Startup Lawyers for Kentucky

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Meet some of our Kentucky Startup Lawyers

Garrett M. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
View Garrett
4.9 (10)
Member Since:
June 15, 2023

Garrett M.

Business Attorney
Free Consultation
Cincinnati, Ohio
6 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KY OH
University of Cincinnati College of Law

Attorney Garrett Mayleben's practice is focused on representing small businesses and the working people that make them profitable. He represents companies in structuring and negotiating merger, acquisition, and real estate transactions; guides emerging companies through the startup phase; and consults with business owners on corporate governance matters. Garrett also practices in employment law, copyright and trademark law, and civil litigation. Though industry agnostic, Garrett has particular experience representing medical, dental, veterinary, and chiropractic practices in various business transactions, transitions, and the structuring of related management service organizations (MSOs).

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
4.7

"Though I found a few small mistakes that made me think he rushed a bit, he revised the agreement to be more in my favor. His expertise was well worth it."

Elisher W. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
View Elisher
4.1 (4)
Member Since:
May 6, 2025

Elisher W.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Newport, Kentucky
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KY OH
Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law

Attorney licensed in Kentucky and Ohio with four years experience in real estate transactional law (commercial and residential), litigation, construction law, and IP licensing. I have substantial experience in drafting and reviewing contracts as complex as billion dollar mining financing down to simple settlement agreements.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Elisher is very diligent, and his letter was on point. I really appreciate his help."

Dillon N. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
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Member Since:
July 13, 2020

Dillon N.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Chicago, IL
11 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KY IL
University of Kentucky College of Law

My practice has involved a wide range of legal matters from commercial real estate, finance and international business transactions to litigation matters including commercial disputes, real estate, employment, and medical malpractice. Proficient in Spanish, I graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law, the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, and the University of Southern California. Prior to my legal career, I sought diverse professional experiences. After graduating from college, I orchestrated my own volunteering experience in southern Peru with a small non-profit organization. Later I gained valuable professional experience as part of a U.S. Senate campaign, and after that I joined the public policy team at Greater Louisville, Inc., Louisville's Chamber of Commerce affiliate. Prior to law school, I embarked on a month long excursion with the Northern Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska, which gave me a new found appreciation for sustainability.

Nichole C. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
View Nichole
Member Since:
October 22, 2021

Nichole C.

Attorney
Kentucky
20 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KY
University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law

Licensed attorney in KY and Federally JD, 2006 University of Louisville MBA, 2006 University of Louisville BS, 2001 Berea College Licensed Title Agent Arbitrator and Certified Mediator Business Consultant Adjunct Professor, Law and Business

Alexander C. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
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Member Since:
August 23, 2025

Alexander C.

CEO
Free Consultation
Tampa, Florida
6 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KY MO, NE, NJ, SD
The George Washington University Law School

I am a solo practitioner that runs my own legal practice. I am currently licensed in 16 states and I'm working to expand that reach.

DC L. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
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Member Since:
May 20, 2026

DC L.

Managing Partner
Free Consultation
Nashville, Tennessee
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KY IN, TN
University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

Darren Craig ("DC") Lamb is the Founder and Managing Partner of DCL Legal, AI, & Business Consulting, a Nashville-based law firm serving entrepreneurs, founders, and growing businesses as outside general counsel. Licensed in TN, KY, and IN, Darren previously served as lead associate at Wilson Elser (AmLaw 200), handling all litigation for a Fortune 500 e-commerce company across KY, IN, and TN, and managing complex coverage matters for a leading international insurance market. DCL Legal focuses on business litigation, commercial contracts, corporate governance, AI & technology advisory, and fractional general counsel engagements — delivering executive-level legal guidance without the cost of full-time in-house counsel.

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Meet some of our other Startup Lawyers

Brian J R. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
View Brian J
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
January 4, 2024

Brian J R.

Managing Partner
Free Consultation
Raleigh NC
40 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CT, DC, NC, NY
Benjamin N Cardoza School of Law

Immigration expert with over 30 years’ experience focused on start-up companies H-1, L-1, E, O-1 visas. PERM and extraordinary ability immigrant visas. Complex family immigration cases and waivers. I also assist early stage comapnies in entity formation and general legal matters for start-up companies in the areas of Telehealth, Technology and International Trade.

Haroldo M. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
View Haroldo
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
January 8, 2024

Haroldo M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Miami, Florida
18 Yrs Experience
Licensed in LA
Loyola New Orleans College Of Law

A seasoned attorney dedicated to navigating complex legal issues and devising strategic solutions for my clients.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"He keeps in constant contact with me. He has been very fast and very helpful If your looking for a great lawyer, He is your lawyer! I highly recommend hiring him!"

