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Meet some of our Glendale Startup Lawyers
Richard M.
Richard A. Mathurin is as a member of the professional team at Sage Law. Since graduating cum Laude from The University of Notre Dame and UCLA School of Law, Rich has enjoyed an exciting and diversified career in the practice of law. In his early career, he assisted several energy companies all over the world in the development and funding of major wind energy and other green technology projects. Following an assignment by his firm to their Far East offices in Tokyo and Singapore, Rich represented global corporations such as Hitachi, UPS, and Fuji-Xerox in major commercial transactions. More recently, Rich returned to his native San Diego to care for an ill family member and work in the local community. Rich specializes in tax resolution, bankruptcy and small business services helping clients get in compliance with complex tax laws and manage their personal and business finances. When he is not working servicing his valued clients, Rich is an ardent golfer and enjoys rooting for his favorite Boston sports teams.
December 4, 2023
McCoy S.
P. McCoy Smith is the Founding Attorney at Lex Pan Law LLC, a full-service technology and intellectual property law firm based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A and Opsequio LLC, an open source compliance consultancy. Prior to his current position, he spent 20 years in the legal department of a Fortune 50 multinational technology company as a business unit intellectual property specialist; among his duties was setting up the free & open source legal function and policies for that company. He preceded his in-house experience with 8 years in private practice in a large New York City-based boutique intellectual property law firm, working simultaneously as a U.S. patent litigator and U.S. patent prosecutor. He was also a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office prior to attending law school. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon, California & New York and to prosecute patent applications in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office; he is also a registered Trademark and Patent Agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. He has degrees from Colorado State University (Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, with honors), Johns Hopkins University (Masters of Liberal Arts) and the University of Virginia (Juris Doctor). While in private practice, and continuing into his in-house career, he taught portions of the U.S. patent bar exam for a long-standing and well-known patent bar exam preparation course, and from 2014-2020 was on the editorial board of the Journal of Open Law, Technology & Society (JOLTS), and starting in 2023 will be on the editorial board of the American Intellectual Property Law Quarterly Journal (AIPLAQJ). He is the author or co-author of chapters on open source and copyright and patents in “Open Source Law, Policy & Practice” (2022, Oxford University Press). He lectures frequently around the world on free and open source issues as well as other intellectual property topics.
December 6, 2023
Eliza J.
Eliza brings a distinguished track record of delivering outstanding results for her clients, showcasing expertise across a spectrum of legal areas. Eliza is not just an attorney; she's your dedicated advocate with a proven record of achieving excellent results for her clients. Her representation spans numerous family law cases, including dissolutions, custody, support, probate, and civil litigation matters. Eliza's unique background as a Registered Nurse and licensed Attorney sets her apart. Before establishing her law practice, she served as a Registered Nurse in various hospitals across Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Notably, she contributed to prominent institutions such as Los Angeles County Public Health and the City of Anaheim. Additionally, Eliza ventured into entrepreneurship, managing her own Professional Fiduciary and Consulting business. Her legal acumen extends to civil litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, worker's compensation, and family law matters. Eliza earned her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and Public Health from CSU Dominguez Hills. In 2008, she furthered her education, obtaining a Master's Degree in Nursing, Administration, and Healthcare Management, along with a Quality Improvement Certificate. Eliza culminated her academic journey by earning her law degree from the JFK University of Law in 2016. Eliza's multidisciplinary background uniquely positions her to navigate the intricacies of legal matters, offering a comprehensive and compassionate approach to her client's diverse needs. Eliza's diverse background uniquely positions her to understand and address your legal needs comprehensively. Trust her to navigate your case with care and dedication, ensuring you receive the support you deserve.
December 13, 2023
James S.
Business and Real Property
December 15, 2023
Brian S.
I am a corporate lawyer with over 15 years of experience in litigation and in advising companies on a variety of legal issues, including mergers and acquisitions, securities regulations, and contract negotiations. I have a deep understanding of the technology industry and have represented numerous tech companies in my career.
January 26, 2024
Scott B.
Scott Bowen, Esq brings legal experience in family law, special education law, and healthcare law matters. Scott also has over 20 years of expertise in healthcare compliance, medical coding, and healthcare consulting to the firm.
January 28, 2024
Aaron S.
My passion is protecting the passions of others. I have 5+ years of contract review, and all aspects of entertainment law including negotiation, mediation, intellectual property, copyright, and music licensing. I also have experience working with nonprofits, and small businesses helping with formation, dissolution, partnerships, etc. I am licensed in both Texas and California.
