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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.

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25+

Years serving businesses

500+

Successful business transactions closed

What Our Clients Say

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  • Super Lawyers Andrew A.Lopez
  • Award Super Lawyers 2020
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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.

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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.

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Our Successful Cases

Business

Innovative Employee Buyout: Structuring Complex Asset Acquisition and Business Formation

Our team structured an employee-led buyout of a manufacturing business, aligning legal, tax, and operational needs.

Business

Expediting Global Market Entry: Navigating Export Control Regulations

We helped a space-tech manufacturer obtain a fast-tracked export classification, enabling international market entry and legal compliance.

Business

Navigating Complex International Corporate Restructuring

Sequoia Legal led a global corporate restructuring, creating a centralized holding structure and ensuring regulatory compliance across borders.

Business

Supporting a Search Fund in Acquiring and Growing a Business

Sequoia Legal guided a search fund through formation, acquisition, and growth of a manufacturing business—boosting revenue by 25%, improving margins, and attracting new capital. Our legal support positioned the fund for long-term success in the private equity landscape.

Business

Implementing Robust FCPA and Export Compliance Programs

Sequoia Legal developed custom FCPA and export compliance programs for a global manufacturer, enabling international expansion, regulatory approval, and risk mitigation. The programs earned praise from authorities and empowered employees to uphold ethical practices across operations.

Business

Conducting Voluntary Disclosures for Export Control Violations

Sequoia Legal guided a tech company through voluntary disclosure of export violations, avoiding penalties and preserving market access. We led internal investigations, submitted filings to BIS and DDTC, and implemented corrective actions to strengthen compliance and demonstrate proactive governance.

Business

Assisting in the Sale of a Technology Startup

Sequoia Legal advised a tech startup on its successful sale to a larger company, handling deal structuring, due diligence, and negotiations. The founders secured a strong valuation, key staff were retained, and the acquirer integrated the startup’s technology smoothly and strategically.

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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.

Schedule Free Consultation​ (303) 476-2851

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
  • Drafting buy-sell agreements
  • Structuring merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, performing due diligence, and generating appropriate documentation if your new company is going to acquire another company as part of its kick-off strategy
  • Registering trademarks and copyrights
  • Negotiating and drafting confidentiality agreements to protect trade secrets
  • Drafting employment contracts and labor matters
  • Advising on taxation strategies and changes in tax laws

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

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

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

Launch Your Denver Startup with Confidence!

Don't let legal complexities hold you back. Our Denver startup lawyers provide proactive legal guidance to help you confidently launch and grow your business.

Schedule Free Consultation(303) 476-2851
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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:

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    Startup Specific Focus

    We focus exclusively on Denver startups, deeply understanding the unique legal and business environment.

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    Proactive Legal Strategies

    We don't just react to problems, we proactively help you avoid legal pitfalls from the start, embedding legal best practices into your business plan.

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    Cost-Effective Solutions

    We offer flexible payment options and transparent pricing, tailoring legal solutions to match your startup's budget and growth stage.

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    Collaborative Approach

    We act as partners, not just legal advisors, working closely with you to understand your business vision and goals.

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    Proven Track Record

    We have successfully guided numerous Denver startups to launch and growth, securing funding and navigating legal complexities with nuanced skill and success.

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    Strong Network

    We have a well-established network of connections in the Colorado business community, providing unparalleled access to resources and opportunities to help your startup thrive.

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Meet Our Attorneys

  • Founding Partner

    Andrew advises foreign and domestic companies, organizations, and entrepreneurs on a broad range of corporate and international regulatory and transactional issues.

  • Partner

    Hunter focuses on general corporate matters, healthcare compliance, international trade laws, and anti-kickback regulations.

  • Brian Fonville

    Of Counsel

    Brian Fonville

    With experience as a transactional lawyer in finance and corporate matters in New York City, Brian boasts great experience in cross-border commercial transactions, software licenses, and investment funds.

  • Of Counsel

    Laura A. Lopez

    With experience both as a Litigator at Davis Polk & Wardwell and as General Counsel of a private global merchant advisory and investment firm, Laura provides advice on a wide range of issues impacting businesses including dispute resolution.

  • Associate

    Christina is a recent graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she received the Irving P. Andrews Award for Outstanding Law Graduate as well as the Student Leadership award.

  • Josh Wallenstein

    Of Counsel

    Josh Wallenstein

    Managing Member of the Wallenstein Law Group, Josh offers no-nonsense solutions to a variety of compliance and risk management issues.

  • Of Counsel

    Being a corporate and transactional attorney, Nick's focus is in mergers & acquisitions, guiding clients through all deal phases. He also covers business formation, governance, and diverse contract drafting, serving clients nationally and internationally.

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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.

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FAQ

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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).
    • Fees to draft initial contracts such as employment agreements and confidentiality agreements.
    • Trademark and patent fees.
  • 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
  • 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.

  • 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.

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