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Morgan S.
Corporate Attorney that represents startups, businesses, investors, VC/PE doing business throughout the country. Representing in a range of matters from formation to regulatory compliance to financings to exit. Have a practice that represents both domestic and foreign startups, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Along with VC, Private Equity, and investors.
January 18, 2023
Dayton M.
Business Law - Criminal Defense - Immigration
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Ted A.
Equity Investments, Agreements & Transactions | Securities & Lending | Corporate Governance | Complex Commercial Contracts | Outside General Counsel & Compliance
Rosemary L.
I represent startups, small and existing business in organizational, entity and agreement issues. I provide services for contracts, employment issues, intellectual property, operating issues, leases and real estate. I have extensive experience in large real estate transactions, title issues, financing and leasing. I have provided a large amount of pro bono services to Public Counsel.
October 9, 2023
Jordan P.
Hailing from Central Texas, Jordan Pender graduated from Baylor University in 2017 with his Bachelor of Arts degree and in 2021 he graduated from Baylor Law School with his Juris Doctor. Since August of 2021, Jordan has been working as an associate attorney for The Law Office of Gregory K. Simmons in Killeen, Texas focusing in general civil litigation. Areas of expertise include: Family Law, Contractural disputes, Business entity formation and planning, and Landlord & Tenant disputes.
August 5, 2023
Max K.
Transactional attorney with experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts related and ancillary to commercial leasing. Licensed in CA and NY.
August 6, 2023
Loi L.
Loi Laing is a seasoned contract lawyer with a meticulous eye for detail and a passion for delivering excellence. Currently a legal consultant for KPMG, most recently she has also worked in San Francisco for Silicon Valley startups. Holding a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law, Loi has also studied law at Oxford University and the University of the West Indies. Throughout her career, Loi has a proven track record in meticulously reviewing and drafting contracts across various legal domains. She possesses a robust legal foundation that spans commercial business, tech, entertainment, and real estate law.
August 9, 2023
Anem S.
My name is Anem Shaikh. I am a licensed Attorney in New York State. I have experience in drafting legal documents and representing corporate clients. I have worked in healthcare law, employment law, real estate law, and personal injury. I look forward to working with you.
August 9, 2023
Todd B.
10 years of experience in business, tech and privacy law at large and small law firms and in-house. Graduated from a top-10 law school and worked at an AmLaw 100 law firm in Washington DC before returning to Idaho in 2015. Currently running a faith-based non-profit law firm for people engaged in local recovery programs.
August 11, 2023
Craig C.
I am a NYC real estate lawyer with a multi-family building ownership background.
August 10, 2023
Ronald P.
Senior experienced contracts/transactions attorney in the Software Technology space. Also very versed in general corporate legal matters relating to business operations.
August 10, 2023
Amy F.
As a lawyer of 27 years, I have a great deal of experience handling many different types of legal projects. Starting with a simple estate plan or the purchase of a personal residence, and moving all the way to complex estate plans and real estate transactions. I regularly advise small business owners and real estate investors.
Securities Legal Questions and Answers
Securities
LLC Operating Agreement
Texas
Can an LLC buy stocks for a fee?
I'm forming an LLC in order to manage some money investing in the stock market, (Friends and family only) I will be charging a percentage fee on the profits. Can an LLC be formed to invest in stocks and charge a performance fee? Thank you.
Forest H.
Generally, if you are "advising others regarding investment decisions for compensation" you are regulated by the SEC as an investment advisor and subject to oversight and registration with the SEC. There are exemptions, for example, a "Family Office" is not required to register. However, all investors and owners in a Family Office must be actual family and friends would be excluded.
Securities
Investment Contract
California
Investment contract legal requirements?
I am interested in investing in a business opportunity, and the company has presented me with an investment contract. I want to ensure that the contract I am signing is legitimate and meets all legal requirements. I am looking for guidance from a lawyer to ensure that the contract is fair and legally binding.
Thaddeus W.
Happy to discuss, but it seem like maybe you want to post a formal request for bids.
Securities
SAFE Note
New York
What is the difference between a SAFE Note and Convertible Note?
I am considering raising money and have been advised to look at these two instruments to raise money on.
Ramsey T.
Both SAFES (Simple Agreements for Equity) and Convertible Notes "convert" into equity. The fundamental difference between the two is that SAFES have no built-in interest rate and have no "end date." Convertible Notes are debt so they have an interest rate and after a certain period of time (perhaps two years in most cases) they can be "cashed in" by the holder who can force the start-up to pay back the investor (principal plus interest). SAFES have become very accepted in the investing community at this time and I always recommend that a start-up issue SAFES (and conversely I always recommend that an investor get a convertible note).
Securities
SAFE Note
California
SAFE Note interest accrual?
I am a business owner who recently completed a Series A round of funding. As part of this funding round, I issued SAFE Notes to my investors. I am now trying to understand the implications of these notes, specifically regarding interest accrual. I want to make sure I am compliant with all the terms of the SAFE Note agreement and understand the effects of interest accrual on my company's finances.
