Hire a Lawyer for 60% Less than Traditional Law Firms
Meet some of our San Diego 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.
November 17, 2023
Alexandra I.
I am a licensed attorney in California specializing in consumer contract law. My areas of expertise include contract law and employment law, including independent contractor compliance, work-for-hire compliance and general corporate law. I appreciate getting to know my clients and enjoy providing legal guidance, whether they are large corporations, young start-ups about to take off, or just one person in need of legal advice. Some of my recent work has included the drafting of corporate purchase and sale agreements, independent contractor agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and software as a service (SaaS) agreements. I am well-versed in intellectual property law and have successfully obtained trademarks for former clients. My passion for learning, reading and writing has proved advantageous in my practice. I complete continuing education courses to stay current on industry best practices. I take great satisfaction in offering precise and helpful legal advice free from fancy terminology. I look forward to discussing your particular needs and supporting you in achieving your objectives. Please get in touch to learn more about my approach and see whether we are a good fit.
November 21, 2023
Jana B.
I am a Silicon Valley tech lawyer with over 13 years of in-house experience and additional years in BigLaw. I provide tech licensing, data privacy, employment, international expansion, go to market, and other corporate and commercial legal services to clients in software, SaaS, bio-tech, cryptocurrency, financing, and construction business. I currently run my own practice concentrating on transactional, commercial, corporate or employment matters. Prior to starting my own practice, I joined as the first in-house counsel to lead the global legal strategy to bring tech products to market, increase revenue, decrease exposure to risk, and raise venture funding for HashiCorp Inc., currently an unicorn technology company with evaluation over $5 billion and venture funding over $350 million; Sysdig Inc., a technology company with venture funding of $195 million; and Anaplan Inc., currently a publicly traded company on the US Stock Market. Furthermore, I acted as in-house counsel advising leading technology enterprise companies such as HP, VMware, and Genentech and currently act as member of strategic advisory boards to several technology companies located globally
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.
Find the best lawyer for your project
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
Single Member LLC Operating Agreement
Alabama
Start a trucking business as an owner operator
Experienced driver wants to own the truck and make a business out of it
John H.
You will need to begin by picking a name for your trucking business and then proceed to reserving the name with the Secretary of State and then you will need to choose what business entity your business will operate under. I have experience drafting the paperwork you will need to get set up.
Startup
LLC
Texas
What are the benefits of LLC formation?
I am a small business owner looking to expand my operations and protect my personal assets. I am considering forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and would like to understand the benefits of doing so. I understand that an LLC provides limited liability for its owners, but I am also interested in the tax implications and other benefits of LLC formation.
Jimmy V.
The LLC has three advantages over other types of business entities: (1) it creates a liability shield for the owner's personal assets in case the business gets sued; (2) the LLC has "pass-through" taxation - in other words, unlike a corporation, there is no tax due at the entity level. All profits and losses "pass through" to the owner and are accounted for on the owner's individual tax return; (3) the LLC is a simple and flexible business structure that does not require as much paperwork as a corporation.
Startup
Convertible Note
New York
Do startups use convertible notes?
I am working to figure out what I should use for a group of investors I am speaking to about my startup. We're a technology company that is very early on. We want to raise a bit of money so we can further develop our software and pay the founders.
Ramsey T.
Start-ups do raise capital through the use of Convertible Notes. Convertible Notes are starting to fade as the preferred sort of convertible instrument for start-ups and as SAFES become more prevalent. Convertible Notes are still quite common in more "traditional" start-up industries, such as those that involve real estate, manufacturing and other legacy industries.
How It Works
Startup lawyers by top cities
- Austin Startup Lawyers
- Boston Startup Lawyers
- Chicago Startup Lawyers
- Dallas Startup Lawyers
- Denver Startup Lawyers
- Houston Startup Lawyers
- Los Angeles Startup Lawyers
- New York Startup Lawyers
- Phoenix Startup Lawyers
- San Diego Startup Lawyers
- Tampa Startup Lawyers
Startup lawyers by nearby cities
- Bakersfield Startup Lawyers
- Hayward Startup Lawyers
- Huntington Beach Startup Lawyers
- La Puente Startup Lawyers
- North Hollywood Startup Lawyers
- Pomona Startup Lawyers
- Sacramento Startup Lawyers
- San Francisco Startup Lawyers
- Santa Ana Startup Lawyers
- Stockton Startup Lawyers
Related Contracts
- 501c3 Application
- Acceptable Use Policy
- Accredited Investor Questionnaire
- Adverse Action Notice
- Advisory Board Member Contract
- Annual Report
- App Development Agreement
- Articles of Association
- Articles of Incorporation
- Articles of Organization
other helpful articles
- How much does it cost to draft a contract?
- Do Contract Lawyers Use Templates?
- How do Contract Lawyers charge?
- Business Contract Lawyers: How Can They Help?
- What to look for when hiring a lawyer
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
View Trustpilot ReviewContracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.
View Trustpilot ReviewI never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.
View Trustpilot ReviewI got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.
View Trustpilot Review