Business Law Virtually Everywhere
Some people think small businesses are just large businesses with less money. I know they are different. I frame my advice for privately held companies. And by the way, small business is defined based on industry, but generally it would be a business with under $25,000,000 in revenue and/or under 1,000 employees
I know that owning a business is very personal, and I never forget that your business is made up of your dreams and your efforts.
Think about this: What if you got legal advice as you were making decisions, instead of after the fact?
After over 40 years practicing business law, I know that the most effective and efficient way to help my clients is to integrate my services more closely with their regular day-to-day business activities. The form this takes can vary. With some clients it means attending monthly management meetings; for others it’s being included on certain internal email lists. We will figure out what works best with the way you do business.
I can help with:
Take Some of the Stress Out of Owning a Business
My job I to make sure that the “legal stuff” isn’t keeping you awake. Call me today to set up an appointment so that I can go over all of the important issues together.
Reviews
Intellectual Property Law
All businesses own intellectual property. Bakeries have tradenames and trade secrets; and of course some businesses have IP to sell or license. Either way, protecting your intellectual property is important to the value, and sometimes the survival, of your business.
This is where I come in. Since I work virtually, we can work via phone, Zoom, or most other platforms. But however we connect, my legal advice is always user friendly.
The Intellectual Property Attorney You Can Count On
Should you register your trademark? The answer may not be as easy as it sounds.
Does your customer own the design you created if they don't pay you? I don't know - did you cover that in your design agreement?
Can you read your own license agreement without going to sleep?
These are just a few of the intellectual property legal questions I can answer for my clients. My job is not to tell you what to do, but to give you options and explain them clearly.
Contact me today to schedule a consultation.
Plug & Play General Counsel For Start-Ups
Starting a new business?
I can help. I’m happy to sit down (without the timer running) to discuss your plans and what you might need in terms of legal services. There is no charge for a general discussion like this. Topics that are usually covered include:
New business owners often have questions about funding their business. No matter how you’re funding your business, I can advise you and put you on a more equal footing with the money people. I have drafted and reviewed many types of loan and investment documents and can help you understand your risk-benefit analysis in:
There can be huge risks taking on investors, even if you’re using the “SAFE” documents. Make sure you understand the strings that come with money. Call me and I’ll let you know if I can help you.
Internet & Copyright Law
If you have a website, you need to know about internet law. There are state and federal regulations concerning terms of use, privacy and security. I'm here to keep your website from being a legal liability. I provide support in these areas:
However, your privacy policy and terms of service will probably not be as short or humorous as mine.
Rapid Response Outsourced Transactional Attorney
Here’s what I love, what gets me into that zone where I forget to eat lunch: complicated technology and intellectual property agreements. Working in Silicon Valley for 40+ years I represented quite a few tech-oriented companies. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of drafting quite a few agreements for them, and ultimately, I realized that this is what I love most about my practice.
I’ve also been told by clients who’ve come from big firms, and by attorneys in big firms who I’ve worked with (or against), and by in-house counsel I’ve worked with that I’m very responsive, quick and good.
So, I am now offering my services to in-house counsel who would like to outsource some transactional chores involving technology and IP agreements to someone who knows their way around the tech world.
I am used to parachuting into situations and hitting the ground, at least walking quickly, if not running.* If appropriate, I work with your paralegals and associates so my work can be most easily incorporated into your department’s workflow. But if need be, I have great outsourced help I can call in to reduce costs. I’ve been ongoing, outside general counsel responsible for keeping legal costs in line and for keeping deals from bogging down for decades. I feel your pain and try to ease it.
I am familiar with using AI to jump start, fill in those awkward “I know there’s a better way to say this” problems, and format, merge or proof documents. But I’ve never been asked to take the Turing test – so by using my services you’re getting bespoke, quality, creative lawyering.
* If you ask, I’ll tell you about being hired by a tech startup that had already received the first draft of investment docs for a $5million, part-cash part-crypto, seed round from the lead investor’s attorney. I didn’t slow the deal down. I never do.
