Startup Lawyers for Richmond, California
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Valerie L.
Valerie is a passionate attorney specializing in Employment Law, Family Law, Personal Injury, and Business. With a strong foundation in the legal field, she is committed to helping individuals navigate the intricacies of their legal agreements. Valerie prioritizes open communication, ensuring her clients feel seen, understood, and confident as they make important decisions for their future. She is committed to empowering clients to become the best version of themselves while addressing their unique needs throughout the process.
"I had an excellent experience working with Valerie on my prenup. She was knowledgeable and thorough. She took time to answer my questions and explain items in detail. I felt completely supported throughout the entire process. Thank you for your professionalism and for making an otherwise stressful task feel more manageable. Highly recommend!"
Dean F.
Ferraro Law Firm was founded by Dean C. Ferraro. Dean earned his Bachelor's Degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ("Cal Poly Pomona") in 1992 and his J.D. Degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law ("Ole Miss") in 1996. He is licensed to practice law in the State Courts of Colorado, Tennessee, and California. Dean is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts of Colorado (District of Colorado), California (Central District), and Tennessee (Eastern District). Shortly after earning his law license and working for a private law firm, Dean joined the District Attorney's office, where he worked for five successful years as one of the leading prosecuting attorneys in the State of Tennessee. After seven years of practicing law in Tennessee, Dean moved back to his birth state and practiced law in California from 2003-2015. In 2015, Dean moved with his family to Colorado, practicing law in beautiful Castle Rock, where he is recognized as a highly-effective attorney, well-versed in many areas of law. Dean's career has entailed practicing multiple areas of law, including civil litigation with a large law firm, prosecuting criminal cases as an Assistant District Attorney, In-House Counsel for Safeco Insurance, and as the founding member of an online law group that helped thousands of people get affordable legal services. Pursuing his passion for helping others, Dean now utilizes his legal and entrepreneurial experience to help his clients in their personal and business lives. Dean is also a bestselling author of two legal thrillers, Murder in Santa Barbara and Murder in Vail. He currently is working on his next legal thriller, The Grove Conspiracy, set to be published in 2023.
"I would highly recommend Contract Counsel to friends or family. I received bids relatively quickly and was able to find the best fit for my situation."
Rene H.
I am an attorney licensed in both California and Mexico. I offer a unique blend of 14 years of legal expertise that bridges the gap between diverse legal landscapes. My background is enriched by significant roles as in-house counsel for global powerhouses such as Anheuser-Busch, Campari Group, and Grupo Lala, alongside contributions to Tier 1 law firms. I specialize in navigating the complexities of two pivotal areas: AI/Tech Innovation: With a profound grasp of both cutting-edge transformer models and foundational machine learning technologies, I am your go-to advisor for integrating these advancements into your business. Whether it's B2B or B2C applications, I ensure that your company harnesses the power of AI in a manner that's not only enterprise-friendly but also fully compliant with regulatory standards. Cross-Border Excellence: My expertise extends beyond borders, with over a decade of experience facilitating cross-border operations for companies in more than 20 countries. I am particularly adept at enhancing US-Mexico operations, ensuring seamless and efficient business transactions across these territories.
"Rene gets the job done in an effective and efficient manner. Rene understood the goals of the project I hired him for; delivered and reached those goals with his knowledge and experience; as well as consistently following up on time, and is pleasant to work with."
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Mark F.
International-savvy technology lawyer with 35years+ in Silicon Valley, Tokyo, Research Triangle, Silicon Forest. Outside & inside general counsel, legal infrastructure development, product exports, and domestic & international contracts for clients across North America, Europe, and Asia. Work with Founders to establish startup and continuous revenue, sourcing and partnering with investors to attract funding, define success strategy and direct high-performing teams, advising stakeholders and Boards of Directors to steer company growth.
"Mark has guided us through a complex acquisition involving shareholders with different interests, IP and litigation questions and management issues with great expertise and patience. We could not have done this without his help."
Michael M.
www.linkedin/in/michaelbmiller I am an experienced contracts professional having practiced nearly 3 decades in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, technology, start-up, intellectual property, real estate, employment law as well as informal dispute resolution. I enjoy providing a cost effective, high quality, timely solution with patience and empathy regarding client needs. I graduated from NYU Law School and attended Rutgers College and the London School of Economics as an undergraduate. I have worked at top Wall Street firms, top regional firms and have long term experience in my own practice. I would welcome the opportunity to be of service to you as a trusted fiduciary. In 2022 and 2023, I was the top ranked attorney on the Contract Counsel site based upon number of clients, quality of work and number of 5 Star reviews.
"Working with Michael has been fantastic. You'll be hard-pressed to find someone more knowledgeable and honest than him!"
Justin K.
I have been practicing law exclusively in the areas of business and real estate transactions since joining the profession in 2003. I began my career in the Corporate/Finance department of Sidley's Los Angeles office. I am presently a solo practitioner/freelancer, and service both business- and attorney-clients in those roles.
"Justin was great to work with, we hope to work with him again in future."
Matthew S.
