As the title says, I am looking for inexpensive local counsel for standard corporate legal (contracts, etc.). I know that the words "SF Bay Area" and "inexpensive legal counsel" don't often travel together, but that's what we want. BTW, I'm not interested in "cheap but not so good".
Can anyone recommend good, reasonably-priced SF Bay Area corporate counsel?
Answers
We've used Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and found them to be reasonable, as it they don't nickel and dime. I wouldn't call them cheap but we didn't get bills that were out of line with the services provided. On that scale I would rate them well.
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Try General Counsel Associates. I've used them for litigation and general corp matters. They're all ex-big firm guys, but the service is good, the advice is good and they're reasonable. They have an office in Palo Alto.
What do you consider to be inexpensive?
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Well, in SF Bay Area terms, that would be $400 or less per hour. I have found some independent practitioners around that level, but none with whom I have any direct experience.
Try Ben Greenspan. He was my corporate counsel a couple of companies back. He's a former big firm partner who struck out on his own. He doesn't use associates so it's all senior advice but at prices that are at or below associate prices from some of the larger firms around. When it's too big for him he will work with or refer you to a larger firm - he works with them all. You can get him at [email protected] or (415) 381-3283.
Have you tried counsel outside of the Bay Area? I know it's not what you asked for, but you can find very competent counsel outside of the Bay Area who are also senior and familiar with your company's issues, but who cost half or less than what you pay in the Bay Area. We have someone out of state that we use on a lot of standard business items and it saves us thousands.
I am always interested in knowing which firms have good skill sets. Thanks.
I was referred to a Victor Pollack at Fabian Law in SLC, Utah and have used him for some work, and also use a local firm called Enterprise Law which is a 3 partner group that is far less expensive than the "name brand" firms around here and yet still deliver very high quality work.
There is no such thing as good but cheap corporate counsel but there are ways to work around it.
I have used the team at Berliner Cohen since I founded my first company in the late 90s and here is how it works. Ask them to let the staff attorneys do the preparation and leg works, then have the big guys do the review work at the end. The staff attorneys cost much less ( between $275-$350/
I recommend Pat Donnici. He has broad business and corporate background and is a sole practioner. His hourly rate is well below $400. Here is his contact info
Patrick M. Donnici
A Professional Corporation
Attorney & Counselor at Law
180 Montgomery Street, Suite 940
San Francisco, California 94104
Telephone: 415.986.1338, ext. 149
Facsimile: 415.986.1231
email: [email protected]
I would suggest you consider Smithline Jha LLP from San Francisco. They are a growing firm and they have flexible billing plans. I used them at my last company and would use them again.
You should look at Axiom Legal as they have gathered a great group of attorneys who are from large law firms but are working for Axiom. Axiom proivdes there services at a lower rate (sub $300) as they dont have the overhead of a big law firm.
A lot of Silicon Valley law firms will help a small company get off the ground if they imagine there's a big payday some time in the future. Sometimes that translates into warrants swapped for billable hours, other times it's good will and a tacit understanding that you'll use the firm when you become a large company and have tons of billable hours later.
I've had good experiences with Gunderson, F&W and Orrick. Generally, you want to connect with whoever at the firm regularly deals with startups--Orrick, for example, has a whole team dedicated to this. They're usually willing to cut a deal if you ask nicely or have a good relationship with the team lead.
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