L1, L2 Visa

I have a job offer from a company in the US that is a joint venture with my current company. However, my current company owns only 49% of the US company. My current company is willing to send me on their payroll if I cannot get a visa being on the US companies payroll. In this forum I have seen folks mention that they are going to go work at "client" companies, so I am assuming you can use the L1 visa to work at a company other than your current company? So basically can you get sponsored by your current company to go work at a client location?

Thanks