Startup Lawyers for Chattanooga, Tennessee
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Robert M.
Robert is a sixth-generation Tennessean and part of a long line of Tennessee attorneys: There has been a Marks attorney in Tennessee since 1856. In 1929, Robert’s great-grandfather established an event venue, Shadowbrook, which Robert has worked at his entire life, including managing for 10 years. He knows what business owners are dealing with—especially venue owners—because he has dealt with it. While Robert loves the hospitality industry, he pursued his passion. In 2016, Robert decided to attend law school and continue managing the business. He thrived. He was a founding member of the Nashville School of Law's Legal Aid Society, received the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Law Student for Justice award, and interned with the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission. Before co-founding Mercury Legal Group, Robert focused on estate planning in solo practice. In this role, he helped clients protect what they had spent a lifetime building. Now he helps his clients build their businesses by providing tailored legal services.
"Robert is so professional and yet friendly! He was very easy to work with. I explained my situation and he has immediate solutions to get everything worked out. I’m su with his work ethic and overall attentiveness to the project. He will be my new lawyer moving on."
Connie C.
Connie Chadwick presently focuses her law practice in Tennessee on flat fee legal services which commonly include family court settlements such as divorces, child support orders, custody agreements; contracts; business formation services; and estate plans. Connie is also a Tennessee licensed residential general contractor with over fifteen years of experience in the construction field. With both legal and construction experience, Connie is a logical choice for contractor disputes. Connie earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The Nashville School of Law after earning her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Lipscomb University. www.conniechadwicklaw.com Connie Chadwick is recognized by peers and was selected to SuperLawyers Rising Stars for 2017 - 2023. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. Being selected to Rising Stars is limited to a small number of attorneys in each state. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of Rising Stars, Connie Chadwick has earned the respect of peers as one of the top-rated attorneys in the nation.
"Connie was a pleasure to work with and provided thorough legal advice that I was able to make actionable decisions on. Thank you Connie!!"
William M.
Will focuses his legal practice on business, real estate, entertainment, intellectual property, and certain litigation matters. In addition to his legal expertise, he is a owner of a quickly growing bluegrass record label, and has produced chart topping bluegrass albums. Beyond his professional achievements, he has earned acclaim as a bluegrass musician, producer, and songwriter, having toured extensively across North America with well known bluegrass bands. Will is also involved with volunteering and professional groups focused towards music frowth and education. With a distinctive background as an attorney, musician, real estate investor, and business owner, Will offers clients a unique and relatable perspective few attorneys possess.
"Will did a great job of reviewing our commercial lease and explaining the legal implications in a clear way. We hope to work with him again in the future."
Jeanne H.
Jeanne is a trusted and approachable legal advisor for contractors, developers, architects, and owners navigating the complexities of construction projects and serves as the founding attorney at Harrison Litigation Team, PLLC. Jeanne has a deep legal knowledge with a genuine understanding of the people and projects behind every build, bringing over a decade of experience to each dispute and transaction. She focuses her practice on construction litigation, business litigation, and complex transactions, guiding clients through the full lifecycle of their projects — from contract negotiation and risk management to dispute resolution and litigation. Capabilities: * Drafting and negotiating AIA and custom construction and business contracts * Managing claims involving delays, defects, and payment disputes * Representing clients in mediation, arbitration, and court proceedings * Advising on regulatory compliance and lien enforcement * Guiding business transactions and partnership agreements
John M.
John has extensive leadership experience in various industries, including hospitality and event-based businesses, then co-founded a successful event bar company in 2016. As co-founder, John routinely negotiated agreements with venues, suppliers, and other external partners, swiftly reaching agreement while protecting the brand and strategic objectives of the company. He leverages his business experience to provide clients with strategic legal counsel and negotiates attractive terms.
October 30, 2023
James S.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-swindle/
John V.
Education: Georgetown Law (83), Yale (75- BA in Economics), Hotchkiss School (1970). Practice areas have included commercial litigation, individual litigation, and securities litigation and arbitration.
Beth M.
