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How to Work with Lawyers at a Startup

Both Sides of the Table

Shame about not getting it in legal writing that you owned the original IP. Founded it as a California LLC but your potential VC wants a Delaware C-Corp? Forget to get around to setting up that Employee Stock Option Plan and want to be able to give the early guys their options at a low strike price?

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What Can a Startup Lawyer Help With?

The Startup Magazine

Startup lawyers specializing in intellectual property (IP) can help you file relevant patent applications. States like California require any website that collects personal information about state residents to make a Privacy Policy available on its website. What would your startup be without your invention innovative idea?

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Most Common Early Start-up Mistakes

Both Sides of the Table

To the best of my knowledge US law allows you to work on your own resources and in your own hours and let you personally own your IP. I don’t know 100% that this is true in all 50 states (if any lawyers read this please put notes in comments section) but I’m pretty darn sure that this is statuary law in California.

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Do It Right The First Time, Part II: Visit the Doctor or House Call?

Gust

Take any steps needed to qualify Newco to conduct the business it plans to conduct wherever it’s located (for example, a filing made in California qualifying a Delaware corporation to do business there if the management team is located in San Francisco). Almost nothing on this corporate list is work I would recommend to do-it-yourselfers.

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The 5 Biggest Legal Mistakes That Startups Make

Scott Edward Walker

Prior to the event, I conducted a legal workshop entitled “The 5 Biggest Legal Mistakes That Startups Make,” which I have uploaded below. i) Rule 506 preempts State law, which means all you have to do is file a Form D and pay a filing fee; and (ii) no disclosure requirement/PPM Possible to sell to “friends and family” (e.g.,

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The 5 Biggest Legal Mistakes That Startups Make

Scott Edward Walker

Mistake #2 : not buttoning-down IP ownership issues (at 10:20). S corp vs. C corp – “qualified small business stock” . Mistake #2: Not Buttoning-Down IP Ownership Issues. Zuckerberg” problem – IP is not assigned to the company by the founders and/or third-party developers (including in foreign countries).

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Beware The Consultant

infochachkie.com

The final straw came when I asked the latest 25-year old a simple ‘yes / no’ question related to stock options. He is a member of the University of California at Santa Barbaras Faculty where he teaches several entrepreneurial courses. IP) is an ugly thing at a startup. John is a CPA and holds an M.B.A.

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