February 14, 2024
Dany C.
Lawyer Vets APC is a digital legal practice founded on the idea that legal services should be available to all– Not just a privileged few. In support of this mission, we leverage technology to reduce overhead, increase productivity, and put more money in our client's pockets.
February 6, 2024
Sayema H.
Sayema Hameed is an experienced California attorney offering exceptional legal services in the field of employment law. With over two decades of legal experience, Sayema provides her clients with thoughtful and strategic advice and counsel, attention to detail, and high quality work to satisfy client goals and achieve successful outcomes. Helping clients maintain legal compliance, reduce liability exposure, and resolve conflicts efficiently are top priorities of Hameed Law Group. Sayema's practice includes preparation and update of employee handbooks, policies, and contracts, as well providing advice and counsel in all areas of employment in California. Sayema makes it a priority to stay up to date on the latest developments in California employment law. Sayema has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer (2019-2024) and previously as a Rising Star (2009-2017) by Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
March 19, 2024
Arohi K.
I am a Partner at Kashyap Partners (operating in California, New York and New Jersey), along with it's sister firm in India. I have been working as a technology, transactional and data privacy lawyer for 5 years with a specialisation in start-up law.
April 8, 2024
Steve H.
Steve has 20+ years of IP and litigation experience, including 10+ years of experience at two of the most prestigious large U.S. law firms, Greenberg Traurig LLP, (AMLAW 10) and Sheppard Mullin LLP (AMLAW 100). Steve has been a licensed U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered attorney and litigator since 2002. Steve’s extensive experience and interpersonal skills have given him the skills that allow him to provide his clients with the very best quality and service. Steve has successfully represented clients achieve their goals in a variety of IP, patent, trademark and trade secret disputes. He has successfully obtained many hundreds, if not over a thousand, valid and enforceable U.S. and international patents and trademarks applications for his clients over the years. As a result, he has strong, longstanding relationships with many of the Examiners at the USPTO and works with an international team of foreign associates to secure foreign rights and litigate abroad whenever needed. Many of Steve’s clients have been a client of Partners Law Group for 5+ years. More than a few have been clients for 15+ years. Steve prides himself on providing accurate results and efficiency-driven advice on complicated IP, litigation, and real estate matters in a clear and concise way; helping his clients make the best decisions possible when dealing with complex and sensitive legal matters. Steve has successfully negotiated hundreds of complicated licensing and pre-litigation IP, patent, trademark, business, real estate cases and matters for various clients large and small. Steve’s IP practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property and covers various technical disciplines. He has extensive experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, internet or business methods and processes, broadband and 5G technologies, data acquisition, migration, monitoring and protection, piracy, nutritional supplements, sports and nutrition products, herbal products, pharmaceuticals, orthodontics, and surgical procedures and devices, health-related products to computer hardware and software, music, and mobile device applications, hardware and software, business methods, industrial machinery, mechanical devices to other technologies he understands and believes he can help the client achieve his or her goals.
April 11, 2024
Kevin A.
Since 2005, I have been practicing commercial real estate law. I have worked for AM 100 Law firms and highly respected in-house corporate real estate legal departments. I come with a broad array of experience and can get on the ground running immediately. I pride myself in the quality and efficiency of my work product.
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Browse Lawyers NowStartup Legal Questions and Answers
Startup
Convertible Note
California
Convertible note vs. equity financing?
I am an entrepreneur and I am in the process of raising capital for my startup. I am considering both convertible note and equity financing options and am trying to decide which one is best suited for my company. I need to understand the key differences between the two options to make an informed decision.
Thaddeus W.
