Testimonials

“Dr. Charlotte Lacroix and VBA have been very instrumental in helping me grow this practice after I bought out my partner 2 years ago. She was able to help me hire on many new specialists and assisted with the contract negotiations to achieve a successful and balanced practice. I will continue to utilize Dr. Lacroix and her services as long as I own this practice and when I am ready to sell in the future. She is one of my closest and most trusted advisors.”

Amy A. Shroff, VMD
Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England

“Over my 28 years of being a private practice owner, as well as a specialty practice owner, I have had many occasions to benefit from the advice of an attorney (which has included employment agreements, practice and property buy-sells, legal forms, as well as lease negotiations). Prior to my work with Charlotte, in every case, I lamented the communication void inherent with working with attorneys who did not have a solid understanding of veterinarians and the veterinary profession. With Charlotte, that void is non-existent. Being "one of us", I have found that she not only has an incredible, working knowledge of her primary profession (legal), she also understands the veterinary business at all levels, and the psyche of veterinarians. In addition to her outstanding knowledge, skill, and experience I have always felt her underlying sense of empathy, compassion and fairness. All in all, a combination of great people skills as well as business skills. I will never make another major business decision without her input.”

Thomas P. Chamberlain, DVM, MS, Diplomate American Veterinary Dental College
Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery, Leesburg, VA

“I was referred to Dr. Lacroix in 2007. I contacted her to assist me with buying a practice and forming a partnership agreement. Not only did she provide great advice, but she helped us make the best deal possible when we bought our practice. Dr. Lacroix gave us confidence right from the beginning.”

Thomas Chlebecek, DVM
Makai Animal Clinic – Kailua, HI

“While I have been a practicing veterinarian for 41 years, it wasn’t until nine years ago that we began considering hiring our first associate. We called our friend, Dr. Jim Wilson, with contract questions and he referred us to Dr. Charlotte Lacroix. She made the hiring procedure smooth and fair for us and for the associate. Now we have four associates on staff, and we still call Dr. Lacroix for help with contracts and for answers to employment questions and contracts. She has also helped us with a practice purchase agreement and maternity leave of absence issues, and she was instrumental in drafting the purchase agreement to buy out my former partner. It is hard to imagine going through these business situations without her professional guidance.”

William V. Callahan, DVM and Peggy Callahan, Practice Manager
La Cumbre Animal Hospital – Santa Barbara, CA

“I would not think of preparing agreements and contracts without legal guidance from Dr. Lacroix. She has helped us prepare agreements, contracts, admitting forms and employment contracts. She has overall business knowledge of the veterinary profession and has negotiated fair contracts that benefit both the employer and employee.”

Lloyd S. Meisels, DVM, Hospital Director
Coral Springs Animal Hospital - General, Specialty, & Emergency Hospital - C.S., FL

“I contacted Dr. Lacroix and Veterinary Business Advisors, Inc. when I was a surgical resident, asking her to assist me in the purchase of my practice. I had worked previously with Dr. Lacroix on employee/employer contracts and I chose Dr. Lacroix again because as I wanted to be advised by a lawyer who was an expert in the field of veterinary business and the associated legal issues. Dr. Lacroix helped me through the long and difficult negotiations to come to an agreement with which I was comfortable. Working with Dr. Lacroix was one of the best business decisions I have ever made. I will have no hesitation in working with her in the future, as well as recommending her and VBA to others.”

Greg M. Griffin, MVB, MRCVS, DACVS, DECVS
Potomac Valley Veterinary Surgical Specialists, P.C.

“I first met Dr. Lacroix at the VSIPP meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2004. I originally hired her and Veterinary Business Advisors to draft an agreement with an associate in a veterinary dental practice. Since she is a veterinarian as well as a lawyer, knowing that she understands what I wanted was very important to me. Working with her gave me comfort in knowing I have a satisfactory agreement between me and my associates.”

Chris Visser, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC
Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists – Scottsdale, AZ

“As a Hospital Administrator, I handle all the legal work for my specialty and emergency/trauma facility. I met Dr. Lacroix in 2005 at a conference and hired her to draft an employment contract. Charlotte created a contract template, so now I need only plug in the varying items from employee to employee, saving me time and money and providing great peace of mind knowing that I didn’t overlook something. She has created residency contracts, specialized technician contracts, and hospital administrator and doctor contracts both boarded and non-boarded. Thanks to her expertise, I have been able to deal with potential employment hiring hiccups prior to the employee coming aboard, by mapping out expectations of both parties. Charlotte has helped navigate some sticky negotiations with other attorneys. Had we not engaged the services of VBA, we would be far less protected. Fortunately, I feel we have avoided much chaos through our collaboration. Having a fair, thorough, and precise employment contract has helped our business be more solid. Charlotte is invaluable to me and VSDS. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her and have learned a lot. I have the utmost confidence in Charlotte’s approach, ethics, and knowledge. I always recommend Charlotte! She is the best in the business.”

