how do i pick my startup lawyer attorney

by Lionel Considine 8 min read

How to Choose a Lawyer for Your Startup

  • Experience with startups. Choose a lawyer who is experienced in working with startups in your industry and building...
  • The day-to-day…. Law firms are made up of attorneys with various levels of experience and billable rates – from partners...
  • Law firm culture. A law firm’s culture can be very relevant to its clients. In firms with...

Choose a Startup Lawyer
  1. How to: Choose a Startup Lawyer. ...
  2. Choose a trusted partner. ...
  3. Look for a partner whose experience aligns with your needs. ...
  4. Initiate an open conversation about priorities and response time. ...
  5. Decide whether to partner with a big firm or a small firm. ...
  6. Ask about fees. ...
  7. Questions for prospective lawyers.

Full Answer

Should you move your law firm to a startup?

The attorney was, in fact, a business attorney, but what we later discovered was she had never before worked with a tech startup with high growth ambitions, the need to raise multiple rounds of financing over the next two years, and the goal to exit/sell the company in a five- to seven-year timeframe. We were targeting raising around $3 million ...

Should you become an M&A lawyer for startups?

Are they really a “startup lawyer”? Choose a lawyer whose focus and experience is working with your business. Meaning, if you are an early-stage technology company looking to ultimately raise outside venture capital, your lawyer should have that same expertise. Ask your lawyer how many startup clients they have.

What does a startup lawyer do?

Feb 11, 2020 · Experience and Expertise. In the context of working with a startup company, the concept of experience and expertise has two distinct layers. As a threshold matter, I think it is critical to ensure that the attorneys you are considering are bona fide startup lawyers – that is lawyers who exclusively (or nearly exclusively) work with emerging ...

Should you hire a startup law firm or go inhouse?

Aug 21, 2007 ¡ How to Know You Have Found a Great Startup Lawyer Go Small. . Lawyers from small law firms, particularly in the 1-5 lawyer range, tend to make the best startup lawyers. Referrals to Other Professionals. . A great startup lawyer will suggest you seek the advice of other professionals. Prioritizing ...

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What questions should I ask a startup lawyer?

7 questions to ask your startup lawyerDo You Work With Companies Comparable to Mine? ... How Do You Bill? ... Will I Be Comfortable Working With You? ... What Is Your Focus? ... What Is Your Past Experience? ... Are You the Best in the City? ... What Is Your Age and Experience With Technology?Aug 3, 2013

How do I decide what kind of lawyer to get?

Here are a few questions to help you determine what type of law would be a good fit for you:How Much Do You Like to Argue?How Motivated You Are by Money?How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Work Life?How Much Interaction Do You Need With Other People?What Do You Like to Do?Dec 11, 2019

What are multiple reasons you need a lawyer for at a startup How would you go about selecting this resource?

For this and other important reasons, you most likely will need a lawyer for your startup.Strict Conformity.Multi-State Business. ... Business Form. ... Registering, Licensing, and Permits. ... Contracts. Most businesses execute contracts for space, services, and supplies. ... Nov 27, 2018

How much does a top lawyer cost?

Attorney fees typically range from $100 to $300 per hour based on experience and specialization. Costs start at $100 per hour for new attorneys, but standard attorney fees for an expert lawyer to handle a complex case can average $225 an hour or more.

What type of lawyers are the happiest?

The happiest attorneys, therefore, are those who experience a cultural fit. This means they work for firms where they are free to act independently, do work that matters to them and collaborate on teams with people who complement their personality and communication style.Jun 25, 2019

What lawyers go to court the most?

Criminal Defense Lawyer Criminal defense lawyers may appear in court more frequently than other types of lawyers—especially if a case goes to trial.

How can a lawyer help a startup?

Legal help for Startups in their business formation and to cover statutory legal compliances results in laying a solid base and hassle-free operations which provides entrepreneurs/ founders/ promoters to focus on the more vital needs such as hiring, funding and finance and other processes to enable growth.

Why should a lawyer be consulted when starting a new business?

These professionals have seen first-hand the mistakes entrepreneurs make, and know how to help you avoid them. It is best to consult with your attorney early on in the process, before you formally organize the company; the foundational issues are critical to the long-term success of your new venture.Jan 14, 2013

Why legal is important for Startups?

From incorporation to investment negotiations, startups have legal needs necessary for the success of their business. For instance, Startups find that they may have to deal with government established institutions, be it for issuance of licences or payment of taxes.May 17, 2021

What is a retainer fee for a lawyer?

A retainer fee commonly refers to the upfront cost of a contract for professional services, such as with a consultant, freelancer or a lawyer. You put down a deposit, which the service provider will use to cover any costs involved in their legal services.May 23, 2019

Who is the best lawyer of all time?

