what two characteristics should a lawyer have when working with a startup?

by Dayana Littel 10 min read

At the most basic level, start-ups need lawyers to help them deal with three groups: The government. You don’t want to violate laws. You also need to be sure you are doing business in a way that doesn’t create unnecessary tax liability and that you pay the taxes you owe. Third parties and the public.

Full Answer

Why do start-ups need lawyers?

while there are aspects of the practice that are highly specialized (such as understanding vc deal terms and startup market conventions), being a startup lawyer requires at least some working knowledge across a broad array of legal domains, including tax, employment law, compensation, intellectual property, commercial law, corporate law and …

Should you become an M&A lawyer for startups?

What two characteristics should a lawyer have when working with a startup? Intellectual property theft _________ costs U.S. businesses almost US$300 billion each year

Would a corporate lawyer choose a career in business?

Aug 30, 2017 · Particularly in the startup context, clients will have to work closely with their lawyers on a regular basis and will rely on these lawyers to ensure the well-being of their company in the early stages. You must not only feel comfortable with your lawyer, but also like working with your lawyer and have compatible personalities. 3.

Are startup law firms hiring laterals from top corporate practices?

Apr 24, 2020 · What You Should Know. Startupopinions April 24, 2020. When you are still working on getting your business off the ground, you may want to keep the number of employees to a minimum. This includes any work you may need to outsource as well. Thus, you are going to have to think long and hard about hiring a lawyer for your startup.

image

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.

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.

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?

Know-How an Attorney Can Help Your Business

Before going any further, it is important to understand how a lawyer can help your company. With this insight, you will find it easier to determine whether you should take on such an expert for your organization.

When Should You Hire an Attorney?

Now, taking into consideration everything a lawyer can do for you, should you hire one from the moment your business gets off? Well, this is entirely up to you, but for the most part, it is unnecessary.

Hiring the Right Lawyer for Your Startup

The final step of your journey involves hiring the best possible attorney for your startup company. You should be mindful that just because a lawyer has a good reputation, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a suitable fit for your new business.

Who is Matt from Upcounsel?

He is responsible for our overall vision and growth of the UpCounsel platform. Before founding UpCounsel, Matt practiced as a startup and business attorney.

How many bills has Jerry Brown signed?

California Gov. Jerry Brown recently completed acting on the 1,217 bills that came across his desk this year. He has signed 1,016 of them into law, with the majority taking effect...

Who is Matt Faustman?

Matt Faustman. Matt is the co-founder and CEO at UpCounsel. Matt believes in the power of online platforms to change antiquated ways of life and founded UpCounsel to make legal services efficiently accessible. He is responsible for our overall vision and growth of the UpCounsel platform.

What happens if you get injured in a business?

If you or your partner becomes ill or gets injured, you may no longer be able to work or contribute to the business. Creating a mechanism by which the remaining partners can buy you out quickly can be beneficial. Often, this is facilitated by taking out an insurance policy on each partner in your business.

What is the importance of protecting your competitive advantage?

This means ensuring that whatever proprietary information you share with your employees or business partners will not become public.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan can help you attract the investment you need and is usually a requirement when you seek finance. When you are creating your business plan, you should be sure of three things: The problem you want to solve. How you plan to solve it. Why your business is best suited to solve this problem.

What is a business plan?

A business plan, is a structured way to present this information and should cover everything a potential investor would want to know, chiefly: who manages your business, your products or services , your marketing and sales strategy, what you need to operate effectively, your target market and how you plan to reach it,

Why are non-compete agreements important?

Non-compete agreements typically restrict an employee's ability to work for a competing business within a specified geographic area, for a specified length of time.

What is an operating agreement for LLC?

With an operating agreement, you can adjust or customize some of these rules and regulations and set a standard for the way you want your business to operate.

Is an employment agreement written?

Anytime you have an employee or someone who is doing work for your business, you have an employment contract. It may be oral or implied, but there is a contract. However, in the absence of a written agreement, the terms of the employment are subject to miscommunication and misunderstanding.

image

Legal Assistance Is A Worthy Investment

  • Creating a startup can be expensive and working with a tight budget can mean sacrifices for any business owner. Getting legal help should not be one of those sacrifices. Paying for legal services from a lawyer may feel like a privilege for later when there’s more money in the budget to spare, but preventative measures and competent legal assistance are key if you want to avoid spendin…
See more on bizcounsel.com

Starting A Solid Partnership

  • Although there are many things you can take care of by yourself when it comes to starting a company, there are some things better left to a legal professional.In fact, though this may come as a surprise, it doesn’t always take long for some startups to encounter legal problems. A couple of early struggles a startup might run into due to a shaky legal foundation include: 1. Tensions b…
See more on bizcounsel.com

Establishing A Board

  • There is a lot of work involved in starting a company. Being the founder of a business doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll always be in charge of every decision. Though startups tend to avoid establishing a board complete with bylawsand a solid governing structure, lawyers can make sure you take all the necessary steps required to make the most of your company. They can help wit…
See more on bizcounsel.com

Writing The Terms of Service

  • As exciting as putting your product or service into the world is, it also comes with tedium and hefty legal responsibilities. Sooner rather than later you’ll run into the trouble of writing terms of service. Although you can be sure your customers probably won’t read them, being as boring and detailed as they are, someone has to write them out and establish legally binding terms of servic…
See more on bizcounsel.com

Summary

  • Creating a company is a difficult process, especially if you’re attempting to do it alone. Building a strong relationship with a lawyer early in your company’s development can be a real advantage down the road.They can help you every step of the way. Of all the issues you might encounter while founding a business, legal challenges should not be one of the things you have to worry ab…
See more on bizcounsel.com