Startup Lawyers for Columbia, South Carolina
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George L.
I am a corporate attorney with offices in Rock Hill, SC, and Lavonia, GA. My practice is focused on contracts, tax, and asset protection planning. I act as a fractional outside general counsel to over 20 businesses in 6 countries. When not practicing law, I can usually be found training my bird dogs.
"Appreciated his insight into contract matters for our start up!"
Jonathan M.
Owner and operator of Meek Law Firm, PC. Meek Law Firm provides comprehensive business law representation, precise and informed representation for real estate transactions in the commercial and residential markets of North and South Carolina and efficient succession and estate planning for business owners and individuals.
"He educated and did a through job with making sure that all the bases were covered in the contract reviewed. I do hope to work with again."
Brad T.
William Bradley Thomas, or Brad, is a seasoned attorney in South Carolina, offering expert counsel to both emerging and established businesses and individuals. His specialties encompass alcohol licensure, asset protection, business law, Counsel on Call Concierge Legal Service™, estate planning, NFA firearms trusts, legal research, and document review. Brad’s unique approach is informed by his rich experience and diverse background. Not only is he a devoted father to three daughters (Anna, Kate, and Jessica), but he also served as the assistant Oconee County, South Carolina attorney. A pioneer in the local industry, he co-founded Carolina Bauernhaus Brewery & Winery, the state’s first farmhouse brewery and winery. His other roles have included membership in the South Carolina Bar Association’s House of Delegates, a board member of the South Carolina Brewers Guild, and an affiliate member of the same organization. Moreover, Brad is a certified Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Green Belt and has accumulated over a decade’s worth of experience conducting onsite audits and financial analyses on domestic and international secured credit transactions, totaling over $5 Billion across diverse industries. With such a comprehensive skill set, Brad can provide sound legal and business advice that can help you manage and expand your business operations effectively. He can assist with selecting and establishing the most appropriate legal entity for your company, securing and retaining federal and South Carolina alcohol licensure, securing company incentives, and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating favorable contracts. All these services are designed to minimize risk and maximize both earnings and tax savings. Brad also offers estate planning services. Recognizing that life’s ups and downs can sometimes distract from ensuring that your loved ones are well taken care of, Brad applies the same legal and business fundamentals to his estate planning practice. These services include the preparation of wills, NFA firearms trusts (gun trusts), power of attorneys, and advance directives. So when your day at the office is over, you can relax, knowing that your business is running smoothly and your family’s future is secure, thanks to a tailored estate plan. If you’re seeking a trusted ally to guide you in business and personal legal matters, contact Brad Thomas at bthomas@scattorneysatlaw.com or review his firms website at www.scattorneysatlaw.com and discover how he can help you confidently navigate and enjoy all aspects of your life!
"Brad was responsive, professional and very helpful. I would definitely recommend him."
Ryan D.
Ryan Duffy is a skilled attorney with extensive experience in business law and estate planning. He received his undergraduate degree in Business from Franklin & Marshall College and went on to graduate from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ryan has worked with numerous clients on matters ranging from business formation and contract drafting to estate planning and asset protection. He is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes achieve their goals while minimizing legal risks. He also works closely with individuals and families to help them protect their assets and plan for the future. With his extensive knowledge and practical approach, Ryan can provide valuable legal guidance and support to clients in need of business law and estate planning services.
"Awesome work, really put my mind at ease during a contract dispute with a major company."
November 1, 2021
Christopher B.
Former litigator now focusing on transactional business work
April 17, 2023
Andrew M.
Business Venture Law: Andrew Moore, Esq. focuses on solving modern business problems with common sense at affordable rates.
Rob D.
Attorney with 10 years experience focusing on corporate transactions and formations, real estate, and estate planning.
July 9, 2024
Joshua S.
Business-focused attorney with a proven track record of providing comprehensive organizational support in a fast-paced setting under increasingly tighter deadlines. With experience in not just Legal, but also in Sales and Finance, balancing corporate interests against risk exposure to produce the ideal organizational solution – i.e., “seeing the big picture” – comes naturally. Exceptional communicator who thrives at building trusted relationships both internally & externally, as well as distilling complex legal concepts into more easily digestible ideas. Highly adept negotiator with an extensive understanding of a wide variety of contractual arrangements (Purchasing, Leasing, SaaS, ISAs, BAAs, DPAs, NDAs, etc.), and a working knowledge of major domestic and global data privacy laws. Passionate about sports, entertainment, and people.
April 18, 2025
Lauren A.
Lauren Acquaviva focuses her practice on alcohol licensing matters. Lauren has tried over one hundred tax and alcohol license cases at the South Carolina Administrative Law Court during her career. She also has handled appeals, including arguing before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court. A New Jersey native, Lauren graduated from Monmouth University Summa Cum Laude in 2009 with a B.S. in Social Work and a passion for advocating on behalf of children. Immediately thereafter, Lauren moved to South Carolina to attend the University of South Carolina School of Law from where she graduated in 2012 in the top third of her class. During law school Lauren became a member of the Mock Trial Bar where she honed her trial skills and fell in love with being in the court room. In September of 2012, shortly after graduating from law school with the desire to become a trial attorney, Lauren began working for the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SC DOR) where she spent six years litigating alcohol licensing and tax matters on behalf of the Department. Lauren left the SC DOR in October of 2018 and joined a Mount Pleasant Law firm. In October of 2019, Lauren founded Viva Law Firm so she could focus on helping people navigate the complexities of South Carolina’s alcohol regulations.
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Rebecca R.
Experienced attorneyin leasing, NDA, family law, commercial real estate, immigration and employment . Well versed in internal and external policy document and manual creation.
"Quickly understood our requirements and created a customized doc to meet our needs with a fast turnaround... We'd definitely work with Rebecca again!"
Gregory F.
Greg Fidlon has been practicing exclusively in employment law since 1998. He represents and advises clients in all aspects of the employment relationship. In addition to his litigation work, Greg regularly negotiates and drafts corporate policy handbooks, employment contracts, separation agreements and restrictive covenants. He also develops and presents training programs and has spoken and written extensively on labor and employment law topics.
"The proposal price was very reasonable, and the lawyer promptly scheduled a consultation, and provided sound legal advice."
March 23, 2022
Joann H.
I practiced law for the past 22 years in Immigration, Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Civil Litigation, and Estate Planning. I am interested in downsizing to a more workable schedule to allow the pursuit of other interests.
Startup Legal Questions and Answers
Startup
Convertible Note
Ohio
Convertible note interest rate?
I am a tech startup founder and am considering raising capital through a convertible note. I am interested in finding out what the typical interest rate is for these types of investments. I understand that the rate can vary, but I am looking for a general range of what I can expect.
Paul S.
Generally the rate is pretty low - for example, 5% is what I've used over the years, with little pushback. Keep in mind, investors don't do convertible notes for the interest income, they do them for the upside from converting into preferred stock with liquidation preferences, anti-dilution protection, etc. If a potential investor is really focused on the interest rate, that tells you that the investor has little or no experience investing in startups. Also, regarding the interest in general, it typically just accrues, rather than being paid out each year. When interest accrues for more than a year, the startup can claim the amount of accrued interest as an expense on its P&L and taxes, and the investor should recognize the amount of accrued interest as interest income, even if it hasn't been paid out.
Startup
Founders' Agreement
Alabama
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.
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.
Startup
Convertible Note
New York
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.
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.
Startup
Software Agreement
Florida
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.
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.
Startup
Equity Agreement
Massachusetts
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.
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.
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