Abraham Lincoln (aka Honest Abe) Amongst one of the greatest lawyers of all time, Abraham Lincoln can easily be counted as one of the most famous.May 16, 2018

What do top lawyers charge hourly?

A 2015 study by BTI Consulting Group found that the average highest rate paid for law-firm partners was $875 an hour, up 27 percent over a three-year period.Mar 22, 2016

Is it easy to get a business started?

Filing paperwork for legal incorporation just to get your business started is often not too complicated in many jurisdictions. There are several online services that help make the process even easier for US companies and others. Sometimes building a startup will legally be as simple as incorporation alone, while other businesses will face much more complicated regulatory concerns before ever onboarding a single customer.

What is aligned goals?

Aligned Goals. If you only need legal support to file the basic incorporation paperwork to get up and running, you may not need to get too crazy on the relationship building. However, for startups looking for a more long-term legal integration, aligning goals with your law firm is incredibly important.

How much money did the founder institute raise?

Graduates of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over $1 billion in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.

Do law firms ask for long term contracts?

Formalize the Relationship. Unless you are working with equity as a component to your relationship, a law firm should not ask you to sign any long-term contracts. There should be some basic paperwork that needs to be completed, and they will be considered your law firm of record.

What is retainer in law?

This typically means that an initial amount is set to retain the services of the firm, and they will support your business needs at hourly rates.

Who is Salil Gandhi?

As Salil Gandhi, an emerging companies partner at Goodwin Procter in New York City, describes it, “ Startup lawyers act as outside general counsel for high-growth startups throughout the lifecycle.” The day-to-day translates to “counseling startup clients through the formation process and capital raising from angels and venture capitalists, advising on legal and business issues that arise as the companies scale and grow, and then eventually helping them sell the business or take the company public in an IPO. ” Gandhi’s practice mostly involves representing startup companies themselves, but he also represents venture capital (VC) funds when they invest in startups.

Do corporate lawyers prefer business?

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a corporate lawyer secretly—or, in many cases, not so secretly—would prefer a career in business. Any recruiter who speaks regularly with corporate/transactional associates at big law firms invariably hears that their eventual goal is to move over to the business side, or at least to get closer to the business. But what many of these attorneys fail to realize is that there are ways to continue practicing law while still getting to flex those business muscles as a key member of the top-level strategic team at fast-paced, growing companies. Now, does that sound like something you might be interested in?

Is a startup a risky endeavor?

Startups are inherently risky endeavors. As Whistler Managing Director Kathleen Mon sees it: “ Startups are disruptors. If you want that life, you have to be about that life. If you want to work in this space, you can't expect to follow the typical legal career path.

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Experience with Startups

  • Choose a lawyer who is experienced in working with startups in your industry and building those startups into successful companies. If the lawyer is part of a large firm that has a startup or ‘emerging companies’ practice, you may have a ‘1-stop-shop’ benefit that includes the various specialty areas startups will eventually need as they grow. In a...
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The day-to-day…

  • Law firms are made up of attorneys with various levels of experience and billable rates – from partners to junior associate lawyers. You should know what the day to day (or month to month) communication with the legal team will look and feel like. Ask: 1. Who will your primary point of contact be? 2. How can you be assured that your questions/issues are being addressed by the ri…
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Law Firm Culture

  • A law firm’s culture can be very relevant to its clients. In firms with a collaborative or ‘team’ culture, your lawyer is better able to leverage the collective knowledge of his or her colleagues to offer more effective and efficient legal counsel, quicker responses and business-friendly answers. Culture is not an easy area for an outsider to assess, but ask the lawyer to describe the firm’s cul…
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Connections to Capital

  • Don’t underestimate the ‘non-legal’ services that your lawyer can provide. In addition to representing startups, some firms also have a venture capital practice where they represent VCs in their fund formation and investment activities. A firm with a strong VC practice has deep relationships with investors that can be helpful to startup founders as they fundraise, and your la…
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Cost

  • Early-stage startups are often cash constrained and attorney billable hourly rates are high. A good startup lawyer is sensitive to this and may be willing to offer a flexible fee arrangement to unfunded startups. These arrangements can take many forms, and a good startup lawyer will be happy to discuss options with you. Realize that law firms are investing their time and taking a ris…
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Chemistry

  • A great legal advisor is important as you launch and grow your company. Choose a lawyer who is smart, accessible, interested in you and your company, easy to talk to, and is someone you can count on to be available and honest with you. You’ll be working with your lawyer through exciting and occasionally difficult times – choose wisely!
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