Highly skilled attorney with more than 12 years of experience in delivering ongoing support to an international organization, government organizations, law firms, and long-term healthcare facilities. Eager to leverage experience in negotiations, contracts, and strategic planning into a corporate attorney role with room for growth in the organization.
June 12, 2024
Daniel L.
I have 8 years of experience in commercial litigation. Clients have been in industries including chemical, trucking, heavy equipment and materials, industrial supplies, hospitality, and commercial real estate. I am barred in TN, and my NY bar admission is pending.
May 28, 2025
Calleigh G.
Associate attorney
June 3, 2025
Justin T.
Attorney with 20+ years substantive experience in the areas of law including real estate; banking, insurance, and financial institutions; business organizations and corporations; and probate and estate planning.
DC L.
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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Browse Lawyers NowStartup Legal Questions and Answers
Contracts
Equity Agreement
Pennsylvania
How much equity should investors get?
Hi there, I'm seeking counsel for a startup/small business with two initial investors. These investors have established auto repair businesses and will use those businesses as leverage to support a $500k loan that will be used to initially fund the business. Revenues from those businesses will be used to pay the loan until the business can pay for them. I will be providing all sweat equity. The investors above will have no involvement in the day-to-day (as they run their own businesses). One investor may provide connections to potential clients and if necessary, an additional investor.
Amy Sue L.
This is really a business question, as much as it is a legal question - although lawyers can certainly help you structure and document it once answered. That said, I think you're likely to find a spectrum of answers - on one end of the spectrum, there are 3 investors with equal shares (each having 1/3 of the equity - 2 of which receive their percentage in consideration for $ investments, while you receive yours for your efforts in running the business day-to-day- in this scenario, everyone and everything they bring to the table is equally valued); on the other end of the spectrum, there are 2 investors with equal or otherwise proportionate shares (each having 1/2 of the equity - or some other percentages that total to 100% - in consideration for their respective $ investments, which may differ depending on the value of the businesses underlying the loans), and you are considered an employee of the business (not an investor), who will receive compensation for running the business- presumably a salary and possibly including incentives based on the success of the business; and of course, there are some variations that could impact any or all parties in the middle of the spectrum. I suggest that you have a conversation with your potential partners to learn how each party views the value being brought to the enterprise by the others and begin the negotiation from there. Note also that this deal sounds simple in theory but may become a little complicated due to the funding mechanism being used on the back end.
Startup
LLC
Illinois
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.
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.
Startup
C Corp
Ohio
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.
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?
Startup
LLC
Alabama
State of Texas - questions regarding an online business (Nanny Placement Agency) in the Houston area.
Seeking an attorney for advice as to what I need to start up an online business, specifically a Nanny Placement Agency. Do I need a license in the state of Texas and what do I need to protect myself against possible unforeseen lawsuits. I will be living in the Houston area soon but want to start my online business remotely (Michigan) asap. I have an LLC in Michigan already, I assume I may need one in Texas as well, is this correct?
Jimmy V.
Hello, I can help you with this project. I’m a semi-retired, long-time Texas attorney with substantial experience in business and corporate law. I counsel startups and small businesses, help them set up corporations or LLCs across the country and draft a variety of contracts and corporate documents. You should have an LLC for liability protections, whether it's in Michigan or in Texas. Actually, you would be better off organizing a Texas LLC because your Michigan LLC would have to register in Texas so you would be paying extra fees. There is no licensing requirement for nanny agencies in Texas. If you are interested, I will make you a flat fee bid to set up an LLC for you here in Texas. Thx. JV PS For more information about business entities, download a free copy of my ebook "Should Your Small Business Become a Corporation or an LLC? A Look at Liabilities, State & Federal Taxation & More!" from my website types-of-business-ownership.com
Startup
Single Member LLC Operating Agreement
Alabama
Start a trucking business as an owner operator
Experienced driver wants to own the truck and make a business out of it
John H.
You will need to begin by picking a name for your trucking business and then proceed to reserving the name with the Secretary of State and then you will need to choose what business entity your business will operate under. I have experience drafting the paperwork you will need to get set up.
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