Nuclear Startup Advisory
Small modular reactors represent one of the most significant emerging sectors in the energy industry — and one of the most legally complex environments a startup can operate in. The intersection of nuclear regulation, venture financing, advanced manufacturing, and energy policy creates a set of legal challenges that most corporate attorneys have never encountered.
I currently serve as General Counsel for a nuclear reactor technology company, providing ongoing legal counsel across corporate, transactional, and operational matters. That hands-on experience — not just familiarity with the sector, but active work within it — is what I bring to advisory engagements with other SMR and nuclear energy startups.
What I Advise On
Corporate Governance for Nuclear Startups
Nuclear startups often carry equity structures, investor relationships, and governance requirements that differ from typical software or consumer companies. Capital intensity, long development timelines, and regulatory milestones create governance dynamics that require careful structuring. I advise on board composition, equity governance, information rights, and the internal policies that support a well-run company in a high-scrutiny environment.
Venture Financing and Equity Structures
Raising capital for an SMR company involves many of the same instruments as other startups — SAFEs, convertible notes, and priced equity rounds — but in a context where investor expectations, dilution dynamics, and capital requirements are often different in scale and complexity. I advise nuclear startups on financing strategy, term sheet negotiation, and equity structure, including how to communicate complex technology development timelines to investors in a way that supports favorable terms.
Founder and Early-Team Arrangements
The founding teams of nuclear startups often include scientists, engineers, and former government or regulatory professionals — people with extraordinary technical expertise but limited experience with equity agreements, vesting structures, and founder arrangements. I advise these teams on structuring their ownership in a way that aligns incentives, is defensible to future investors, and protects the company if circumstances change.
Commercial and Transactional Matters
Beyond financing, nuclear startups regularly encounter complex commercial arrangements — technology licensing agreements, joint development contracts, government grants and cooperative agreements, supply chain contracts, and strategic partnerships with larger energy or industrial companies. I advise on the legal aspects of these transactions, helping founders navigate agreements that are often longer and more complex than standard startup contracts.
Why This Practice Is Different
Very few attorneys have both deep startup and venture financing experience and active involvement in the nuclear energy sector. Most nuclear law practices focus on regulatory compliance for large utilities, not on the corporate and financing needs of early-stage technology companies. That gap is exactly where I operate — and it is a genuine differentiator for the clients I serve in this space.
If you are building an SMR or nuclear technology company and need legal counsel who understands both the startup environment and the nuclear sector, I welcome the conversation.