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Meet some of our Stockton Startup Lawyers
Matthew H.
We are a boutique firm located in San Diego that handles civil litigation with a couple other areas of law.
Chia-Fen Y.
Attorney Yu represents clients in business and real estate transactions and has successfully handled more than 200 cases. She has experience in corporate law, including forming legal entities, employment law and workers’ compensation law matters pertaining to wage and hour violations, industrial injuries, misclassifications, and other employment-related torts and contracts. Attorney Yu works with employers to address employee relationship issues, develop effective policies and craft employment agreements. Attorney Yu regularly advises clients on the legal and business aspects of potential investments, ongoing business operations, debt collections, shareholders and partners disputes, business purchase agreements, risk assessment, intellectual property disputes, and potential contract disputes. She regularly handles real estate law matters such as landlord-tenant disputes, lease agreements, buy-sell disputes, title disputes, and construction disputes. She also has substantial experience settling debts, and she drafts, reviews and negotiates settlement agreements. Attorney Yu conducts extensive legal research and provides on-point legal advice to both corporate and individual clients.
Christopher M.
I am a corporate attorney with several years of experience with contracts, corporate and business, government projects, and employment law.
October 26, 2021
Steve C.
I am a corporate and business attorney in Orange County, CA. I advise start-ups, early-growth companies, investors, and entrepreneurs in various sectors and industries including technology, entertainment, digital media, healthcare, and biomedical.
October 29, 2021
Yoann E. A. L.
For over 15 years, I accumulated both hands-on technical and business experience as an IT engineer and entrepreneur, enabling me to understand your challenges probably better than anyone else on the legal market! My California-based full-online practice focuses on: - Intellectual Property (Copyright / Trademarks) - Privacy / Data Protection - Commercial matters (e.g. service contracts) - Corporate (e.g. incorporation, restructuring)
November 10, 2021
Josiah Y.
Attorney licensed to practice in both California and New York, Josiah is focused on helping people understand what's in their contracts, and do business with confidence.
November 17, 2021
Harrison K.
Harrison Kordestani is an executive with over twenty-five years experience in entertainment and media, energy, technologies, and start-ups. Mr. Kordestani has also developed a specialized legal and strategic consulting practice representing select entertainment, oil and gas, mortgage lending, and technology start-up clientele. He is also deeply passionate about new technologies and has also actively worked in building companies in the video-on-demand, wearable tech, information of things, demand prediction and app-marketing spaces. As an attorney, Mr. Kordestani's focus has been on transactional drafting and negotiation and providing ongoing legal counsel, corporate compliance, and contract interpretation to numerous private individuals as well as companies in varied fields.
January 24, 2022
Cameron S.
A commercial contracts lawyer with over 25 years of experience (both at large law firms and in-house as general counsel of a public company)
December 13, 2021
Philip M.
I have been a freelance attorney for several years and have many of my clients returning to me for continued work because of the quality I produce.
January 4, 2022
Amy Sue L.
Ms. Leavens is a corporate attorney with 10 years of experience as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of a Congressionally chartered, non-profit corporation, and more than 20 years of experience as an advisor to executive officers and boards of directors in for-profit and non-profit organizations. She has substantial experience within in-house legal departments managing cross-functional teams comprised of multiple business units and attorneys on large-scale mission critical projects, and within a global law firm as a manager of public and private, domestic and international, multi-party business transactions. She has unique experience implementing government-sponsored business initiatives. Ms. Leavens was honored in 2015 as one of Washington, D.C.’s Top Corporate Counsel by Bisnow and the Association of Corporate Counsel; nominated in 2014 for the Association of Corporate Counsel (WMACCA) Outstanding Chief Legal Officer Award; and the recipient in 2014 of WMACCA’s Community Service Award.
March 26, 2022
Pankaj R.
I advise clients in the areas of business, trademarks, real estate, employment, and finance. My overarching goals are to unite creative people and companies to assist them in making sound legal and business decisions. I have been fortunate enough to build a fast-growing, 21st-century law firm with an amazing staff by my side. Our focus is not just on providing invaluable legal insight but creating a better all-around client experience. We provide unique subscription pricing and flat-fee options for our clients, providing billing transparency and enhanced value to all of our wonderful clients. Focus areas: contract drafting, negotiations, research, trademarks international law, entertainment, business development, entity choice; business: manager, team builder, leader, motivator. Speaking Engagements: National Business Institute (NBI) - "Business Contracts 101"
May 30, 2022
Michael R.
If you're looking for an attorney who can help your business succeed, look no further! With my experience in the legal field, I can provide you with the legal advice you need with entity formation, contract drafting, business operations, and more, And because I'm committed to providing high quality service, you can be sure that your needs will always be met. Contact me today to learn more about how I can help your business thrive!
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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
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
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
Startup
LLC
Texas
How is ownership defined in LLC formation?
I am starting a new business and am looking to form a limited liability company (LLC). I understand that an LLC is a business structure that can help protect my personal assets from any debts or liabilities of the business. I am looking to understand how the ownership of the LLC is defined and how it affects the legal and financial structure of the LLC. I am hoping to find out what type of paperwork and/or agreements need to be drawn up in order to set up the LLC properly.
Jimmy V.
Owners of LLCs are called "Members." Members make an initial contribution of cash or other property to the LLC in exchange for their Membership Interests in the LLC. The Members can run the LLC themselves if they like. This is common in LLCs with one or only a few Members. If there are many Members, they may decide to appoint a Manager to run the LLC. Managers can be owners, and vice versa.
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