As a startup founder, choosing a law firm can be a difficult decision. This is especially true in a city like San Francisco, where there are both local and global law firms and various options to explore.
One of the most important factors in choosing a law firm is gauging if the firm is right for you and your company's needs. Oftentimes, this means a law firm with expertise in startup law and familiarity with the obstacles that entrepreneurs often encounter. Law firms that work with a lot of startups also commonly provide discounts or fee deferrals to help young companies get established.
In the blog post below, we’ve created a list of the law firms in San Francisco - and the Bay Area - with expertise in startup law, and who can guide you through the life cycle of your startup: from incorporation to fundraising and beyond.
San Francisco Startup Law Firms
- Arnold & Porter
- Bend Law Group
- Bottom Line Law Group
- Chris Barsness, Esq.
- Cooley LLP
- ComputerLaw Group LLP
- Criterion Law
- DLA Piper
- Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
- Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Fenwick & West LLP
- Goodwin Procter LLP
- Grellas Shah LLP
- Gunderson Dettmer
- Innovation Capital Law Group
- Kastner Kim LLP
- Latham & Watkins LLP
- Morrison & Foerster LLP
- O'Melveny & Myers LLP
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
- Perkins Coie
- Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
- Royse Law Firm
- Sidley Austin LLP
- Springmeyer Law
- Structure Law Group LLP
- Walker Corporate Law
- White Summers Caffee & James
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
- Yoichiro Taku
Questions to ask law firms in San Francisco
When you meet with various law firms to decide which is best for your company, you must understand that these meetings are a two-way street. On one hand, you will be interviewing the lawyer and the firm to represent your company. On the other hand, the lawyer will be interviewing you to see if you will be a worthwhile client. As a result, it is always good to start the meeting by introducing yourself, explaining your professional background, and then describing your business with the goal of getting the lawyer excited.
Below are some other questions you may want to ask a prospective lawyer in San Francisco:
- Which startups in San Francisco have you worked with, and why are you interested in working with more startups now?
- Can you describe the team, the roles and the billable rate of the resources that will be working on my account from your firm?
- How long do you anticipate it would take to complete an average legal matter, such as a partnership agreement?
- What is the best way for me to work with you and your team to get the highest quality work for the least amount fees? Do you offer any discounts or fee deferrals for startups in our position?
Are you looking for expert guidance and feedback to build a startup in San Francisco?
The Founder Institute is an idea-stage accelerator that works with solo-entrepreneurs, and teams, during the earliest stages of building a business. Through an intensive 3.5 month program, FI participants build their business through a proven structured process, and receive feedback and assistance from over 30+ successful entrepreneurs and investors in San Francisco. Upon completing the program, Graduates join a global network of entrepreneurs and receive ongoing help to get funding and build their business. FI Graduates have raised over $1.85BN in funding, and are building some of the world's fastest growing companies.
Learn more about the Founder Institute at FI.co, join a free startup event in San Francisco, or apply to build a startup in San Francisco today.
