Startup Lawyers for Durham, North Carolina

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Meet some of our Durham Startup Lawyers

Nicholas M. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Nicholas
5.0 (46)
Member Since:
June 1, 2023

Nicholas M.

President/Attorney
Free Consultation
Providence, Rhode Island
16 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC CT, MA, NH, VT
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law

Nicholas Matlach is a cybersecurity expert (CISSP) and an attorney who is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. He is a client-focused professional who has a deep understanding of the challenges that small businesses face in the digital age. He also provides legal counsel to small businesses on a variety of issues, including formation, intellectual property, contracts, and employment law.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Enjoyed his demeanor. Professional yet down to earth. The document created for me was very explicit and easy to read. I would recommend :)"

David W. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View David
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
June 14, 2023

David W.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Indian Trail, North Carolina
12 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
Charlotte School of Law

David provides legal representation with flat fee pricing for services in many practice areas including Business Law, Local Government, Contracts, Estate Planning, and Trademarks. His legal expertise is complemented by a diverse background as a former stockbroker and registered investment advisor, treasurer of a $1 billion+ non-profit, and elected county official. David H. Williams Law, PLLC is committed to providing expert legal services at a flat fee, making specialized legal counsel more accessible and affordable. Reach out to today to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if David's diverse skill sets are a fit for you or your organization's legal needs. https://davidhwilliamslaw.cliogrow.com/book https://davidhwilliamslaw.com/

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"David was very helpful in answer my questions. He went above and beyond to inform me on my real estate inquiries and have provide valuable recommendations."

Deanna M. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
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5.0 (2)
Member Since:
July 28, 2023

Deanna M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Raleigh, North Carolina
8 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC MN
Ave Maria School of Law

I have had the opportunity to experience the legal industry in a private setting and public sector, representing individuals, companies of all sizes, as well as the Government. As a strong leader, I take pride in continuously tackling new challenges and learning as much as possible, always finding answers and delivering results to my clients. I received my JD from Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida and went on to pass the Uniform Bar Exam. I am currently licensed in Minnesota and North Carolina. I have experience in real estate law, estate planning, contract law, family law, criminal law, and more.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Deanna is very professional, easy to work with, clarifies doubt quickly, fast turnaround and value for money. I am very happy with the service. I would highly recommend her for any services that she offers."

Taylor A. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Taylor
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
August 10, 2023

Taylor A.

General Counsel
Free Consultation
Mooresville, North Carolina
10 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
Charlotte School of Law

After starting my professional career in Human Resources in the Healthcare and Non-profit fields, I decided to expand my options and attended law school, passing the North Carolina bar in 2016. Since then, I have practiced in-house for healthcare companies, in the civil rights arena, and run my own business. I am currently looking to return to my legal roots and am excited to practice business law again.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Excellent service by a knowledgeable attorney at a lower price than I expected. Her comprehensive organizational program identified end of life planning I needed to do and provided a system to help keep all my information where I can easily update it and help my loved ones when they will need it most. I will use Ms. Abbasi again in the future. I highly recommend her for all estate planning needs."

Brian J R. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
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 NC CT, DC, 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.

Steven W. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Steven
4.9 (20)
Member Since:
June 2, 2023

Steven W.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Texas & North Carolina
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC NY, TX
North Carolina Central University

Attorney Steven Wax is ardent about helping his clients. Whether creating personalized estate plans, drafting and negotiating contracts or other legal matters. Steven’s goal is to assist and counsel his clients to protect them and their loved ones. Steven grew up on Long Island, New York. He attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst earning a BS in Sport Management. He earned his paralegal certificate at Duke University and earned his Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham, NC. Steven has an extensive legal career in the life science sector, working for some of the world’s largest Contract Research Organizations since 2013. Steven has negotiated a broad range of contracts for both businesses and individuals. Steven participated in the NCCU Elder Law Project, where he prepared wills, durable powers of attorney, living wills, and health care powers of attorneys for low/fixed income clients in Durham and surrounding counties. Steven finds meaningful ways to share his skills and passion with his community. Steven volunteers his time to Wills for Heroes, which provides no-cost estate planning documents to first responders and their families, through the NC Bar Foundation.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Steven was very helpful and informative throughout the process of reviewing my divorce decree, and he completed the project promptly. Thank you, Steven!"

N'kia N. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View N'kia
Member Since:
May 9, 2023

N'kia N.

