4 ms·

Need Good Startup Lawyer Recommendation

8 points by gibsonf1 19y ago

We need to get a lawyer to help us with trademark issues and our company structure. Can anyone recommend a good lawyer in the SF area? PG: I did as many google searches as possible on YC to try to find the lawyer you use for YC companies which I'm pretty sure you mentioned a couple months ago, but to no avail. Which lawyers do you use?

danielha 19y ago
YC works with WSGR. http://www.wsgr.com http://www.wsgr.com
- brezina 19y ago
  Many YC startups have been disappointed with the service and cost at WSGR. Check out Orrick, Fenwick, and Gundersen.
  - zurla 19y ago
    I'll send that part about the cost. WSGR has been known to charge 2x what other firms charge for the same work.
    - gibsonf1 19y ago
      Wow, do they add that much more value than other firms?
mattculbreth 19y ago
I believe they work with Goodwin Procter, as do I. Feel free to email me and I'll send you a couple contacts.
- gibsonf1 19y ago
  I was just going to say thanks, but they are not local until I read that they just opened an office in Palo Alto. Email on the way :)
mattculbreth 19y ago
Here you go, another thread: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16419 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16419
nostrademons 19y ago
I've got the same question, but for Boston area. Recommendations would be appreciated. Also, how do costs compare with these law firms? Will using WSGR or Goodwin Procter set us back an arm and a leg, or are most competent firms roughly equivalent in price? Is legal stuff a place where it's even worth being price-sensitive, or does it pay to splurge for a top-tier law firm?
- epi0Bauqu 19y ago
  In Boston, seek out Lea Pendleton at MBBP: http://www.mbbp.com/attorneys/pendleton_lea.html http://www.mbbp.com/attorneys/pendleton_lea.html I have had had great experiences with him both in terms of cost and results.
  - nostrademons 19y ago
    Interesting. I've also had a current SFP2007 founder recommend a different partner at MBBP. Will definitely look into them. Thanks.
nivi 19y ago
You need to ask for a specific Partner. Just going to WSGR is not useful. Or Fenwick. Or Gunderson. Or anywhere. They all have good and bad lawyers. In general, it is really really hard to find a good lawyer. I have never hired Yokum but he is very active in the Venture Hacks community and he has a good blog: http://startupcompanylawyer.com/ http://startupcompanylawyer.com/ Nivi http://venturehacks.com http://venturehacks.com
- gleb 19y ago
  And beyond good and bad lawyers, there are good lawyers who are a good or a bad match fora specific company and founders. You need to interview a few and select one who seems like a good match.
  - gibsonf1 19y ago
    Does anyone have good ideas for specific lawyers to interview, and what the best interview questions are to find out if the lawyer is compatible? (Thanks for all the comments so far!)
deleted 19y ago
[deleted]
sgoraya 19y ago
I've been using White & Lee LLP over in Menlo Park - The folks that are working with me have been a pleasure to work with so far - Only negative thing I can say is that they are not always as prompt as I would like

8 points by gibsonf1 19y ago

danielha 19y ago

YC works with WSGR. http://www.wsgr.com http://www.wsgr.com

brezina 19y ago
Many YC startups have been disappointed with the service and cost at WSGR. Check out Orrick, Fenwick, and Gundersen.
- zurla 19y ago
  I'll send that part about the cost. WSGR has been known to charge 2x what other firms charge for the same work.
  - gibsonf1 19y ago
    Wow, do they add that much more value than other firms?

mattculbreth 19y ago

I believe they work with Goodwin Procter, as do I. Feel free to email me and I'll send you a couple contacts.

gibsonf1 19y ago
I was just going to say thanks, but they are not local until I read that they just opened an office in Palo Alto. Email on the way :)

mattculbreth 19y ago

Here you go, another thread: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16419 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16419

nostrademons 19y ago

I've got the same question, but for Boston area. Recommendations would be appreciated. Also, how do costs compare with these law firms? Will using WSGR or Goodwin Procter set us back an arm and a leg, or are most competent firms roughly equivalent in price? Is legal stuff a place where it's even worth being price-sensitive, or does it pay to splurge for a top-tier law firm?

epi0Bauqu 19y ago
In Boston, seek out Lea Pendleton at MBBP: http://www.mbbp.com/attorneys/pendleton_lea.html http://www.mbbp.com/attorneys/pendleton_lea.html I have had had great experiences with him both in terms of cost and results.
- nostrademons 19y ago
  Interesting. I've also had a current SFP2007 founder recommend a different partner at MBBP. Will definitely look into them. Thanks.

nivi 19y ago

You need to ask for a specific Partner. Just going to WSGR is not useful. Or Fenwick. Or Gunderson. Or anywhere. They all have good and bad lawyers. In general, it is really really hard to find a good lawyer. I have never hired Yokum but he is very active in the Venture Hacks community and he has a good blog: http://startupcompanylawyer.com/ http://startupcompanylawyer.com/ Nivi http://venturehacks.com http://venturehacks.com

gleb 19y ago
And beyond good and bad lawyers, there are good lawyers who are a good or a bad match fora specific company and founders. You need to interview a few and select one who seems like a good match.
- gibsonf1 19y ago
  Does anyone have good ideas for specific lawyers to interview, and what the best interview questions are to find out if the lawyer is compatible? (Thanks for all the comments so far!)

deleted 19y ago

[deleted]

sgoraya 19y ago

I've been using White & Lee LLP over in Menlo Park - The folks that are working with me have been a pleasure to work with so far - Only negative thing I can say is that they are not always as prompt as I would like