What is The Startup Lawyer?

I am a startup lawyer, but “The Startup Lawyer” is this blog. And since January 18, 2011, The Startup Lawyer is registered trademark with the USPTO.

Who writes The Startup Lawyer?

Ryan Roberts. Click here for some background information about me or here for my standard lawyer bio or here for information on my representation of startups.

What topics will The Startup Lawyer cover?

I’ll write about the legal issues involved in a startup’s lifecycle, including incorporation, funding, stock options, venture capital, etc. Sometimes I’ll write a “non-legal” post but it usually involves a entrepreneurial lesson I’ve either learned on my own or via one of my clients. I’ll also selectively write about startup events in Dallas.

Why are you in Dallas and not the Valley?

After living in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, I moved to the Dallas area in 2003. Basically, I met this really nice girl at USC and was lucky enough to marry her. She’s a Texan and I didn’t read the fine print in the Texas marriage contract that requires a move to Texas. I’m still getting used to Texas, but I don’t have any plans to return to California full-time.

What legal stuff do you do for startups?

I handle transactional work for startups, including:

-Incorporation
-Stock Options
-Seed Financings
-Venture Capital Financings
-Corporate Partnering
-Licensing
-Acquisitions

What type of deals have you done for startups?

Here is a list of some selected transactions:

-Represented startup in $6,000,000 Series A preferred stock and venture debt financing
-Represented startup in $1,750,000 Series A preferred stock financing
-Represented startup in $2,000,000 Series A preferred stock financing
-Represented co-founder in $6,000,000 Series A preferred stock financing
-Represented investor group in $1,700,000 subordinated secured debt financing
-Represented startup in $800,000 preferred equity financing
-Represented buyer in $1,000,000 website acquisition
-Represented startup in $750,000 convertible note seed financing
-Represented startup in $1,000,000 convertible note seed financing
-Represented various startups in seed financings with angel investors and/or incubators ($25,000 to $250,000)
-Represented company in acquisition of former publicly traded company
-Represented various startups in strategic deals (licensing, etc.) with larger companies such as: CBS/CNET, Consumer Reports, VeriFone, Sears, Groupon, BestBuy, Gold’s Gym, Kimberly-Clark
-Incorporated 200+ startups

Can I contact you about representing my startup?

Yes. Email is the preferred method. (rr@ryanrobertslaw.com)

What do you do when you aren’t working?

In my free time, I like to spend time with my family (I’m a VIP at Chuck E. Cheese), play golf, and watch the USC Trojans, San Francisco 49ers and Giants.

Who designed your blog?

Dave Onkels. I highly recommend him.