Attorney
Free Consultation
North Carolina
10 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
NCCU School of Law

I am a business law attorney, a business and entrepreneurship coach, and a small business owner. As an attorney, I have handled a wide range of business-related matters, including disputes involving construction, employment, intellectual property, landlord-tenant, ownership interest, professional licensure, and real estate. I am skilled at drafting demand letters and settlement agreements, as well as negotiating business buyouts, purchases, and sales. My special interests include: - employee handbooks; - independent contractor agreements; - protective/restrictive covenants (such as confidentiality agreements/non-disclosure agreements, non-competition agreements, and non-solicitation agreements); and -severance agreements. *** Any reference to a "FREE consultation" is for "Discovery Call" (legal information and/or information about my services). [All calls by appointment only.]

Maria M. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Maria
Member Since:
May 21, 2023

Maria M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
North Carolina
30 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC NJ, PA
Temple University Beasley School of Law

I have worked for over 20 years in the areas of family law, business formation, contracts and real estate law. In the area of family law, I represent clients in all areas of family law including child custody, child support, spousal support and marital property division as well as preparing prenuptial and separation agreements. I am experienced in real estate law, including commercial and residential leases, preparing various types of real estate related contracts. I am also experienced in business formation among other business law matters. I currently work in the area of grant management with the Small Business Administration.

Peter R. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Peter
Member Since:
July 27, 2023

Peter R.

Of Counsel
Free Consultation
Hillsborough, North Carolina
32 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Admitted in NC in 1994. Law degrees from English and US law schools. Civil and criminal litigation experience as well as in house corporate attorney. Recipient of the highest civilian honors from 14 states, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, a papally blessed knighthood and listed in NLJ as a recipient of on of their Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award winners and the NLJ top 40 trial lawyers in the USA under 40 years old.

Sarah F. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
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Member Since:
September 15, 2023

Sarah F.

Junior Partner
Free Consultation
Raleigh, NC
7 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC WY
Campbell Law School

Sarah brings together her accounting and legal background to help solve client problems. Sarah couples her broad, general commercial legal background with our client’s international and business problems to arrive at elegant solutions that work for their business.

Robert W. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Robert
Member Since:
November 16, 2023

Robert W.

Registered IP Attorney
Free Consultation
Durham, NC
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
Campbell University - Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law

I am an experienced Intellectual Property attorney registered with the USPTO and have managed my solo practice for over a decade. As part of my practice, I handle trademark and patent concerns for my clients. I’ve performed extensive prior art searches, drafted patent applications, and prosecuted patents across a broad range of technologies. I've helped my clients secure protection for both standard character and special form marks across a a variety of classes from candles to dog collars. I believe, as an IP attorney, that I can facilitate the development of new technologies by protecting your rights from infringement or helping you enter the market by establishing those rights from the ground up. More importantly, I believe it should be an open and affordable process that’s accessible to anyone pushing the bounds of innovation.

Adam T. - Startup Lawyer in Durham, North Carolina
View Adam
Member Since:
December 7, 2023

Adam T.

Business Lawyer
Free Consultation
Seattle, Washington
14 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC DC, NY, WA
Duke Law

Legal professional with 10+ years of Fortune 500 in-house and AmLaw 50 law firm experience in crafting multi-pronged litigation, regulatory, and public policy strategies and negotiating pioneering, high-stakes global cloud services and digital content distribution deals.

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Startup Legal Questions and Answers

Startup

LLC

Texas

Asked on May 24, 2023

LLC tax advantages?

I recently started a small business and am considering forming a limited liability company (LLC). I understand that LLCs provide certain protections for business owners, but I am not clear on the tax advantages of an LLC. I would like to know what kind of tax benefits I could expect if I form an LLC.

Jimmy V.

Answered May 30, 2023

LLCs are "pass-through" entities for tax purposes. In other words, there is no income tax due on the company level. The distributions "pass through" to you and you report them on your personal tax return. This prevents double taxation.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

Convertible Note

New York

Asked on Mar 30, 2021

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.

Answered Mar 30, 2021

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.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

C Corp

Ohio

Asked on May 22, 2023

C corp and equity dilution?

I am an entrepreneur who is in the process of forming a C Corp. I am looking to raise capital to fund my business and I am considering issuing equity to potential investors. I am concerned that issuing equity to investors could lead to dilution of my ownership, so I am looking for legal advice on the best way to structure my equity offerings to minimize dilution.

Paul S.

Answered Jun 23, 2023

If you want to avoid dilution, then you need to fund the business with your own resources, and pay all your workers with money rather than equity. Otherwise, when building a business, dilution is simply a reality you have to live with. You can start out with a large amount of ownership, for example, 80% of the authorized shares, but over time dilution is inevitable. Which would you rather have, 90% of a company worth $200,000, or 55% of a company worth $1 million?

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

Cofounder Agreement

California

Asked on Jun 14, 2025

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.

Answered Jul 18, 2025

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.

Read 1 attorney answer>

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>
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Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
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