Getting a good startup lawyer right from the beginning, can often be the difference between "off to the races" and "oops, why didn't we think of that before". Picking a good lawyer often revolves around their expertise with startups, expertise in your industry, expertise for your specific project, bench strength of their firm, affordability, references and personality fit with your organization. So, speak with several, to assess who is best for your business and liking, before making your decision.
There are several worthy full-service lawyers in the Raleigh-Durham area, with deep expertise in serving the startup community. Below is a list of some of my favorites (in alphabetical order of law firm name), having met with most of them. You will be well-served by any of their counsel.
Neil Bagchi at Bagchi Law
Location: Chapel Hill
Online Bio: http://bagchilaw.com/team/
Contact: (919) 537-8159 or neil@ bagchilaw .com
Firm Size: 5 attorneys ($)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: CED, Idea Fund
Jesse Jones at Fourscore Business Law
Location: Raleigh
Online Bio: https://fourscorelaw.com/team/
Contact: 919-307-5356 or jesse@ fourscorelaw .com
Firm Size: 2 attorneys ($)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Fred Hutchison or Justyn Kasierski at Hutchison PLLC
Location: Raleigh
Fred's Online Bio: http://www.hutchlaw.com/people/attorneys/fred-d-hutchison
Justyn's Online Bio: http://www.hutchlaw.com/people/attorneys/justyn-j-kasierski
Fred's Contact: 919.829.4300 or fhutchison@ hutchlaw .com
Justyn's Contact: 919.829.4337 or jkasierski@ hutchlaw .com
Firm Size: 21 attorneys ($$)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: CED, First Flight, NC IDEA, UNC, NC State, Duke, Launch Chapel Hill, Triangle TechBreakfast, HQ Community, LaunchBio/BioLabs NC
Jim Verdonik or Benji Taylor Jones at Innovate Capital Law
Location: Raleigh (North Hills)
Jim's Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-verdonik-b36b6635/
Benji's Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benji-taylor-jones-283271a/
Jim's Contact: (919) 616-3225 or JimV@ InnovateCapitalLaw .com
Benji's Contact: (919) 673-4301 or Benji@ InnovateCapitalLaw .com
Firm Size: 2 attorneys ($$)
Industries: technology and life sciences; fintech & blockchain, coin & digital assets
Involvement: CED, Raleigh Chamber, NCTA, Duke, Campbell, UNC
Other: Jim wrote the book on crowdfunding. Flexible fee structures, including deferred fees, task-based billing, flat fees and annual subscription services to fit the needs of each client.
Benji's Contact: (919) 673-4301 or Benji@ InnovateCapitalLaw .com
Firm Size: 2 attorneys ($$)
Industries: technology and life sciences; fintech & blockchain, coin & digital assets
Involvement: CED, Raleigh Chamber, NCTA, Duke, Campbell, UNC
Other: Jim wrote the book on crowdfunding. Flexible fee structures, including deferred fees, task-based billing, flat fees and annual subscription services to fit the needs of each client.
Location: Raleigh
Online Bio: http://morningstarlawgroup.com/author/rwhitmeyer/
Contact: 919-590-0369 or rwhitmeyer@ morningstarlawgroup .com
Firm Size: 26 attorneys ($$)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: UNC, Raleigh Chamber, CED, NCTA
Glen Caplan or John Fogg at Robinson Bradshaw
Location: Chapel Hill and Durham
Glen's Online Bio: http://www.robinsonbradshaw.com/professionals-Glen-Caplan.html
John's Online Bio: http://www.robinsonbradshaw.com/professionals-John-Fogg.html
Glen's Contact: (919) 328-8807 or gcaplan@ robinsonbradshaw .com
John's Contact: (919) 328-8806 or jfogg@ robinsonbradshaw .com
Firm Size: 130 attorneys ($$$$)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: CED, Duke, UNC, NC State, Exit Event & Groundwork Labs
Some Clients: Dude Solutions, Automated Insights, Distil Networks, Validic, WedPics, IDEA Fund, Cofounders Capital, Sony Ericsson, Digitalsmiths, Cloupia, ExtraOrtho, Bull City Ventures, River Cities, RTI, Inlet Technologies, Get Spiffy, Filter Easy and Valencell.
Other: Glen and John both have past experience working in Silicon Valley for Wilson Sonsini (Glen) and DLA Piper (John).
Merrill Mason at Smith Anderson
Location: Raleigh and Durham
Merrill's Online Bio: http://www.smithlaw.com/professionals-Merrill-Mason
Merrill's Contact: (919) 821-6733 or mmason@ smithlaw .com
Firm Size: 130 attorneys ($$$, but willing to consider creative alternatives)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: Launch Chapel Hill, CED, IDEA Fund, HQ Raleigh, Carolina Angel Network, 1789 Venture Lab, Triangle Angel Partners, UNC, Duke, NCSU
Other: We are a team of startup lawyers at a full-service law firm enabling us to leverage in-house tax, employment, IP, licensing, securities and real estate expertise.
Larry Robbins or Chris Lynch at Wyrick Robbins
Location: Raleigh and Durham
Larry's Online Bio: http://www.wyrick.com/our-people/larry-e-robbins
Chris's Online Bio: http://www.wyrick.com/our-people/j-christopher-lynch
Larry's Contact: (919) 865-2800 or lrobbins@ wyrick .com
Chris's Contact: (919) 865-2807 or clynch@ wyrick .com
Firm Size: 90 attorneys ($$$, but flexible for lower budgets)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: CED, BB&T, NCTA
If you think I am missing anybody, or think you should be included in this discussion, feel free to add your thoughts in the comments field below.
For future posts, please follow me at: @georgedeeb.
Larry's Online Bio: http://www.wyrick.com/our-people/larry-e-robbins
Chris's Online Bio: http://www.wyrick.com/our-people/j-christopher-lynch
Larry's Contact: (919) 865-2800 or lrobbins@ wyrick .com
Chris's Contact: (919) 865-2807 or clynch@ wyrick .com
Firm Size: 90 attorneys ($$$, but flexible for lower budgets)
Industries: technology and life sciences
Involvement: CED, BB&T, NCTA
Other: Chris is a former Silicon Valley lawyer with Wilson Sonsini and Harvard Law grad.
For future posts, please follow me at: @georgedeeb.