Legal Counsel recommendations with start-up experience

This is a quite a basic process... and individualised to every company to reflect who the founder managers are, the kind of investors being sought, the proximity and reality of the investment, the prospects, etc. But the key thing is to get it right. Any problems in setting up contractual terms for founders and early employees, locking in contributed IP,
agreeing to vesting terms on founder stock, strategic partner interests, etc. are all important issues to be recognised in going for series A round. If these are not sorted out prior to making an offering series A investors, it could lessen the attractiveness to investors.

This is a relatively standard routine and you should be able to negotiate a fixed price deferred payment deal from a reputable lawyer. I paid $6,000 for a complete package from a first division law firm. The Proformative site is not a place to make personal recommendations but if you like to contact me I can pass on some names of lawyers I have worked with privately.

Good luck!

Simon's advice is sound. Which firm or attorney you use is very important because you want to get someone who has deep experience in early stage equity financing. Exactly who you select in your market depends on where you are. Since I'm not in the Bay Area, I can't make a lot of specific recommendations but there are many excellent attorneys there in large and small firms. The larger firms like Cooley and Wilson Sonsini will make specially priced deals for startups but I suggest that you reach out to other entrepreneurs in your area who have had successful experience raising capital in the past and get their recommendation / feedback.

Good Luck!