Good question. Convertible notes (as well as SAFE's, discussed below) differ from equity in several respects. The most fundamental difference is that a convertible note is debt. A second major difference is that, although the note is debt, its terms include the noteholder's right to acquire an equity position in the future; if a certain event later occurs (defined in the note, but typically the sale of preferred stock to a future investor (e.g. a venture capital firm), but also a sale of the company can have a similar effect), this will trigger the note to convert into equity and the note is "satisfied" ... that is, the debt is extinguished when the note converts and the holder thereby becomes an equity holder (typically coming to own shares of preferred stock very similar to that issued to the future investors in that triggering event). These two differences are related to a third. A convertible note is often issued without a valuation of the company. For example, when a startup business has no operating history, it is impossible for the startup founders or the investor to decide what the company is worth. Equity cannot be issued for a fair market value (FMV), since there is no basis to determine what the FMV is. A convertible note resolves that by giving the investor (the note holder) the right to convert the note into equity later on, when another investor and the company can agree on a company valuation. In other words, the convertible note allows the company to "kick the can (of valuation) down the road" to be dealt with at another time. But, since a convertible note is debt, is has a repayment provision, and normally carries interest. This means that the note is carried on the company's balance sheet as debt, and presents the company with the future obligation to repay the note if a conversion event has not happened before the note's maturity date. So, SAFE's are often used, especially now that they have become so familiar to investors. (SAFE stands for Simple Agreement for Future Equity). Essentially, as SAFE is a convertible note without the debt features. A SAFE carries no interest and does not have to be repaid. The investor in a SAFE will normally be sophisticated and able to assess the chances the company will do well enough for a conversion event (the issuance of preferred stock, or a sale of the company) to result in the investor's SAFE converting, and thus give the investor comfort that would otherwise be lacking in an instrument that has no repayment obligation. Like a convertible note, a SAFE kicks the can of valuation down the road, where a valuation can later be determined by the company and a future investor. Founders should exercise caution in issuing convertible notes or SAFE's. Among other reasons, founders commonly do not appreciate the impact that convertible notes or SAFE's can have on the founders' own ownership. Convertible notes and SAFE's often include a feature called a "valuation cap." This can result in surprising dilution, as well as the issuance of equity to the converting note or SAFE holder at what is effectively a very low price per share, costing the company far more than the founders may have expected. Also, notes and SAFE's with very similar, but different, terms can result in a complicated capitalization table, making negotiations with venture capital firms later on more difficult, an equity transaction more complex, and thus the process more time-consuming and (therefore) more expensive.
Startup
Terms Sheet
California
What are the most important things to look at in a term sheet?
I am expecting to get a few term sheets from investors in the next month. I want to know what I should be looking for.
Ramsey T.
Every term in a term sheet, by definition is important. A term sheet is a summary of the most important parts of a "deal" - a way of getting to and negotiating the hear of the deal before filling in the gaps with boilerplate. Therefore, you should make sure that you understand all of what has been proposed and negotiated in the term sheet - even the provision that don't seem that important - because they wouldn't be in the term sheet if they weren't a key term to one side or the other.
Startup
Shareholders Agreement
Ohio
How to track shareholders agreements?
I am a business owner and I have recently incorporated my business. As part of the incorporation process, I have created a shareholders agreement with my co-founders. I am looking to ensure that this agreement is properly tracked, documented, and monitored over time. I am seeking guidance on the best methods to track shareholders agreements and any advice on how to ensure the agreement is being followed.
Paul S.
There are cap table management companies such as Carta and Pulley, that can help with this (for a fee). As long as your company has only issued common stock, maintaining a cap table and stock ledger in Excel is more than adequate. I also recommend storing PDFs of the stock purchase agreements in a cloud-based folder labeled "Stock Purchase Agreements." In terms of officer roles, the corporation's Secretary is responsible for maintaining these shareholder records.
Startup
New York
Once my options have vested for the startup I am working for, can I sell them?
I am an early employee for a startup that has raised money in the past year. I will have some of my options vested soon and wanted to know if I was able to sell them.
Ramsey T.
It depends upon when you vest and whether or not you have a "market" for the shares. You must satisfy a holding requirement for your vested shares under US securities laws that requires that you hold your shares for at least one (1) year. The vesting period is added in - so, for example, if you vested in your options six months after receiving them and then exercised your options and tried to sell your shares, you would be in violation of US securities laws. After a one year holding period you may sell them. You might, however, have restrictions, such as a "Right of First Refusal" (a "ROFR") or other restrictions on selling your shares. Its worth checking all the documents and restrictions.
Startup
Vesting Agreement
Pennsylvania
Erin hope your having a great day! I am starting up my cold pressed juice company im bring in a co founder who's handling all branding and marketing I wan to give him some equity. looking for help with splitting equity and writing up a vesting agreement. thanks looking forward to hearing from you.
.
Ryan W.
HI Erin. Congratulations on starting your cold pressed juice venture. That is exciting. I do have experience drafting agreements between founders and investors. Vesting agreements can be very flexible to meet the needs of the parties. They are very useful when a party is investing sweat equity in addition to or in place of cash. I am happy to discuss such agreements with you and how they relate to your particular venture.
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