Startup Advisory
The earliest legal decisions a startup makes — what entity to form, how to structure founder equity, how to protect IP, and what terms to accept from investors — have consequences that compound over the life of the company. Getting them right from the start is far cheaper than unwinding them later.
I work with early-stage founders as a practical legal partner: someone who understands both the legal mechanics and the business context, and who can give you direct, actionable advice without excessive process or overhead.
What I Help With
Entity Formation and Structure
Choosing the right entity — corporation, LLC, or other structure — depends on your financing plans, tax situation, industry, and where you expect the company to go. For most venture-backed startups, a Delaware C-corporation is the standard choice. For others, an LLC may be more appropriate. I advise on the tradeoffs, handle formation, and draft the governance documents your company needs from day one.
Founder Agreements
Founder disputes are one of the most common causes of early-stage startup failure. Clear agreements — covering equity splits, vesting schedules, IP assignment, decision-making authority, and what happens if a founder leaves — are the best way to prevent ambiguity from becoming conflict. I draft founder agreements that address these issues directly, while keeping the process straightforward for founding teams.
Intellectual Property Protection
For most startups, intellectual property is the core asset. I advise on IP assignment agreements to ensure that the company — not individual founders or contractors — owns what was built, on confidentiality agreements to protect sensitive information, and on basic trademark and trade secret protection strategies appropriate for early-stage companies.
Contract Negotiation
Customer agreements, vendor contracts, software licenses, and employment agreements all carry legal risk that can be managed with careful drafting. I help startups build contract templates that are enforceable and appropriately protective without being so aggressive that they slow down business development.
AI Tool Integration
Many early-stage companies are incorporating AI tools into their operations. I advise on the practical and legal considerations of doing so responsibly — including data privacy, vendor terms, IP ownership questions related to AI-generated outputs, and regulatory considerations for specific industries. The goal is to help companies capture the efficiency benefits of AI without creating legal exposure they have not considered.
Who This Is For
My startup clients range from pre-revenue founders who need to get their legal house in order before approaching investors, to post-seed companies that have outgrown informal arrangements and need proper documentation in place before their next round. If you are building a company and need a lawyer who can keep up with the pace of a startup, I am available to help.