What We Do
We focus exclusively on the legal needs of entrepreneurs, startups, and mid-size businesses. Every matter we handle is business-critical — we treat it that way.
Below is a full picture of the legal work we handle across each practice area. If you're a founder or operator, chances are your situation touches more than one. Use this as a reference — or reach out and we'll tell you exactly what you need.
Business Formation
Choosing the right entity structure at the start can save you millions later. We help founders structure their companies to optimize for fundraising, tax treatment, equity distribution, and eventual exit — before the first dollar is raised.
Getting formation wrong is common and expensive. Misaligned equity, missing IP assignments, and poorly drafted founders' agreements are among the top reasons deals fall apart at the due diligence stage. We get it right the first time.
Corporate Governance
As your company grows and takes on institutional investors, governance matters. We help you build the right board structure, adopt appropriate policies, and maintain corporate formalities — keeping you clean for the next round or exit.
Governance failures are a leading cause of deal delays and investor friction. We keep your corporate house in order so you can focus on building.
Venture Financing
From friends-and-family rounds to Series A and beyond, we counsel founders through every stage of the fundraising lifecycle. We review, draft, and negotiate the documents that determine how much of your company you actually keep.
Founders who navigate term sheets without counsel routinely give away more than they realize — in economics, control, or both. We level the playing field.
Mergers & Acquisitions
An acquisition is the most complex transaction most founders will ever go through. We represent companies and founders in acquisitions, asset sales, mergers, and secondary transactions — from the first conversation with a buyer through closing.
We protect your interests at every step: letter of intent, purchase agreement, reps and warranties, disclosure schedules, and closing. We also advise on earnouts, post-closing obligations, and employment arrangements.
Commercial Contracts
The contracts you sign define your obligations, your rights, and your risk. We draft and review commercial agreements across the full range of business transactions — protecting your company from unfavorable terms buried in boilerplate.
Whether you're signing a major enterprise deal, bringing on a key contractor, or entering a strategic partnership, every contract matters. We make sure yours work in your favor.
Intellectual Property
Your intellectual property is often your most valuable asset — and the first thing a sophisticated investor or acquirer will scrutinize. We make sure your IP is properly assigned, protected, and documented from day one.
We also counsel founders on co-founder disputes, vesting cliffs, buyouts, and departing founder scenarios — often the most legally sensitive situations an early-stage company faces.
Most matters touch more than one practice area. Tell us where you are and we'll figure out what you need.
Disclaimer: Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. The information provided is for general informational purposes only. You should not act upon any information on this website without seeking qualified legal counsel. Use of this website does not establish an attorney-client relationship between you and Black Harbor Legal P.C..