Startup Lawyers for Clearwater, Florida

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Meet some of our Clearwater Startup Lawyers

Ayelet F. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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5.0 (7)
Member Since:
June 9, 2021

Ayelet F.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Coral Springs, FL
13 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Nova Southeastern University

Ayelet G. Faerman knows what influencers mean to brands today. With experience as legal counsel for a beauty brand for over 5 years, and overseeing multiple collaborations, Ayelet has experienced the rise of influencer marketing. As the founder and managing partner of Faerman Law, PA her practice focuses on influencer relations including a specialization in contract negotiations.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Professional, pleasant to work with and excellent communication. Would highly recommend Ayelet!"

Melissa G. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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5.0 (1)
Member Since:
May 27, 2021

Melissa G.

Trademark and Business attorney
Free Consultation
Fort Lauderdale
14 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
University of Miami School of Law

Melissa D. Goolsarran Ramnauth, Esq. is an experienced trial-winning trademark and business attorney. She has represented large businesses in commercial litigation cases. She now represents consumers and small businesses regarding federal trademarks, contracts, and more. Her extensive litigation knowledge allows her to prepare strong trademark applications and contracts to minimize the risk of future lawsuits.

Michael K. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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5.0 (81)
Member Since:
June 28, 2021

Michael K.

Associate Counsel
Free Consultation
Miami, FL
8 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
St. Thomas University School of Law

A business-oriented, proactive, and problem-solving corporate lawyer with in-house counsel experience, ensuring the legality of commercial transactions and contracts. Michael is adept in reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and generally overseeing policies, procedures, handbooks, corporate documents, and more importantly, contracts. He has a proven track record of helping lead domestic and international companies by ensuring they are functioning in complete compliance with local and international rules and regulations.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Pretty much finished up with the project, aside from some finishing touches. I have to say, Michael did a great job. He worked patiently with me through any irregularities or confusion. What I appreciated most was that his vision was to get me the best results, ensuring a secure structure and a solid investment. I really appreciate his work and help."

Ralph S. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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5.0 (66)
Member Since:
October 31, 2021

Ralph S.

Business, contract, prenup and startups Attorney
Free Consultation
Gainesville FL
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL DC, MA
University of Florida Levin College of Law

Ralph graduated from University of Florida with his JD as well as an LLM in Comparative Law. He has a Master's in Law from Warsaw University , Poland (summa cum laude) and holds a diploma in English and European Law from Cambridge Board of Continuous Education. Ralph concentrates on business entity formation, both for profit and non profit and was trained in legal drafting. In his practice he primarily assists small to medium sized startups and writes tailor made contracts as he runs one of Florida disability non profits at the same time. T l Licensed. in Florida Massachusetts and Washington DC this attorney speaks Polish.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Ralph was great to work with. He took the time to understand my project, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and provided thoughtful legal guidance that went beyond simply reviewing documents. His feedback helped me identify important regulatory considerations and gave me a much clearer direction for moving forward. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for practical and knowledgeable legal advice."

Moss S. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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5.0 (3)
Member Since:
November 17, 2021

Moss S.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Boca Raton, FL
38 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL MA, RI
Suffolk Law School

Over 30 years of experience practicing commercial real estate and complex business litigation law.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Moss S was responsive and attentive to my needs and completed the task ahead of time and within budget"

Bruce B. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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5.0 (13)
Member Since:
January 11, 2022

Bruce B.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
St. Petersburg, FL
11 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
University of South Carolina

Bruce Burk practice is in the area of small business, labor and employment, contracts, real estate and civil litigation. Bruce has litigated over 40 trials as well as many appeals. He prioritizes client communication and satisfaction as well as delivering high quality work product.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Attorney Bruce was excellent to work with. Very fast with his responses and answered all my questions."

Antoine D. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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4.8 (3)
Member Since:
February 7, 2022

Antoine D.

Owner
Free Consultation
Fort Lauderdale
10 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Howard University School of Law

In his firm, Talented Tenth Law, Antoine focuses on helping people maximize their protection and prosperity in the courtroom and the boardroom. His firm’s services include representing people in lawsuits involving breach of contract, many types of civil lawsuits and helping business owners win government contracts among other things.

Samantha B. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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Member Since:
April 15, 2021

Samantha B.

Principal and Founder
Free Consultation
Chicago
12 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL IL
Ave Maria School of Law

Samantha has focused her career on developing and implementing customized compliance programs for SEC, CFTC, and FINRA regulated organizations. She has worked with over 100 investment advisers, alternative asset managers (private equity funds, hedge funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds, etc.), and broker-dealers, with assets under management ranging from several hundred million to several billion dollars. Samantha has held roles such as Chief Compliance Officer and Interim Chief Compliance Officer for SEC-registered investment advisory firms, “Of Counsel” for law firms, and has worked for various securities compliance consulting firms. Samantha founded Coast to Coast Compliance to make a meaningful impact on clients’ businesses overall, by enhancing or otherwise creating an exceptional and customized compliance program and cultivating a strong culture of compliance. Coast to Coast Compliance provides proactive, comprehensive, and independent compliance solutions, focusing primarily on project-based deliverables and various ongoing compliance pain points for investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other financial services firms.

Anna K. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
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Member Since:
November 12, 2021

Anna K.