Zenaida R. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
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Member Since:
January 3, 2024

Zenaida R.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
Miami, Florida
3 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
St. Thomas University

I am an active member of The Florida Bar, having successfully passed the Florida Bar Examination in September 2023. My legal career spans over seven years, beginning with extensive experience as a law clerk, where I supported attorneys and developed a strong foundation in client-focused legal work. I focus my own practice on business and estate planning matters, including entity formation, corporate governance and compliance, commercial transactions, and long-term planning for individuals, families, and business owners. My estate planning practice focuses on helping individuals and families protect their assets, plan for incapacity, and ensure their wishes are carried out with clarity and confidence. I regularly prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and related planning documents, and I take a personalized, practical approach to each plan—ensuring it reflects the client’s goals, family dynamics, and long-term needs while remaining fully compliant with Florida law.

Alexander H. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
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Member Since:
October 5, 2025

Alexander H.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Florida
27 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Nova College of Law

I have been licensed to practice law in Florida since 1999. My work has centered on a wide range of family‑court matters, including divorce, child support, custody, paternity cases, and prenuptial agreements. I also handle broader family‑law services such as Last Will & Testaments, Powers of Attorney, and property‑related issues such as Quit Claim Deeds. In addition to family law, I have extensive experience in consumer bankruptcy law, such as Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and advising clients on issues such as wage garnishments, bank levies, foreclosure defense, repossessions, judgment enforcement, credit card lawsuits, and debt defense tactics. I regularly guide individuals on qualifying for bankruptcy, means‑testing, exemption planning, and strategies to protect assets in divorce and bankruptcy. I developed the Family Law and Bankruptcy Law courses for a law school, and I am the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law for paralegals and legal professionals, published by Routledge. I also teach business law, economics of law, and bankruptcy in both English and Spanish for an international university.

Koohyar H. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
View Koohyar
Member Since:
July 7, 2026

Koohyar H.

Solo attorney
Free Consultation
San Francisco, CA
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
Golden Gate University School of Law

I'm an attorney who loves music, comedy, and tech. My goal is to help creative people and entrepreneurs focus on their ideas by taking care of the boring legal stuff for them.

Ernestas P. - Startup Lawyer in Kentucky
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Member Since:
January 21, 2024

Ernestas P.

Attorney
Free Consultation
New York, New York
2 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

I am a broadly skilled legal professional. I am highly drawn to technology, fintech, intellectual property, privacy law, contracts. I am also experienced in business litigation and business transactions. I have been told to have the following skills perfect time management, critical thinking, problem solving, attention to detail, communication and decision making. As a former flight attendant, I am well versed and acquired many of those skills in a fast faced multicultural/multilingual setting. I am able to work solo or as a team member and quickly adapt to changes. Finally, I am fluent in English, Lithuanian, Russian.

Startup Legal Questions and Answers

Startup

Convertible Note

Ohio

Asked on Jul 6, 2023

Can a convertible note be transferred?

I am a startup founder and I am considering using a convertible note to raise capital. I am aware that convertible notes are agreements between investors and startups, but I'm not sure if they can be transferred to other investors. I need to know if this is possible so that I can make an informed decision about the best way to raise capital for my business.

Paul S.

Answered Aug 4, 2023

It depends on the terms of the convertible note. If you don't want it to be transferable, then you should include a provision in the note prohibiting transfers, assignments, etc.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

Founders' Agreement

Texas

Asked on Sep 12, 2021

Signing Founders Agreement as non-us resident?

I am from Ecuador and I am going to sign a Founder's Agreement with a person from Texas. I want to know in detail what are things I must take into consideration before signing this agreement.

Don G.

Answered Sep 17, 2021

I'm assuming the Founders Agreement is an agreement establishing owners, managers and ownership percentages. You should focus on: Terms regarding when your interest in the company vests; How your shares will be valued in the case you want to leave or are terminated; It should include some type of waiver of individual liability for acts taken on behalf of the company; and Voting rights - If there is only one founder that has a large percentage of ownership (like 75%), you need to make sure the terms give your vote power. This can be accomplished by each founder having 1 equal vote. If the largest owner of the company owns less than 50% interest and there are 3 or more members, there's no real fear of one person making all of the decisions. I'm sure there are other items to consider as every such agreement is unique. Best of luck!

Read 2 attorney answers>

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

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

Vesting Agreement

Pennsylvania

Asked on Apr 4, 2022

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.

Answered Apr 26, 2022

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.

Read 1 attorney answer>
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