Thaddeus W.
Thanks for the interesting question. There may be some conflation of issues here. A few points may help to clarify -- 1. A SAFE and a Note are different animals. Notes are debt instruments and, accordingly, usually have an interest component. SAFE's are not debt and so do not accrue interest. Convertible Notes and SAFE's are similar in that they both typically convert into preferred stock when the company **later** issues preferred stock. Also, Convertible Notes and SAFE's are often issued without regard to a company's then-current valuation. 2. You said your company issued SAFEs / Notes "as part of" a Series A funding. That's not legally impossible, of course, but it would be unusual, so it would be helpful to make sure we are using the same "glossary" of terms. Typically, the phrase "Series A funding" refers to a company's issuance of Series A Preferred Stock; such transactions involve putting a value on the company so that the Series A stock can be priced. Series A rounds often are preceded by the company issuing Convertible Notes or SAFE's without a valuation of the company (that is, the company and investors "kick the can down the road" to a later time when the company's operating history can justify a valuation). Then, when the Series A round occurs and shares of Series A are priced based on the company valuation, any pre-existing Convertible Notes and SAFE's convert into shares of Series A preferred stock at a conversion price that is equal to the price paid by the Series A purchasers, minus the discount that the Convertible Notes or SAFE's give to their holders. (NOTE: these days, often there is a round of preferred stock sold BEFORE Series A, called Series Seed. This is not required, but common. Sometimes SAFE's or Notes are issued between Series Seed and Series A, but, again, it would be the odd investor who purchased a SAFE or a Note in the same financing round in which preferred stock is sold.) 3. The implications of SAFE's and notes can be several. One of the biggest is their impact on the company's capitalization table ... that is, on the ownership interests of other shareholders, especially the founders. The terms of each Note or SAFE will determine their impact when they convert, especially if they have a "valuation cap" ... which is a provision by which an effective discount is given to the holder of the SAFE / Note. Valuation caps can result in more dilution to the founders and other pre-existing shareholders than they might expect, depending on the actual valuation of the company when these Convertible Notes and SAFE's do convert. 4. If you issued Convertible Notes or SAFE's as part of a Series A preferred stock round, the investors purchasing the Series A would have to have known about and approved of it. Their lawyers would have certainly raised eyebrows and asked questions. If these Convertible Notes / SAFE's were issued outside of the knowledge of the Series A investors, this would be expected to be problematic for the company, and possibly a breach of the Series A investment documents, or even a violation of certain securities laws. But, if all was approved by the investors, no problem. 5. Another implication worth noting is that since Convertible Notes are debt, they typically would be carried on (shown in) the company's balance sheet. Investors in Series A round always or nearly always have Information Rights to see the company's financial statements and be kept current on changes. Normally the company would have a contractual obligation to provide quarterly, if no monthly, financial reports and updates to Series A investors. These reports should include all information about SAFE's and Notes. 6. It should also be noted that Series A investment documents typically restrict the company from issuing many types of new securities without the approval of what these docs often call the "Requisite Holders." This is a defined term in the Series A investment docs (normally in the company amended and restated Charter), and is defined as the Series A holders that hold at least a stated number (e.g., a majority) of all of the Series A shares sold in the round. Note that these answers are not and should not be taken as legal advice for your particular situation. You should retain qualified legal counsel to have a formal lawyer-client relationship and your lawyer should review all relevant information. But, these concepts here are pretty fundamental. ~Thaddeus Wojcik, Wojcik Law Firm, PC
Securities
Stock Option Agreement
California
Stock option agreement and stock splits?
I am an employee of a company that is planning to offer stock options as part of my compensation package. I am trying to understand what would happen if my company does a stock split. Would my stock options be affected by the split, and if so, how? I want to make sure I understand the implications of a stock split before I accept the stock options as part of my compensation.
Thaddeus W.
Good question! Typically, a stock split will result in an appropriate adjustment to an option award so that, after the adjustment, the option holder (you, in this case) is "made whole" -- that is, you are effectively in the same place economically (as far as this option is concerned) after the split with the option as you were before. If you look at your company's Stock Plan (the plan under which your options were authorized and granted to you), you will probably find a section called "Changes in Capitalization." (Or, you can search to document for the word "split" and may be able to find the governing provision that way.) The provision might be included in your Stock Option Agreement, but typically it is covered in the Plan. Anyway, the provision (wherever it is located in your documents) would normally say something along the lines of the following: "In the event of a stock split (and other events), the following will occur: (i) the numbers and class of shares covered by your option award, (ii) the exercise price per share of each outstanding option, and (iii) any applicable repurchase price per share issued under any option award, will be automatically proportionately adjusted in the event of a stock split (or other event)." (Usually the language is even more "legalesey" but that's pretty much the jist of it.) Of course, its impossible to say for sure in your situation (or in any other specific situation) without seeing the relevant documents and knowing all other relevant details, but that would be the typical approach.
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