Manager
Free Consultation
Miami, Florida
28 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
University of Miami

Anna is an experienced attorney, with over twenty years of experience. With no geographical boundaries confining her practice, Anna works on corporate, healthcare and real estate transactions. Anna brings extensive big firm experience, garnered as an associate in the Miami office of the world's largest law firm, Baker and McKenzie, and the Miami office of the international law firm Kilpatrick Townsend. Her areas of expertise include: mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, private placements, healthcare transactions, corporate finance, commercial real estate transaction and acting as a general corporate counsel. Anna is certified to practice law in Florida and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1998. Anna is also a Certified Public Accountant. She passed May 1995 CPA Exam on the first sitting. She is fluent in Russian (native).

Grant P. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
View Grant
Member Since:
October 12, 2021

Grant P.

Founder
Free Consultation
New York
23 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL NJ, NY
Brooklyn

Founder and owner of Grant Phillips Law.. Practicing and licensed in NY, NJ & Fl with focus on small businesses across the country that are stuck in predatory commercial loans. The firm specializes in representing business owners with Merchant Cash Advances or Factoring Arrangments they can no longer afford. The firms clients include restaurants, truckers, contractors, for profit schools, doctors and corner supermarkets to name a few. GRANT PHILLIPS LAW, PLLC. is at the cutting edge of bringing affordable and expert legal representation on behalf of Merchants stuck with predatory loans or other financial instruments that drain the companies revenues. Grant Phillips Law will defend small businesses with Merchant Cash Advances they can no longer afford. Whether you have been sued, a UCC lien filed against your receivables or your bank account is levied or frozen, we have your back. See more at www.grantphillipslaw.com

Oscar B. - Startup Lawyer in Clearwater, Florida
View Oscar
Member Since:
October 28, 2021

Oscar B.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Saint Petersburg, FL
24 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Stetson University, College of Law

Oscar is a St. Petersburg native. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Stetson University, College of Law. A former US Army Judge Advocate, Oscar has more than 20 years of experience in Estate Planning, Real Estate, Small Business, Probate, and Asset Protection law. A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, and a second-generation Gator, he received a B.A. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Stetson University’s College of Law. Oscar began working in real estate sales in 1994 prior to attending law school. He continued in real estate, small business law, and Asset Protection as an associate attorney with the firm on Bush, Ross, Gardner, Warren, & Rudy in 2002 before leaving to open his own practice. Oscar also held the position of Sales & Marketing Director for Ballast Point Homes separately from his law practice. He is also a licensed real estate broker and owner of a boutique real estate brokerage. As a captain in the US Army JAG Corps, he served as a Judge Advocate in the 3rd Infantry Division and then as Chief of Client Services, Schweinfurt, Germany, and Chief of Criminal Justice for the 200th MP Command, Ft. Meade, Maryland. He is a certified VA attorney representative and an active member of VARep, an organization of real estate and legal professionals dedicated to representing and educating veterans. Oscar focuses his practice on real small business and asset protection law.

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Startup Legal Questions and Answers

Startup

Software Agreement

Florida

Asked on Jun 9, 2023

Software agreement and maintenance?

I am an entrepreneur who is planning to launch a new software product. I am in the process of negotiating a software agreement with a potential partner, and I need to make sure that I understand my obligations regarding maintenance of the software. I have limited experience in this area and need to ensure that I have a comprehensive agreement that covers all of the necessary points.

Daniel D.

Answered Jul 18, 2023

Your maintenance obligations will largely depend on what is written into the software agreement between you and your partner. If you and your partner agree you can have a very broad or very limited obligation, but it should be clear so you avoid any disputes in the future. A comprehensive agreement can include any provisions you and your partner agree on as long as it does not violate State Law or Public Policy.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

Founders' Agreement

Alabama

Asked on Aug 5, 2021

How to issue stock to co-founder?

I have some questions about granting stock to co-founder below. Thank you for answering my questions. 1. Company A plans to offer stock options (1000 shares) to employees. These stock options come with a vesting plan. Before the stock options vest, who are holding the stocks (1000 shares)? Or the stocks are to be issued only if the employees decide to exercise? 2. Vesting stock for co-founders: Mr. A founds a company and he invites Mr. B to join as a co-founder. Mr. B tells Mr. A that he wants to put in money as well and therefore wants to have 30% of the company. Mr. A, after reading a lot of information on Contractscounsel.com, thinks that he should give Mr. B vesting stock options rather than outright stocks, as that would help him help him avoid possible problems if Mr. B decides to leave the company after several months. What is the best way for Mr. A to handle this situation while keeping Mr. B interested?

Jane C.

Answered Aug 5, 2021

2. The best way for Mr. A to address his concerns and keep Mr. B interested is by offering him restricted stock that vests over time. Mr. B will receive dividends and have the right to vote; however, the Company can buy the unvested shares back if Mr. B decides to leave the Company before a certain period of time. Disclaimer - This information is provided for general informational purposes only. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

Convertible Note

California

Asked on Jul 30, 2023

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.

Answered Sep 8, 2023

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.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

Equity Agreement

Massachusetts

Asked on Oct 25, 2021

What is the best way to receive equity compensation for work as a consultant?

I work as a fractional CFO to startup companies providing monthly services for a fixed fee. I'm looking to put in place an agreement where I receive a fixed rate of cash compensation each month, along with a fixed dollar rate of equity compensation each month. Given that these are startups, the valuation is generally not known at the time of the agreement. What is the best way to structure this arangement?

Moss S.

Answered Nov 30, 2021

It is always difficult to set a fair compensation package when a valuation of a company for equity purposes is unknown. Normally when funding a startup company, investors are given a valuation for their investment should the company be successful. If this is not ascertainable, I would suggest setting forth certain milestones of the amount of time expended and relate that to a percentage of equity in the company.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

LLC

Illinois

Asked on Aug 8, 2023

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.

Answered Aug 25, 2023

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.

Read 1 attorney answer>
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