Startup Lawyers for Newport News, Virginia
Need a startup lawyer in Newport News, Virginia?
ContractsCounsel matches businesses with Newport News-based startup lawyers, providing fixed-fee quotes from vetted attorneys with the first proposal typically arriving in just a few hours.
Hire a Lawyer for 60% Less than Traditional Law Firms
Meet some of our Newport News Startup Lawyers
Rocco D.
I'm in general practice with an emphasis on real estate, litigation, and contracts
Michelle T.
I am an experienced, well-rounded attorney with a background specializing in trusts and estates, contracts and business law. I have extensive experience working with simple contracts all the way up to multi-million dollar deals.
"Michelle drafted an excellent and unique Post Nuptial agreement which outlines a very specific "process" that will be used to divide assets in the event of divorce. Since assets can change value daily, traditional "splitting an asset list" methods are often outdated within a week of signing. Michelle rose to the challenge at a very reasonable price. Other, "meter man" attorneys would have charged at least 5x more. I highly recommend Michelle!"
Cherie M.
Dedicated attorney with contract experience in Washington, Virginia, and Kansas.
"I was very pleased with Cherie. The work was done in a timely fashion and was exactly what I needed. I intend to hire her again in the very near future."
Randy M.
Hi, I'm Randy, and I've been practicing law for over 30 years with a genuine passion for contracts and legal drafting. I spent nearly 15 years running my own solo practice in Richmond, Virginia, where I built a thriving firm helping everyone from small business owners to entertainment professionals navigate their legal needs. Those years taught me that great contracts aren't just about covering all the bases legally - they're about understanding what my clients actually need and translating that into clear, enforceable agreements. My sweet spot is contract drafting across a wide range of areas. I've written hundreds of LLC operating agreements (both single and multi-member), prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, residential and commercial leases, independent contractor agreements, service contracts, NDAs, consulting agreements, and corporate formation documents. I also have extensive experience in estate planning documents - wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills - plus employment agreements and entertainment law contracts. These days I'm based in New York City, but I work with clients nationwide on contract matters. What I love most about this work is taking complex business relationships and turning them into documents that actually make sense and protect everyone involved. Whether you're a startup founder needing your first operating agreement or an established business updating your contractor templates, I focus on creating contracts that work in the real world, not just on paper. After three decades of practice, I still get excited about a well-crafted contract. Let's talk about how I can help with yours.
"Randy did a thorough job and was timely. He addressed every detail and was very knowledgable about my industry."
August 14, 2023
Jacob W.
Background in Engineering, Masters in Business, Licensed Patent Attorney. Reviewed countless title reports, and land contracts. If you have a problem with Real Estate I can solve it.
October 20, 2023
Corey H.
Veritas Global Law, PLLC ("Veritas") is a law firm specializing in Life Sciences, Private Equity, M&A, technology transactions and general corporate law. Veritas frequently represents clients seeking cost a cost efficient, on-demand, general counsel in a variety of general corporate law matters, and a range of contracts including NDAs, MSAs, Software as a Service (Saas) agreements. Veritas also represents U.S. and non-U.S. private investment fund GPs and LPs across a broad range of activities with a particular emphasis on private equity, venture capital, secondary funds, distressed funds and funds of funds. Mr. Harris received his LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law and served as an articles editor of the Berkeley Business Law Journal and was an active member of the Berkeley Center for Law Business and the Economy. Additionally, Mr. Harris also holds a J.D. from Boston College Law School, a M.B.A. from the Boston College Carroll School of Management, a B.A. from Hampton University in Political Science with a minor in Economics and Spanish and a certificate in financial valuation from the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
May 8, 2024
Jazmin M.
Hi, I'm Jazmin M. Allen, Esq., your local, 757 Hampton Roads Business Lawyer & Brand Publicist. I am on a mission to help entrepreneurs and new business owners form their business entities, develop their business plans, market their brands, and protect their billion-dollar ideas.
May 21, 2024
Jason J.
Experiences corporate and general counsel. Particular expertise in all contract matters
June 5, 2024
Robert C.
A highly motivated, dedicated attorney (and military veteran) with proven experience in executive corporate leadership, legal risk mitigation, litigation, and legal department management. Skilled in collaborating with all members of the organization to achieve business and financial objectives with high-profile corporations. Instrumental in streamlining and improving processes, enhancing productivity, and implementing sound legal and business solutions.
October 26, 2024
Nathan K.
Corporate attorney with extensive experience managing the legal affairs for start-up, small, mid-size, and private equity backed companies. Highly skilled at drafting, negotiating, interpreting and closing contracts and transactions of all types. Have earned a reputation as being practical, down-to-earth, and possessing a keen ability to synthesize complicated legal issues and communicate to clients in a relatable and easily understandable fashion. My background includes working for the Chief Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals, at private law firms, and, since 2019, serving as the General Counsel for multiple start-up, closely-held, and private equity backed companies within the energy, construction, and franchising industries.
May 17, 2025
Christi H.
I have been practicing law in Virginia for 20 years. I have acted as general counsel for many companies in the following fields: petroleum transport industry, churches, dentist, daycare facilities, and other small businesses. I have extensive knowledge on real estate for both residential and commercial closings for all sides of the transaction including the buyer's, seller's and lender's side.
May 8, 2026
Antoinette M.
Attorney with a dynamic legal career spanning 20 years, including practice in civil litigation, government, and commercial finance with a reputation for strategic problem-solving, strong advocacy, and delivering practical, results-driven solutions. Experienced in navigating complex disputes, government matters, and structuring financial transactions with professionalism and integrity.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowStartup Legal Questions and Answers
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
Convertible Note
California
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.
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.
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
Business Purchase Agreement
Arizona
What happens to ongoing litigation in a business purchase agreement?
I am in the process of purchasing a business and the current owners are involved in ongoing litigation. This litigation could have a significant impact on the value of the business and I want to understand how it is addressed in the purchase agreement. I am looking for advice on how to protect my interests and the potential risks related to the ongoing litigation.
Elizabeth A.
You should first decide what the hopeful outcome of the case is for you. So, if there is a favorable outcome then such and such should take effect by contract.
Startup
Founders' Agreement
Texas
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.
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!
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 ReviewHow It Works
Post Your Project
Get Free Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer
Startup lawyers by top cities
- Austin Startup Lawyers
- Boston Startup Lawyers
- Chicago Startup Lawyers
- Dallas Startup Lawyers
- Denver Startup Lawyers
- Houston Startup Lawyers
- Los Angeles Startup Lawyers
- New York Startup Lawyers
- Phoenix Startup Lawyers
- San Diego Startup Lawyers
- Tampa Startup Lawyers
Startup lawyers by nearby cities
- Alexandria Startup Lawyers
- Chesapeake Startup Lawyers
- Hampton Startup Lawyers
- Norfolk Startup Lawyers
- Richmond Startup Lawyers
- Virginia Beach Startup Lawyers
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 ReviewHow It Works
Post Your Project
Get Free Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer