city

Denver Lawyer For Business Startups

The startup phase is your perfect chance to avoid the problems that founders often create by bungling their startups. The seasoned Colorado startup lawyers at Sequoia Legal can help you navigate the business startup minefield.

Schedule FREE Consultation
Attorney at work

Our Experienced Denver Startup Attorneys Are Here to Help

If you are planning on starting a business, you are potentially entering a situation with myriad complex legal issues.

The process of starting a business is filled with legal pitfalls, many of which are invisible to anyone without very specific legal training and experience.

At Sequoia Legal, we’ve got your back. We have been with many of our business clients right from the start, meaning that our startup attorneys have seen it all. We can assist you at every stage of your emerging business.

Why You Need A Lawyer For A Successful Startup in Denver, CO?

You shouldn’t attempt to represent yourself or your company during the business formation phase of your business. Every decision you make carries consequences that can unfold over months or even years. Your choice of business entity and related tax elections, for example, can carry tax consequences that could prove ruinous down the road.

The structure of your business documentation, such as a partnership agreement or an LLC agreement, could present unexpected obstacles to the addition of a new equity partner. Raising capital is bound to raise a myriad of legal issues, as will regulatory and tax compliance. There is probably not a single area of your operations that will not be affected in some way by legal issues. A small business startup lawyer can save you a multitude of headaches.

Common Challenges Startups May Face

The law is more complex for some industries than for others. Regardless of your industry, however, your startup is going to face legal obstacles, challenges, and opportunities throughout its lifetime. Because of this, a business law attorney is a necessity rather than a luxury. You may, for example, need a startup company attorney for the following matters:

  • Selecting the appropriate business vehicle for your startup. Incorporation is not the only option and perhaps not the best one for your startup
  • Filing and maintaining the appropriate company formation documentation-corporate bylaws, LLC membership agreements, etc
  • Creating tax-efficient business strategies. This task requires more than a little creativity
  • Structuring the relationships between executives, directors, key employees, and other stakeholders
  • Drafting joint venture agreements
  • Drafting investor documents for raising additional capital

In addition, you may need a corporate lawyer for startup advice on various day-to-day legal matters.

Our Denver Commercial Attorneys Are Here to Support You

Schedule an online appointment and let our Denver lawyer for business startups help you with resolving your case.

Contact Us

We Provide Legal Counsel For Startups In Many Industries

If your company is just getting started, you need a law firm that works with startups that has accumulated extensive experience in various industries. Our small business startup attorneys service clients in the following industries, among others:

  • Technology
  • Healthcare & medical
  • E-commerce
  • Life science & biotech
  • Internet
  • Agribusiness
  • Software & SAAS
  • Healthcare
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Many other industries
Attorney at work

We offer the legal support you need to launch your startup company and achieve your business objectives.

Attorneys

Why Choose Sequoia Legal as Your Startup Lawyer in Denver?

The experienced startup attorneys at Sequoia Legal can make it happen for you and your team:

  • We will explore multiple legal options to find the best solution for you
  • We will leverage our superior understanding of the Denver market gained from decades of combined experience
  • We will treat every aspect of our representation as important. To us, there is no such thing as a minor detail
  • We understand that no two clients are identical and that every case is unique. We will craft tailor-made solutions to your business challenges providing personal attention
  • We will consider the short-term, medium-term, and long-term consequences of every act we undertake and every strategy that we recommend

Our ultimate goal is to provide you with the maximum degree of control over your own destiny that outstanding legal services can achieve for a startup.

Meet Startups Attorneys

Our Successful Cases

Successful Sale of Technology Startup

Our team at Sequoia Legal regularly helps sellers and buyers of businesses navigate the intricacies of the purchase and sale process to help them achieve their dreams. In this case, Sequoia Legal was brought on by the owners of a local technology company in a sale to a strategic acquirer with a total transaction value in the multiple millions. We successfully negotiated transaction agreements, including due diligence with the buyer and post-closing employment agreements, and closed the transaction within an expedited 30 days period. As part of this process, we helped educate the sellers through their first transaction and work through the emotional roller coaster of selling your business.

No Penalty Voluntary Disclosures to US Gov

Companies routinely face complex situations when exporting or doing business internationally. There is a complex set of laws and regulations applicable to the persons, places and products involved in international business. Businesses sometimes end up violating or running afoul of these highly technical and complicated rules. Sequoia Legal has represented various US and foreign companies in conducting internal investigations relating to suspected violations of US sanctions and export controls. Following completion of these internal investigations, where necessary, we have assisted clients in voluntarily disclosing suspected violations to US authorities and have obtained favorable outcomes, including reduced penalties or no penalties. This has allowed our clients to sleep at night and continue to expand and do business internationally in compliance with applicable US law.

Rock Solid FCPA and Export Compliance Programs

Our Denver export compliance law firm has extensive experience with export administration regulations, the FCPA and international trade and can assist clients with developing export control and FCPA compliance programs. We ensure each client follows appropriate FCPA, export control compliance and foreign trade regulations for their industry, and our clients hail from nearly every industry sector. The attorneys at Sequoia Legal have successfully assisted and provided continued guidance for several international companies regarding the internal implementation of FCPA and export compliance plans. These companies employ and engage in various transactions with individuals and companies around the world. To ensure continued compliance with US sanctions laws and regulations following the implementation of the FCPA and export compliance programs, Sequoia Legal has conducted company audits, interviews and internal FCPA training programs. Due to the diligence of the Sequoia Legal team, zero issues or enforcement actions have been taken by the US government against Sequoia's clients for any FCPA or export related matter. An investment in a Sequoia Legal compliance plan has saved our clients time, focus and money.

Searching for Search Fund Success

And Finding It! Sequoia Legal regularly helps search funds and individuals find, acquire and successfully build new businesses. Our client was a search funder focused on acquiring a company in the professional services industry. We assisted in negotiating several LOI's that fell through, but as a result of that process, we found the right acquisition fit and assisted our client in executing an LOI, conducting due diligence, structuring the deal, negotiating the purchase agreement, working with the SBA and completing a deal that included a cash payment, SBA loan and seller financing with a variable note that reduced if certain revenue metrics were not achieved. We then assisted our client with several "tuck-in" acquisitions to further augment and accelerate the client's goals and exponentially grow revenue.

What Our Clients Say

5.0

39 Reviews

5

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

Kyle M.

I have worked with both Hunter and Andrew at Sequoia Legal and they are awesome. Responsive, knowledgeable and always hit deadlines. We have used them over and over because they great to work with and great at their work!

5

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

Cyndi S.

Our company operates in a highly regulated industry. Sequoia Legal has been our go-to law firm for years now. I am happy to say that we have never suffered a serious regulatory noncompliance problem, and Sequoia Legal has quickly resolved the few minor problems that did arise.

5

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜…

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

β˜†

Gary D.

Sequoia Legal has been helping us with regulatory compliance matters for years now. So far, we have not had a single complaint lodged against us by any patient or entity, and no enforcement actions have been implemented or threatened. I can’t praise them enough.

Areas We Serve

back view of a man working at a computer

Contact Our Denver Startup Business Lawyers Now

Sequoia Legal is a Denver-based business law firm for startup companies that understands the unique legal challenges faced by startups. Call us today at (303) 476-2851 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Select from the list

Thank you!
Your Submission Has Been Recieved
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Denver Office

7355 E. Orchard Rd., Suite 375 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

*by appointment only

Office Hours

Mon - Fri
9am - 5pm
Call For Off-Hour Appointments

Licensed in New York, Colorado, & Alaska with an international flair

Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)

Is Hiring An Attorney Essential In Early Stages Of Startup?

Many startups are tempted to delay the expense of hiring a lawyer until the company starts making money. This is a bad idea all the way around. Hiring a lawyer who is well-versed in startups at the earliest stages of your business can save you far more than they will cost you.

What Type Of Business Entity Should I Choose?

Which type of business entity you should choose depends on your business plans, your risk tolerance, and many other factors. Selecting the wrong form of business organization could mean bankruptcy, or it could mean a crushing tax burden. Consult with your attorney on the pros and cons of each form of business organization in light of your financial resources and your unique business goals.

What Are Typical Legal Expenses For Denver Startup Companies?

The following startup expenses are common:

  • Entity formation and qualification. You can incorporate in Delaware for as little as $50, for example, while LLC formation fees range from $40 (Kentucky) to $500 (Massachusetts). Other fees apply as well.
  • Fees to draft Corporate bylaws, LLC agreements, etc (which can be in the thousands depending on the number of partners/shareholders/investors).Β Β 
  • Fees to draft initial contracts such as employment agreements and confidentiality agreements.
  • Trademark and patent fees.

What are My Top Legal Priorities if Our Budget Is Limited?

Even on a skeleton budget, you will need at least the following:

  • Business entity formation documentation (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.)
  • Drafting ownership and equity documentation to establish who owns the company
  • Intellectual property protection (patent and trademark applications, licensing agreements, etc.)
  • Tax-efficient management so that you do not end up with unintended tax consequences

Should I form an S-Corp? What is the difference between an S-Corp and an LLC?

You can form an S-corp or form an LLC and ask the government to tax it as an S-corp. LLCs allow you far more structural flexibility. Remember, though, if you form an LLC and have it taxed as an S-corp, you must file an individual S-corp tax return every year.

How do I Choose a Law Firm for a Startup in Denver?

To choose a law firm for your startup in Denver, consider their experience with startups, skill in relevant legal areas, client reviews, and fee structures. Look for a firm that aligns with your business needs and budget.