ContractsCounsel Logo

Startup Lawyers for Rhode Island

Clients Rate Lawyers on our Platform 4.9/5 Stars
based on 10,548 reviews
No Upfront Payment Required, Pay Only If You Hire.

Hire a Lawyer for 60% Less than Traditional Law Firms

1
Post your project.
Create a project posting in our marketplace. We will ask you the questions lawyers need to know to provide pricing.
2
Receive multiple bids.
Receive multiple bids from vetted lawyers in our network that have the experience to help you with your project.
3
Review and hire.
Compare multiple proposals from lawyers and arrange calls through our platform. Securely make payment to hire your lawyer.

Meet some of our Rhode Island Startup Lawyers

Elizabeth W. on ContractsCounsel
View Elizabeth
5.0 (5)
Member Since:
December 11, 2021

Elizabeth W.

Legal Counsel
Free Consultation
Minneapolis, MN
7 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA, RI
Suffolk University Law School

Liz is an experienced insurance professional, having worked with carriers and brokers for over 10 years. She can review or draft a variety of commercial agreements and is here to help your business. Specialties include: Master Service Agreements, business process outsourcing, marketing and partnership agreements, broker agreements, business associate agreements, and NDAs.

Nicholas M. on ContractsCounsel
View Nicholas
5.0 (28)
Member Since:
June 1, 2023

Nicholas M.

President/Attorney
Free Consultation
Providence, Rhode Island
14 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CT, MA, NC, RI
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.

Find the best lawyer for your project

Browse Lawyers Now

Meet some of our other Startup Lawyers

Gill D. on ContractsCounsel
View Gill
5.0 (31)
Member Since:
July 31, 2022

Gill D.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Tampa
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Stetson University College of Law

Erik has been a practicing attorney in Florida for over a decade. He specializes in employment and real estate contracts. He has represented clients big and small and can assist with any contract issue.

Travis D. on ContractsCounsel
View Travis
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
August 8, 2022

Travis D.

Partner
Free Consultation
Norman, OK
4 Yrs Experience
Licensed in OK
University of Oklahoma

Travis counsels individuals and businesses on a broad range of complex topics. His practice centers on producing efficient, client-driven results. He concentrates his practice on real estate, construction, and general business matters with an emphasis on assisting clients both before and after problems occur by drafting contracts designed to best position clients to avoid disputes and litigating matters to a final resolution if problems emerge. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Travis is a triple graduate of the University of Oklahoma, having obtained his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration, and Juris Doctor degrees from OU. Prior to practicing law, Travis managed the finances and business operations of a successful construction supply company for several years. This insight into sophisticated business dealings, contractual issues, and strategic planning makes him uniquely qualified to handle a wide range of legal matters. Travis lives in Norman with his wife, Haley, dogs, Walter and Poppy, and cat, Ernest. Outside of the office, Travis enjoys playing golf and reading.

Justin C. on ContractsCounsel
View Justin
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
August 12, 2022

Justin C.

Partner
Free Consultation
Hammond Indiana
7 Yrs Experience
Licensed in IN
Valparaiso University Law School

Justin Camper is a small business and trademark attorney, entrepreneur, public speaker, and writer. Justin has been practicing law close to 5 years and has done various areas of law from criminal work as a Prosecutor, to business and civil litigation at private law firms.

Deborah W. on ContractsCounsel
View Deborah
Member Since:
September 4, 2022

Deborah W.

Managing Partner
Free Consultation
Michigan
27 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MI
Michigan State University College of Law

Williamson Health Law is an established and trusted law firm focused on representing hospitals, health plans, physician groups, physicians, physical therapy businesses, psychologists and other health care providers and businesses in all aspects of health law. including the Stark law, the Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), regulatory compliance, Medicare and Blue Cross audits and overpayment appeals, payer departicipation and disaffiliation appeals, payer and provider disputes, reimbursement and billing, compliance plans, health care industry contracts and professional licensure. We represent clients throughout Michigan and the U.S. with certain federal matters such as federal regulatory analysis and Medicare audits.

Bolaji O. on ContractsCounsel
View Bolaji
Member Since:
August 9, 2022

Bolaji O.

Princial Attorney
Free Consultation
New York
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY
Texas Souther University - Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Bolaji O. Okunnu is an entertainment lawyer and founder of the Okunnu Law Group, PLLC based in New York, New York. His practice includes work in the area of copyright, trademark, contract, intellectual property and business law. As an entertainment attorney, Bolaji represents a diverse roster of celebrities, record labels, music publishers, artists, bands, entrepreneurs, authors, songwriters, artist managers, record producers and entertainment executives concerning their intellectual property, business affairs and creative assets. He is an expert at solving complex and sophisticated legal and business issues relating to contracts, copyrights and trademarks. With his background in both the law and the music business, he brings a broad perspective to problem-solving and business plan strategies. He also has an extraordinary ability to speak to the hearts of creatives while helping them discover their voice and clarify their creative dreams and assignments.

