Practice Areas

Business Entity Selection & Formation

Choosing the appropriate business entity for a new or existing venture is one of the most important decisions business owners and entrepreneurs can make. Wading through the pros and cons presented with each entity can be difficult. Venture Coast Law can provide guidance in helping you properly consider the tax concerns, asset protection, potential for growth, ownership, liability concerns, and transfer issues presented by each entity, helping you select the formation that will best help you achieve you personal and professional goals. 

Common business structures include:

  • C-Corporation
  • S-Corporation
  • Professional Corporation
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC)
  • Limited Partnership
  • Family Limited Partnership

Once an entity is selected, Venture Coast Law will execute the appropriate formation documents and assist you with maintaining your business entity. 

Startup Companies & Venture Capital

Proper entity organization is essential for building and growing a startup. Venture Coast Law guides entrepreneurs and companies in the technology and life sciences fields through a range of key matters, including entity formation, equity structuring, intellectual property protection, business agreements, finance transactions, general corporate matters, and corporate governance.

We also offer reliable assistance with seed funding and venture capital acquisition involving founders, angel investors, private equity investors, and venture capital firms. We help our clients structure those equity, debt, and deferred equity financing transactions that will launch them toward success. 

Private Placements

Raising capital from the sale of securities to private investors is subject to to the Securities Act of 1933. Venture Coast Law can help businesses and investors navigate the tricky waters of private placements. We will help negotiate the terms of these funding rounds and save you time and money by ensuring any offers and sales qualify for a Regulation D exemption from SEC registration.  We will draft all necessary documentation related to the transaction and complete any state and federal filings. 

Founders' Agreements

When an organization has multiple founders, it is imperative that those founders address a number of potential issues that might arise throughout the life of the business with a buy-sell and/or other types of founders' agreements.  Failure to do so can be costly and cumbersome to the potential growth of the business. 

By drafting an appropriate founders' agreement, we can help founders resolve any potential conflicts, settle ownership transfer issues, define founders' interests, set up vesting schedules, and define founder/business employment relationships. 

Intellectual Property

Protecting and maximizing the value of intellectual property is a key ingredient of success for many businesses. In some cases, IP assets are more valuable than tangible assets, especially for companies in the technology sector.  At Venture Coast Law, we help startups and businesses build and protect their intellectual property portfolio by providing IP services such as:

  • Seeking registered trademark protection on business and product names, logos, and other distinguishable features. 
  • Protecting valuable trade secrets with non-disclosure agreements. 
  • Transferring and protecting ownership of copyrights and patents with assignment contracts, work for hire agreements, and notices. 
  • Providing assistance with intellectual property transactions, including assignments and licensing agreements.

Employment Matters

Constructive employment and management arrangements are an integral ingredient of any successful venture. Venture Coast Law will work with clients to create mutually beneficial employment agreements that serve both the business's and the employee's interests.  Development of a proper employee compensation plan is also a vital consideration for many startups and established companies. We can help businesses determine the arrangement that best achieves their short and long term goals, including plans that combine financial compensation and equity. 

We can also help negotiate and prepare independent contractor agreements, and counsel organizations with regard to termination issues.

Nonprofit Organizations

Building a nonprofit can be a complex, noble, and rewarding undertaking. Recognizing this, we take pride in serving nonprofit organizations with regard to their business needs. And we do so at substantially reduced rates. 

Venture Coast Law can help aspiring social entrepreneurs and community organizations begin a new nonprofit venture and achieve tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. We can also assist with legal compliance in regard to soliciting and receiving charitable donations, and with proper allocation of those funds. 

Legal compliance is a major concern for nonprofit board members. The law imposes a number of duties and regulations on nonprofit board members, a violation of which can result in severe personal and business penalties. Venture Coast Law can help protect board members  from liability and keep the organization safe from revocation of its tax-exempt status.