Startup Law 101

Send us Fan MailThis week we discuss the legal issues that startups and their founders need to know and the common legal pitfalls that affect startup companies. Unlike more mature companies, startups typically do not have large legal budgets and in house legal counsel focused on legal compliance. Nevertheless, startups must be aware of and comply with law, especially with respect to the issues that are unique to startups.The presentation will cover those unique issues as well as the sometimes surprising and every evolving California rules. In particular, we summarize:Corporate formation and choice of entity and law;Securities laws;Labor and employment and why virtually evert startup in California is probably out of compliance and what you can do about it;Intellectual property strategies using patent, trademark and trade secret;Protecting your business through agreements;Protecting the founders from personal liability;And more.The speaker draws on more than 30 years of startup experience in describing how to manage legal risk on a startup budget.