5 ms·

It's good to know how lawyers overcharge, but it's better to find a trusted lawyer who you don't have to worry about. We work with Yokum Taku and Jesse Chew at

by smalter 13y ago

It's good to know how lawyers overcharge, but it's better to find a trusted lawyer who you don't have to worry about. We work with Yokum Taku and Jesse Chew at Wilson Sonsini, and they've been awesome. Because I'm a former lawyer, I started out our relationship by scrutinizing every bill. I stopped when I realized that we were getting an amazing deal. We have only paid 1 legal bill in 2 years and we haven't been bugged at all about it. Our legal bill is being subsidized by your Airbnbs and the like. That's the luxury of working with a great startup lawyer that works with top startups.

matthewmcg 13y ago
Yokum's personal site startupcompanylawyer.com has a ton of useful "self-help" information too. It's a great resource.
smaili 13y ago
Problem is that bootstrapped startups can't afford big names like Wilson Sonsini. Any recommendations for cheaper alternatives that still offer similar quality?
- andrewfong 13y ago
  If it's a routine incorporation and note financing, try Clerky.
alexdevkar 13y ago
This is important advice. Spend time finding someone you trust and that you feel comfortable talking to. You won't run into any of the unethical things mentioned in this post with a good attorney. In fact, some of those things are against the rules of professional conduct. Another important point: You can always negotiate your bill. It is very common to pay less than the billed amount. Full disclosure: I'm a former WSGR attorney. Now a WSGR client.
- larrys 13y ago
  "Spend time finding someone you trust" Sounds very "find a good lawyer". How do you find someone you can trust? Or do you mean someone who appears trustworthy? Also noting that the parent comment says that they stopped checking the bills. There are cases in business where people know this dynamic and once they aren't being checked they tend to take more chances. Hence even the person who relates "he is great and I trust him" may not be aware of what is currently happening with billing (if they are not checking).
  - alexdevkar 13y ago
    I'd recommend taking introductory meetings with several attorneys. You should be able to quickly get a sense of what kind of person you're dealing with. Then check references. Yokum, for example, has a lot of clients who will say nice things.
  - bfe 13y ago
    The traditional and probably best way to find a good attorney is through your network of people you trust.
    - larrys 13y ago
      I agree that that is the standard and typical advice that people follow. But people tend to, in addition to doing the subjective "good work" [1], they refer people that they like personally or who encourage the type of relationship building that leads to more work. [2] Also, in theory at least, if an attorney ends up being referred a great deal and has a nice book of business they would raise their rates and/or push work off on subordinates, right? [1] And how, with legal work, do you know if it's "good" until the shit hits the fan or there is a problem? [2] Even physicians are susceptible to this (but less so). I don't want to know who you like personally or who you know but who you think does a really good job as a clinician. And maybe you hate that person or their personality. That's fine. I just want someone who is good I don't care if you like having him over for dinner. (Had a girlfriend once whose father was a surgeon and they were always entertaining the family practice doctors so they could get referrals. He was a jerk to his family but he was sweet as sugar to the other physicians who he needed.

by smalter 13y ago

matthewmcg 13y ago

Yokum's personal site startupcompanylawyer.com has a ton of useful "self-help" information too. It's a great resource.

smaili 13y ago

Problem is that bootstrapped startups can't afford big names like Wilson Sonsini. Any recommendations for cheaper alternatives that still offer similar quality?

andrewfong 13y ago
If it's a routine incorporation and note financing, try Clerky.

alexdevkar 13y ago

This is important advice. Spend time finding someone you trust and that you feel comfortable talking to. You won't run into any of the unethical things mentioned in this post with a good attorney. In fact, some of those things are against the rules of professional conduct. Another important point: You can always negotiate your bill. It is very common to pay less than the billed amount. Full disclosure: I'm a former WSGR attorney. Now a WSGR client.

larrys 13y ago
"Spend time finding someone you trust" Sounds very "find a good lawyer". How do you find someone you can trust? Or do you mean someone who appears trustworthy? Also noting that the parent comment says that they stopped checking the bills. There are cases in business where people know this dynamic and once they aren't being checked they tend to take more chances. Hence even the person who relates "he is great and I trust him" may not be aware of what is currently happening with billing (if they are not checking).
- alexdevkar 13y ago
  I'd recommend taking introductory meetings with several attorneys. You should be able to quickly get a sense of what kind of person you're dealing with. Then check references. Yokum, for example, has a lot of clients who will say nice things.
- bfe 13y ago
  The traditional and probably best way to find a good attorney is through your network of people you trust.
  - larrys 13y ago
    I agree that that is the standard and typical advice that people follow. But people tend to, in addition to doing the subjective "good work" [1], they refer people that they like personally or who encourage the type of relationship building that leads to more work. [2] Also, in theory at least, if an attorney ends up being referred a great deal and has a nice book of business they would raise their rates and/or push work off on subordinates, right? [1] And how, with legal work, do you know if it's "good" until the shit hits the fan or there is a problem? [2] Even physicians are susceptible to this (but less so). I don't want to know who you like personally or who you know but who you think does a really good job as a clinician. And maybe you hate that person or their personality. That's fine. I just want someone who is good I don't care if you like having him over for dinner. (Had a girlfriend once whose father was a surgeon and they were always entertaining the family practice doctors so they could get referrals. He was a jerk to his family but he was sweet as sugar to the other physicians who he needed.