Brie D. Messier, BA - Hospital Administrator
Veterinary Surgical and Diagnostic Specialists – Clarksburg, NJ

“I was referred to Dr. Lacroix and VBA by Karen Felsted to help me purchase my practice. Dr. Lacroix’s expertise as both a veterinarian and a lawyer was of great value. She has a lot of patience and knowledge, and supported me throughout the entire process. She gave me the tools and confidence to be able to own my own hospital.”

Michelle Coran, DVM
Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach – Huntington Beach, CA

“Dr, Lacroix has led us along the path from a three doctor veterinary General Practice to a regional General/Referral/Emergency twelve veterinarian practice in a 26,000 square foot facility. She directed my partner and I through tough decisions whereby I purchased half of the surgery practice and he purchased half of my real estate. Together, we added an Emergency department. Dr. Lacroix guided us through challenging negotiations with a firm, professional, honest hand. She has consistently cared for us like family! She has taken us to the cutting edge of veterinary business management and philosophy. If we had not engaged her services, we may not have had our partnership and thus our wonderful practices. I would absolutely recommend VBA and their services to others.”

Doug Ayers, VMD
Plains Animal Hospital - Plains, PA

“My wife and I are both veterinarians and had heard Dr. Lacroix speak at several conferences before we engaged her services. She is very knowledgeable in all areas pertaining to the legal, business and financial aspects of a practice exit strategy. She is extremely dedicated to her clients with impeccable attention to detail. Dr. Lacroix is articulate and confident during negotiations.

I certainly would not have been able to accomplish the security necessary for my family without her. No matter how clear and calm the path to a business deal appears, there is always rough water and some turbulence. Dr. Lacroix is essential to assist in navigating these waters. In addition, Dr. Lacroix made me aware of many aspects of the business deal that I had never considered. Also, being a veterinarian, she obviously has keen insight into our profession.”

Jeffrey Salatiello, VMD
Salham Veterinary Services - Edison, NJ

“I met Charlotte when I applied for an externship with her during my senior year. I learned a tremendous amount and had a good time. I then retained her services when my wife and I purchased my dad's practice and then when we were looking to hire an associate. While we still have a lot of work to do I know that Charlotte has helped us make good decisions concerning the building of our practice and the only regrets I have are from when I did not listen to her advice!”

Rich Bryant, DVM, CCRP
Salem Animal Hospital - Salem, VA

“The comfort that I felt in having a new associate contract formed specifically for my practice was very helpful. It was not just some "form" contract but one that took into account my practice's personality and the tone with which we choose to treat our employees.”

Jeffrey Berman, VMD,CVA
Fort Washington Veterinary Hospital, Fort Washington, PA

“The greatest value VBA provided me was compassionate, prompt, honest service.”

Deborah Friedman, DVM
Animal Eye Care, Fremont, CA

“The advice has put me on a path that is better-suited for my current career life stage and helped me to avoid what would have been a regrettable decision to sign into ink.”

J.C., DVM
VCA Roberts Animal Hospital, Hanover, MA

“Dr. Lacroix wrote all of the contracts for the doctors at our practice. Even after adding new doctors to the team, we have a very dedicated and satisfied staff due to the contracts that she has written. ”

Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals and Specialty Services
Milwaukee, WI

“My husband, Dr. John Kazmierczak had owned his practice for 33 years. He felt very committed and dedicated to his work and the community for which he had served. It reached a point however, when we decided that it was time to sell and move on to a life, which included more time for ourselves and family. Charlotte Lacroix, DVM, JD had been known to us previously in the mid 1980s. She was well known and distinguished in her field as an expert attorney dealing with legal issues concerning veterinary practice and medicine. Dr. Lacroix had much experinece in practice sales. Because of her distinguished reputation and experinece, we wanted the best attorney in the field to help us in this most important matter. Dr. Lacroix has much dedication and energy. She worked many long hours including weekends and evenings to expedite the process of the sale, and employment contract. She also didn't hestate to recommend other experts or lawyers, when needed, for instance with the lease of our building to the new corporate owner. Without hesitation, we would recomend Dr. Charlotte Lacroix' services. She is always there, when needed, efficient and thoroughly knowledgeable. We would highly recommend her services. ”