Attorney with a wide-range of experience
"Matthew is exceptionally timely. He had a response back to me three days before the due date. He is easy to work with and an excellent communicator. If I ever need assistance in the future, I will reach out to Matthew."
Alex P.
Managing partner at Patel & Almeida and has over 22 years of experience assisting clients in the areas of intellectual property. business, employment, and nonprofit law.
November 4, 2022
Cherryl M.
I am a U.S. lawyer (licensed in California) and have recently relocated to London. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. I have extensive experience in providing legal services and support in areas of business, labor & employment, IP enforcement (patent infringement, copyright & trademark), and other litigation matters; Reviewing, drafting, and editing business and legal documents/contracts; Conducting legal research and analysis, drafting memorandums, pleadings, discovery, document review, various motions, mediation briefs, and other litigation related activities; Reviewing and preparation of templates, policies, and processes for compliance with laws and regulations; educating and advising on legal and compliance issues.
November 2, 2022
Maigan W.
Maigan is a registered nurse and attorney with tech, start-up, and blockchain legal experience. Maigan acted as general counsel for a software-as-a-service company for three years. Maigan has a unique understanding of crypto and smart contracts. As a registered nurse, Maigan is in a unique position to understand health law issues and graduated with a concentration in health law distinction. Maigan is happy to help you create a business entity, draft and negotiate contracts and agreements, apply for trademarks, draft terms of service and privacy notices, assist with fundraising, and act as a consultant for other attorneys looking for someone who understands blockchian/crypto. Maigan speaks conversational Spanish.
February 4, 2023
Joseph M.
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1999. EXPERIENCED & RELIABLE, LITIGATION, LEGAL COUNSELING AND REPRESENTATION
February 9, 2023
Kandil O.
A business law practitioner by passion, I take pride in the perfection of my contracting Skills. Every piece of information I gather and spin together transforms to a legally binding document, providing great legal protection for start-ups and leading to eventual growth. I am a natural in law and entrepreneurship, making for a perfect blend.
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Browse Lawyers NowStartup Legal Questions and Answers
Startup
Cofounder Agreement
California
Is it necessary to have a co-founder agreement when starting a business?
I am in the process of starting a business with a co-founder, and we have discussed various aspects of our partnership such as equity distribution, roles and responsibilities, and decision-making authority. However, we are unsure if it is necessary to have a formal co-founder agreement in place to protect our interests and ensure a smooth working relationship. We want to understand the importance and potential benefits of having a legally binding agreement in order to make an informed decision.
Paul S.
It's not necessary but it can be a really good idea. You'll want to address things like the equity split, vesting schedule, each cofounder's contributions (cash, IP, time, etc.), how much time each cofounder will be expected to spend (and if someone is starting out part-time, when they are expected to go full-time), and you may want to address consequences for failing to meet the required contributions and time - for example, company can claw back shares at original price and expel the cofounder.
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
LLC
Illinois
LLC and management structure?
I am in the process of starting a business and am considering forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC). I want to understand the management structure of an LLC and how it works in practice. I am interested in how the management structure can help protect me from personal liability, and how it can provide a framework for decision-making and dispute resolution.
Talin H.
Hi, congrats on starting a business! You're asking all of the right questions. The short answer is that your LLC operating agreement can spell out in as much detail as you want what decisions the Manager of the LLC is free to make on their own, and what decisions require a vote from the other Members. You can also elect to have a multi-manager LLC, in which each Manager is responsible for different aspects of the business, such as day-to-day operations versus overall business strategy versus capital raising. Again, each one of these Manager roles can specifically delineate what decisions and actions the Manager can take automatically, without other Members' prior approval. I specialize in business and corporate transactions and have drafted 100s of LLC operating agreements. I would be delighted to help you. Please reach out at talin@hitiklaw.com or call my office at (312)685-2292.
Startup
LLC
Alabama
State of Texas - questions regarding an online business (Nanny Placement Agency) in the Houston area.
Seeking an attorney for advice as to what I need to start up an online business, specifically a Nanny Placement Agency. Do I need a license in the state of Texas and what do I need to protect myself against possible unforeseen lawsuits. I will be living in the Houston area soon but want to start my online business remotely (Michigan) asap. I have an LLC in Michigan already, I assume I may need one in Texas as well, is this correct?
Jimmy V.
Hello, I can help you with this project. I’m a semi-retired, long-time Texas attorney with substantial experience in business and corporate law. I counsel startups and small businesses, help them set up corporations or LLCs across the country and draft a variety of contracts and corporate documents. You should have an LLC for liability protections, whether it's in Michigan or in Texas. Actually, you would be better off organizing a Texas LLC because your Michigan LLC would have to register in Texas so you would be paying extra fees. There is no licensing requirement for nanny agencies in Texas. If you are interested, I will make you a flat fee bid to set up an LLC for you here in Texas. Thx. JV PS For more information about business entities, download a free copy of my ebook "Should Your Small Business Become a Corporation or an LLC? A Look at Liabilities, State & Federal Taxation & More!" from my website types-of-business-ownership.com
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