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The (rather spartan) slides to my talk, "The Top Ten Legal Issues for Startups"
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Top Ten Legal Issuesfor Entrepreneurs
Brent C.J. Britton12 January 2010
What are Legal Issues?
Legal Issues arethe Right Problemon which to Focus
It’s All Fun and GamesUntil Someone Loses
a Lawsuit
10. Corporate Formation
• form early liability shield asset creation
tax treatment (LLC/corp)Delaware?
9. Founder Relations
• written agreement equity vesting
involuntary departure
8. Investor Relations
• meet the SEC private placement memo
debt or equity?
7. Employee Relations
• written agreement fraternization
policies
6. Customer Relations
• agreements privacy security products
5. Competitor Relations
• antitrust interference
4. Your Intellectual Property
• invention/work/brand/secret
pat/©/®/ts
which? when in doubt: secrecy
3. Their Intellectual Property
• don’t let it in freedom to operate
best defense = good offense
2. The Truth
• cover-ups false advertising disparagement
general
And the number one legal issue for entrepreneurs…
1. Counsel
Thank you