John Kazmierczak, DVM, Former Owner & President, Barbara Kazmierczak, Former Secretary of the Corporation
West Trenton Animal Hospital, West Trenton, NJ

“Thank you for your support to us and the veterinary community in helping us grow our practices. It is through the efforts of individuals like you that help us prosper and provide us with the oportunity to meet with our peers to discuss the many challenges of practice today. Again, thank you for a wonderful meeting in St. Augustine. I throughly enjoyed your talk-quite enlightening!”

Phillip Lanzi, DVM
College Road Animal Hospital, Inc., Wilminton, NC

“I recently contacted VBA for HR support and was introduced to Lisa Bell, who guided me through an employee behavioral issue. In addition to giving me encouragement on a regular basis, she calmly and expertly guided me though the issue resolution. Her expertise empowered me, and has given me clarity in separating the business side from the medicine side. I cannot recommend Lisa Bell's services more highly. ”

Michael Tokiwa
DVM

“Dr. Lacroix' presentation on Human Animal Bond was very timely for a dynamically changing topic. She gave very practical advice with many examples. Overall it was an excellent presentation with a good review of what has happened and concerns for the future. Dr. Lacroix really makes one think!”

Attendees
2011 Annual MVMA Meeting

“Dr. Lacroix is a dynamic, well versed speaker who is knowledgeable and qualified to speak to a relatively advanced audience. She poses important questions and engages discussion amongst VSPA members, which was most enjoyable.”

Veterinary Specialty Practice Alliance

“Referring to Dr. Lacroix's presentation to Shelter Veterinarians, Mr. Mark Kumpf said...."Your talk was one of the best I have heard in my 20 year career". ”

Director Mark Kumpf, CAWA
Dayton, Ohio

“The services provided by VBA were essential to make sure that our doctors and specialty doctors were satisfied working in the environment created at MECA. We are very happy with VBA and will continue to use their services as we grow in new specialty area.”

Dr. Marla Lichtenberger, DVM, DACVECC
Owner of Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals and Specialty Services

“I believe I have intelligently and diligently composed the framework of a successful business with the aid of VBA. The greatest value VBA provides me is peace of mind and assurance that I have support when needed.”

Dr. Michael Fugaro
Owner of Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services

“Dr. Lacroix raised important questions and facilitated the best outcome.”

Jane Brunt, DVM
CATalyst Council, Inc.

“We had an associate, who expressed an interest in becoming a partner. Charlotte put together an agreement that not only addressed the sale of 25% now, but also the remaining 75% in the future. She thought of everything that could possibly go wrong and addressed each issue. I really can?t express enough my thanks to Charlotte for getting us through this arduous and sometimes downright painful process! She helped us really think about what we wanted to achieve and then steadily pushed and prodded us toward that goal. ”

Dr. Mark & Elaine Caspers
Feather & Fur Animal Hospital, Kailua, HI

“Lisa Bell provides us with rapid and accurate responses in regards to everything from complex to day to day issues in our practice.”

Debbie Demuro, Practice Manager
Plains Animal Hospital, PA

“As a new graduate, I was naive and accepted a position at a practice? I was intimidated and confused. After a month and a half of increasing concerns, I contacted Dr. Lacroix? She recommended leaving the practice. Problem: I signed a contract. Solution: Dr. Lacroix extricated me in such a way that I was protected from retaliation... At all times, she was honest and straightforward with me. She also allowed me to do as much as possible (writing the letter, research, etc..) in order to minimize my bill. Without her help, I would probably be in jail someplace.”

Dr. Daniela Siefert

“You were really terrific. You're naturally bright and affable 'on stage'. The zeal with which you approach this stuff is infectious. I don't know how you felt in the front, but from the back of the room, the whole event felt like an unqualified success. ”

New Jersey Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

“The greatest value VBA provides is they are professional, confidential, complete, concise and dependable? It?s like peace of mind at your fingertips”

Mary Ann Vande Linde, DVM

“Dr. Lacroix is a well known and respected member of the veterinary community ...and has been invaluable to my various business ventures. Their legal expertise ...gave us a level of comfort that we could not have obtained on our own. VBA's professionalism and expertise of the industry is unparalleled.”

Francisco Velazquez, VMD
New Jersey

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