances, regulatory approvals, lender consents
• Searches — UCC, litigation, judgment, IP registrations
• Certificates — officer and official certificates (describe with particularity)