3 ms·

Lawyer recommendations? (with startup experience)

11 points by jsjenkins168 20y ago

jsjenkins168 20y ago
I am seeking a good lawyer to help us with the legal side of our startup. Initially I'll just need assistance with incorporating and drafting an IP release statement from my current employer, but I'd like to establish a long term relationship for future legal advice. So for this reason I'd prefer someone who has had experience dealing with tech startups specifically. We'd like someone who is good but our limited funding wont allow for a firm who charges a lot.. I know, I know, these goals are mutually exclusive but I was hoping someone on this forum might have some recommendations. Any general lawyer-searching advice is also appreciated. I know many here have been through this process.. Please feel free to contact me off list at jsjenkins168 (at) gmail.com too. Thanks.
mattculbreth 20y ago
Those guys from Goodwin Procter that spoke at Startup School seemed really good to me, and I've traded a few emails with Mark.
wastedbrains 20y ago
We went through this question awhile ago, and found a local lawyer in Denver CO that we are happy with. If you want to read the post we made on finding a lawyer it can be found here, http://blog.pretheory.com/arch/000431.php http://blog.pretheory.com/arch/000431.php
pg 20y ago
We use WSGR in CA and Goodwin Procter in MA.
- wyday 20y ago
  Is Goodwin Procter what Y Combinator as a company uses, or what you guys recommend for the companies that sprout from YC?
  - pg 20y ago
    Both.
- RyanGWU82 20y ago
  Just in case you're not all up on the inside-the-valley lingo: WSGR is Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. From their website, I see they're offering a private (?) seminar series called "Entrepreneurs College". That sounds vaguely familiar... ;-)
  - lindsayrgwatt 20y ago
    Dude-Entrepreneurs College is open to anyone; I'm currently attending the NYC sessions and it's pretty good. Gives you a very good sense of the legal and financial issues you're going to face - and you're getting the perspective of real practionters. It's also not just 2nd year lawyers talking - Rosati (yes, the dude with his name above the door...) was one of the first speakers.
nivi 20y ago
On the topic of "general lawyer-searching advice", here are some useful links from Venture Hacks: http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-24 http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-24 : "There are plenty of lawyers who know VC terms and VC deals very well, yet are not in the VC's back pockets. Ask around your business community - you will quickly learn which lawyers you can trust as being more company/entrepeneur focused, and which ones will be good VC lawyers but too cozy with VC's for a smart entrepeneur to really trust. Doing VC deals on the investor side is a low-margin business given the severe downward fee pressure from the VC's - some firms stock up on VC deals and go for quantity over quality; others will do a VC deal for the Company but will generally only occasionally work with VC's. Also, many VC-back-pocket lawyers will sell themselves to you as having all the connections to the VC's and can get your company in front of all the big players, but that should be an alarm bell. There is a difference - ask around with people who have been there and whose opinion you value and trust, and you will find it." http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#lawyers http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#lawyers : "Most law firms do a lot more business with VCs than they are likely to do with you. VCs refer new clients to the law firms, hire the law firms regularly, and know the attorneys socially. Where do you think the law firms' loyalty lies? The basic incentives between you, your law firm, and your prospective investors are not in your favor. Your lawyers make money by executing transactions and your investors simply bring more transactions to your lawyers than you do." http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49 http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49 : "We have always said at our firm that you can represent VCs or entrepreneurs, but not both, for the very reason you identify. You can't aggressively protect a founder if you are concerned that it might cost you the legal work for raising a VC's next fund. The VC community is simply too small, and business matter are too personal. You hit the nail on the head, regardless of what my colleagues say."
naish 20y ago
For the Canadians in the crowd: Do you have any recommendations for a Canadian firm, preferably in Ontario?
- nivi 20y ago
  I don't know this person or firm but check out Suzie Dingwall Williams: http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49 http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49
- startupper 20y ago
  can you be more specific -- where in ontario?

11 points by jsjenkins168 20y ago

I am seeking a good lawyer to help us with the legal side of our startup. Initially I'll just need assistance with incorporating and drafting an IP release statement from my current employer, but I'd like to establish a long term relationship for future legal advice. So for this reason I'd prefer someone who has had experience dealing with tech startups specifically. We'd like someone who is good but our limited funding wont allow for a firm who charges a lot.. I know, I know, these goals are mutually exclusive but I was hoping someone on this forum might have some recommendations. Any general lawyer-searching advice is also appreciated. I know many here have been through this process.. Please feel free to contact me off list at jsjenkins168 (at) gmail.com too. Thanks.

mattculbreth 20y ago

Those guys from Goodwin Procter that spoke at Startup School seemed really good to me, and I've traded a few emails with Mark.

wastedbrains 20y ago

We went through this question awhile ago, and found a local lawyer in Denver CO that we are happy with. If you want to read the post we made on finding a lawyer it can be found here, http://blog.pretheory.com/arch/000431.php http://blog.pretheory.com/arch/000431.php

pg 20y ago

We use WSGR in CA and Goodwin Procter in MA.

wyday 20y ago
Is Goodwin Procter what Y Combinator as a company uses, or what you guys recommend for the companies that sprout from YC?
- pg 20y ago
  Both.
RyanGWU82 20y ago
Just in case you're not all up on the inside-the-valley lingo: WSGR is Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. From their website, I see they're offering a private (?) seminar series called "Entrepreneurs College". That sounds vaguely familiar... ;-)
- lindsayrgwatt 20y ago
  Dude-Entrepreneurs College is open to anyone; I'm currently attending the NYC sessions and it's pretty good. Gives you a very good sense of the legal and financial issues you're going to face - and you're getting the perspective of real practionters. It's also not just 2nd year lawyers talking - Rosati (yes, the dude with his name above the door...) was one of the first speakers.

nivi 20y ago

On the topic of "general lawyer-searching advice", here are some useful links from Venture Hacks: http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-24 http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-24 : "There are plenty of lawyers who know VC terms and VC deals very well, yet are not in the VC's back pockets. Ask around your business community - you will quickly learn which lawyers you can trust as being more company/entrepeneur focused, and which ones will be good VC lawyers but too cozy with VC's for a smart entrepeneur to really trust. Doing VC deals on the investor side is a low-margin business given the severe downward fee pressure from the VC's - some firms stock up on VC deals and go for quantity over quality; others will do a VC deal for the Company but will generally only occasionally work with VC's. Also, many VC-back-pocket lawyers will sell themselves to you as having all the connections to the VC's and can get your company in front of all the big players, but that should be an alarm bell. There is a difference - ask around with people who have been there and whose opinion you value and trust, and you will find it." http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#lawyers http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#lawyers : "Most law firms do a lot more business with VCs than they are likely to do with you. VCs refer new clients to the law firms, hire the law firms regularly, and know the attorneys socially. Where do you think the law firms' loyalty lies? The basic incentives between you, your law firm, and your prospective investors are not in your favor. Your lawyers make money by executing transactions and your investors simply bring more transactions to your lawyers than you do." http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49 http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49 : "We have always said at our firm that you can represent VCs or entrepreneurs, but not both, for the very reason you identify. You can't aggressively protect a founder if you are concerned that it might cost you the legal work for raising a VC's next fund. The VC community is simply too small, and business matter are too personal. You hit the nail on the head, regardless of what my colleagues say."

naish 20y ago

For the Canadians in the crowd: Do you have any recommendations for a Canadian firm, preferably in Ontario?

nivi 20y ago
I don't know this person or firm but check out Suzie Dingwall Williams: http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49 http://www.venturehacks.com/articles/term-sheet-hacks#comment-49
startupper 20y ago
can you be more specific -- where in ontario?