Matt M. on ContractsCounsel
View Matt
Member Since:
August 16, 2022

Matt M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Orem, Utah
17 Yrs Experience
Licensed in UT
Washington & Lee University

I love to learn, and I love solving problems. That's why I became a lawyer, and learned to solve legal problems for individuals and businesses and help them fix things when there's a snag. Touch base if you think I could have something to offer for you or your company. Experienced, results-oriented legal professional whose background and education have established him as a valuable resource in areas of corporate law, franchising, litigation, compliance, mortgages and banking, and more. Practice Areas Include: Corporate law, Franchising, Litigation, real estate, corporate law, civil disputes, insurance representation, corporate counseling, dispute resolution, risk management, regulatory counsel, compliance. Experience involves sophisticated as well as routine corporate structuring and transactions, simple and complex litigation, and written and oral advocacy such as depositions, mediated settlement conferences, trials, appeals, written pleadings and discovery, and case strategy and analysis. Experience managing and litigating disputes between parties and negotiating settlements across the spectrum of civil litigation, including probative discovery, successful motions practice, legal research and writing, appellate practice, and legal consultation to individuals and business entities. Further experience includes digesting and monitoring updates to the legal landscape to advise clients or departments and successfully adapt policies and procedures to assure compliance with applicable laws and regulations as well as to manage risk effectively. For those needing a skilled commercial or corporate lawyer, or for individuals whose rights need persuasive advocacy, I am a valuable resource. Representative work also has involved success on the appellate level, as in Baker Construction Company, Inc. v. City of Burlington and Hawthorne, LLC, North Carolina COA09-13.

Madeline P. on ContractsCounsel
View Madeline
Member Since:
August 14, 2022

Madeline P.

Attorney/CEO
Free Consultation
Frisco, Texas
8 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TX
Southern Methodist Uninversity - Dedman School of Law

I am the CEO and attorney at my law firm that I started in June 2020 (as other businesses were shuttering due to Covid-19). I am currently seeking contract work to supplement my case load as I recently finalized numerous family law cases within a short timeframe.

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

Shareholders Agreement

Ohio

Asked on Jun 12, 2023

How to track shareholders agreements?

I am a business owner and I have recently incorporated my business. As part of the incorporation process, I have created a shareholders agreement with my co-founders. I am looking to ensure that this agreement is properly tracked, documented, and monitored over time. I am seeking guidance on the best methods to track shareholders agreements and any advice on how to ensure the agreement is being followed.

Paul S.

Answered Jun 23, 2023

There are cap table management companies such as Carta and Pulley, that can help with this (for a fee). As long as your company has only issued common stock, maintaining a cap table and stock ledger in Excel is more than adequate. I also recommend storing PDFs of the stock purchase agreements in a cloud-based folder labeled "Stock Purchase Agreements." In terms of officer roles, the corporation's Secretary is responsible for maintaining these shareholder records.

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

LLC

Texas

Asked on Oct 26, 2023

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.

Answered Nov 3, 2023

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.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Startup

New York

Asked on Mar 30, 2021

Once my options have vested for the startup I am working for, can I sell them?

I am an early employee for a startup that has raised money in the past year. I will have some of my options vested soon and wanted to know if I was able to sell them.

Ramsey T.

Answered Mar 30, 2021

It depends upon when you vest and whether or not you have a "market" for the shares. You must satisfy a holding requirement for your vested shares under US securities laws that requires that you hold your shares for at least one (1) year. The vesting period is added in - so, for example, if you vested in your options six months after receiving them and then exercised your options and tried to sell your shares, you would be in violation of US securities laws. After a one year holding period you may sell them. You might, however, have restrictions, such as a "Right of First Refusal" (a "ROFR") or other restrictions on selling your shares. Its worth checking all the documents and restrictions.

Read 1 attorney answer>
See more legal questions…

How It Works

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

Startup lawyers by top cities
See All Startup Lawyers
Startup lawyers by nearby cities
Related Contracts
See More Contracts
other helpful articles

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 Review

Contracts 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 Review

I 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 Review

I 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

How It Works

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

Want to speak to someone?

Get in touch below and we will schedule a time to connect!

Request a call

Find lawyers and attorneys by city