About Cicero SAFE Note Lawyers
Our Cicero startup lawyers help businesses and individuals with their legal needs. A few of the major industries that represent Illinois's economy include business services, exporting, and manufacturing.
Our platform has lawyers that specialize in safe notes. SAFE (or simple agreement for future equity) notes are documents that startups often use to help raise seed capital. ContractCounsel’s approach makes legal services affordable by removing unnecessary law firm overhead.
Meet some of our Cicero SAFE Note Lawyers
Jason H.
Jason has been providing legal insight and business expertise since 2001. He is admitted to both the Virginia Bar and the Texas State Bar, and also proud of his membership to the Fellowship of Ministers and Churches. Having served many people, companies and organizations with legal and business needs, his peers and clients know him to be a high-performing and skilled attorney who genuinely cares about his clients. In addition to being a trusted legal advisor, he is a keen business advisor for executive leadership and senior leadership teams on corporate legal and regulatory matters. His personal mission is to take a genuine interest in his clients, and serve as a primary resource to them.
Rene H.
I am an attorney licensed in both California and Mexico. I offer a unique blend of 14 years of legal expertise that bridges the gap between diverse legal landscapes. My background is enriched by significant roles as in-house counsel for global powerhouses such as Anheuser-Busch, Campari Group, and Grupo Lala, alongside contributions to Tier 1 law firms. I specialize in navigating the complexities of two pivotal areas: AI/Tech Innovation: With a profound grasp of both cutting-edge transformer models and foundational machine learning technologies, I am your go-to advisor for integrating these advancements into your business. Whether it's B2B or B2C applications, I ensure that your company harnesses the power of AI in a manner that's not only enterprise-friendly but also fully compliant with regulatory standards. Cross-Border Excellence: My expertise extends beyond borders, with over a decade of experience facilitating cross-border operations for companies in more than 20 countries. I am particularly adept at enhancing US-Mexico operations, ensuring seamless and efficient business transactions across these territories.
Michael M.
www.linkedin/in/michaelbmiller I am an experienced contracts professional having practiced nearly 3 decades in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, technology, start-up, intellectual property, real estate, employment law as well as informal dispute resolution. I enjoy providing a cost effective, high quality, timely solution with patience and empathy regarding client needs. I graduated from NYU Law School and attended Rutgers College and the London School of Economics as an undergraduate. I have worked at top Wall Street firms, top regional firms and have long term experience in my own practice. I would welcome the opportunity to be of service to you as a trusted fiduciary. In 2022 I was the top ranked attorney on the Contract Counsel site based upon number of clients, quality of work and top reviews.
Frank V.
Navy veteran with 14 years experience practicing law in Chicago.
July 23, 2023
Karen H.
During my tenure as VP & Division General Counsel of PepsiCo Inc. in Chicago, I built upon my diverse career overseeing legal matters for both the domestic and international businesses of PepsiCo and The Quaker Oats Co. My extensive practice areas included M&A, contracts, competition, NDAs, regulatory compliance, consumer product & protection, environmental, patents, and advertising regulations. Throughout my professional journey, I navigated legal complexities associated with an eclectic range of products, spanning juices, sports drinks, cereals, snacks, needlepoint kits, canned goods, eyeglasses, men's suits, car seats and toys. For further information, see my LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/karen-hunter-a700179
September 15, 2023
Brett S.
I attended the University of Illinois- College of Law on a full merit scholarship. While in law school, I was a 711 Attorney at the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, specializing in traffic and misdemeanor cases. After graduation, I served as in-house counsel for one of the largest insurance companies in the world, managing thousands of cases from initial intake to trial. Upon leaving this position, I accepted a role as Legal Counsel to the Illinois Senate Minority Leader. There, I advised Senators on legislative matters, labor and employment law, and complex constitutional questions. After leaving public service, I accepted a role at a mid-size Chicago-based law firm, where I practice insurance defense and litigation. In addition to this, I also serve as outside general counsel to a food brokerage business, where I handle all of their labor and employment matters.
July 26, 2023
Charles M.
Mr. McElvenny has extensive experience handling and developing strategy for complex commercial and real estate cases. He’s drafted hundreds of complaints ranging from simple breaches of contract to complex commercial claims including breach of fiduciary duty, constructive trusts and misappropriation of trade secrets. He has an excellent record in trial, arbitration and mediation. He also has significant experience in motion practice in both state and federal court. Through his work in corporate law, Mr. McElvenny has developed considerable experience with Limited Liability Company member disputes and general corporate governance. He’s drafted a number of industry-specific documents such as Operating Agreements (for Limited Liability Companies), commercial leases, settlement agreements and employment contracts. Mr. McElvenny has also represented criminal defendants in felony matters and assisted in the defense of civil matters arising from alleged SEC violations. He has represented individuals appearing before the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation as a result of SEC proceedings. After graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy, Mr. McElvenny proceeded from Loyola University-Chicago to DePaul University College of Law, receiving his JD from that institution in 2002. In 2010, he earned his Master’s of Science in Accounting from Loyola University-Chicago’s Graduate School of Business. Mr. McElvenny was selected to Illinois’ Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
August 1, 2023
Timothy J.
Financial Services, Business, Corporate, Personal Injury, and Healthcare. I've represented fortune 100 companies and defended individuals in personal debt litigation. Wide breadth of experience, ready to assist.
August 2, 2023
Dennis W.
2008 - Present: Sole Practitioner – Dennis W. Winkler, P.C. Practice primarily in finance and business transactions, as well as commercial real estate transactions. Represent developers, investors, lenders, and businesses, in such matters as: corporate entity selection, drafting and negotiating complex asset purchase agreements, corporate mergers and sales, stock purchase agreements, and various other business contracts for closely related businesses. Involved in a variety of real estate developments, multi-family apartment buildings, construction and acquisition financing, commercial leasing, sophisticated workout transactions, joint ventures, and tax-deferred exchanges. Advise on tax and other savings incentives available to business owners and real estate owners in Illinois. Advise companies involved in related real estate activities such as sales, leasing, property management, brokerage, and construction. Tax experience that includes the representation of taxpayers in State and Federal controversies including: sales/excess tax disputes and responsible parties’ tax assessment protest. Additionally, Dennis has experience in the protest of real estate taxes of commercial and multi-family real estate. As a legal and business advisor, Dennis is committed to helping clients find, develop, and close deals that further their business objectives. Dennis regularly advises entrepreneurs and closely held businesses on matters incidental to their day-to-day business operations as well as their capital raising and start-up needs, corporate structure, private equity raises, and operating agreements. Much like general counsel, Dennis’s breadth of experience allows him to not only provide strategic planning and routine business transactional support to companies, but he also regularly advises on a number of unique issues facing companies by spotting issues and engaging specialists when needed, such as intellectual property, environmental, and bankruptcy counsel. As such, Dennis has been actively involved in sales and acquisitions of manufacturing companies, trucking companies, and logistics companies.
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.
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Browse Lawyers NowFind SAFE Note Template by Types
A Pre-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Pre-Money" refer to the valuation of the company before the current round of financing. This means the valuation would not take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
A SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO. Given this SAFE Note has no valuation cap included, it does not need to reference "Pre-Money" or "Post-Money" since the valuation at the triggering event will not impact the price the investors shares are converted. It will only be converted at the discount.
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
A Post-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Post-Money" refer to the valuation of the company after the current round of financing. This means the valuation would take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
A Post-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Post-Money" refer to the valuation of the company after the current round of financing. This means the valuation would take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
A Pre-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Pre-Money" refer to the valuation of the company before the current round of financing. This means the valuation would not take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
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ContractsCounsel User
SAFE note review
Location: Illinois
Turnaround: Over a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: SAFE Note
Page Count: 6
Number of Bids: 10
Bid Range: $325 - $1,150
ContractsCounsel User
Safe note for an exciting Professional Sports and Entertainment Company
Location: Illinois
Turnaround: Over a week
Service: Drafting
Doc Type: SAFE Note
Number of Bids: 6
Bid Range: $950 - $3,500
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