Here’s one firm that’s being creative: Andrews Kurth Launches Start-Up Organization Package: Andrews Kurth LLP http://bit.ly/adaika. Also, nice to see Walker’s firm (http://bit.ly/2nw9fB) as one of the sponsors of VentureHacks. Hopefully, we’ll see some firms like this in NYC.

Here’s one firm that’s being creative: Andrews Kurth Launches Start-Up Organization Package: Andrews Kurth LLP http://bit.ly/adaika. Also, nice to see Walker’s firm (http://bit.ly/2nw9fB) as one of the sponsors of VentureHacks. Hopefully, we’ll see some firms like this in NYC.

Great post, Matt & thanks David for the plug. Yes, we’re blogging and twittering and partnering with Nivi at VentureHacks (one of the best websites for startups). It’s a lot of work, in addition to our client work, but it’s well worth it. Btw, we’ver put together a similar Startup Package to Andrews Kurth, but ours is half the price of theirs. Take care, Matt – and thanks again. Scott
Web: http://www.walkercorporatelaw.com
Blog: http://www.walkercorporatelaw.com/blog
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottedwalker

Great post, Matt & thanks David for the plug. Yes, we’re blogging and twittering and partnering with Nivi at VentureHacks (one of the best websites for startups). It’s a lot of work, in addition to our client work, but it’s well worth it. Btw, we’ver put together a similar Startup Package to Andrews Kurth, but ours is half the price of theirs. Take care, Matt – and thanks again. Scott
Web: http://www.walkercorporatelaw.com
Blog: http://www.walkercorporatelaw.com/blog
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottedwalker

That’s good to know. I’ll forward the info to a friend who’s looking for counsel.

That’s good to know. I’ll forward the info to a friend who’s looking for counsel.

Thanks David – much appreciated

Thanks David – much appreciated

excellent challenge… let’s hope some folks pick up the gauntlet thrown.

excellent challenge… let’s hope some folks pick up the gauntlet thrown.

btw i wrote a similar missive about 2-3 years ago here:
http://500hats.typepad.com/500blogs/2007/09/vcs-tech-lawyer.html
definitely Ted Wang, Yokum Taku, Steve Venuto doing some interesting stuff but i agree more of these folks & others need to be blogging their shit.

btw i wrote a similar missive about 2-3 years ago here:
http://500hats.typepad.com/500blogs/2007/09/vcs-tech-lawyer.html
definitely Ted Wang, Yokum Taku, Steve Venuto doing some interesting stuff but i agree more of these folks & others need to be blogging their shit.

Funny how this all happens. This post actually started out as an email to a couple young lawyers who had just started their own firm after being laid off from one of the biggies. They were smart, cool people, but it was hard for me (as a client) to justify why I’d go with them versus their old employer. But as a fellow founder, I wanted to help them out and see them disrupt the market. I hope they take up the challenge, because I think they’ll reap great rewards if they do it and execute well.

Funny how this all happens. This post actually started out as an email to a couple young lawyers who had just started their own firm after being laid off from one of the biggies. They were smart, cool people, but it was hard for me (as a client) to justify why I’d go with them versus their old employer. But as a fellow founder, I wanted to help them out and see them disrupt the market. I hope they take up the challenge, because I think they’ll reap great rewards if they do it and execute well.

Matt – a good friend of mine showed me your post. I couldn’t agree more. Please let me know what you think of my blog, The Start-up Strategist, http://www.thestartupstrategist.com

Matt – a good friend of mine showed me your post. I couldn’t agree more. Please let me know what you think of my blog, The Start-up Strategist, http://www.thestartupstrategist.com

Matt, Chris Dixon’s tweet http://twitter.com/cdixon/status/8421279874 led me to your blog and this post, which I am delighted to have found. Good tip on pursuing visibility on VentureHacks. I think Scott Edward Walker publishes or syndicates with them, and I’ve had an exchange or two with those guys, who seem cool, but I should keep trying. Another thing maybe to add to the list of suggestions for lawyer-bloggers to consider: there are startup sites that re-syndicate blog posts, and that can be a way, too, to disseminate your blog more broadly.

Matt, Chris Dixon’s tweet http://twitter.com/cdixon/status/8421279874 led me to your blog and this post, which I am delighted to have found. Good tip on pursuing visibility on VentureHacks. I think Scott Edward Walker publishes or syndicates with them, and I’ve had an exchange or two with those guys, who seem cool, but I should keep trying. Another thing maybe to add to the list of suggestions for lawyer-bloggers to consider: there are startup sites that re-syndicate blog posts, and that can be a way, too, to disseminate your blog more broadly.

Dave, Matt: Challenge accepted (although we’re not a brand new firm by any stretch of the imagination and have many startup lawyers).
http://www.mattbartus.com

Dave, Matt: Challenge accepted (although we’re not a brand new firm by any stretch of the imagination and have many startup lawyers).
http://www.mattbartus.com

We have been representing startups for about six years and I have been blogging for about one year, so I’ll bite. Try globalgeneralcounsel.wordpress.com and globalstrategic.wordpress.com. and you can see us at http://www.globalcaplaw.com.
The blogs and bloggers you mention have been great in disrupting the model. I share your frustration with the lack of transparency in the “market,” among its other problems. One of the reasons is that an ecosystem has developed: VCs insist that their portfolio companies use certain law firms because they “owe” that firm clients in exchange for continued access to good deal flow and vice versa. We have good (but not great) deal flow but great access to big players in sectors appealing to entrepreneurs and we also have an attractive alternative fee structure, plus an aversion to this kind of ecosystem.
And part of it is the absence of visibility for boutique firms. The marginal cost for time spent on building Mindshare for such firms is somewhat higher than the “name” firms. But, hey, we still manage to have fun with our work.
James C. Roberts III
www,globalcaplaw.com

We have been representing startups for about six years and I have been blogging for about one year, so I’ll bite. Try globalgeneralcounsel.wordpress.com and globalstrategic.wordpress.com. and you can see us at http://www.globalcaplaw.com.
The blogs and bloggers you mention have been great in disrupting the model. I share your frustration with the lack of transparency in the “market,” among its other problems. One of the reasons is that an ecosystem has developed: VCs insist that their portfolio companies use certain law firms because they “owe” that firm clients in exchange for continued access to good deal flow and vice versa. We have good (but not great) deal flow but great access to big players in sectors appealing to entrepreneurs and we also have an attractive alternative fee structure, plus an aversion to this kind of ecosystem.
And part of it is the absence of visibility for boutique firms. The marginal cost for time spent on building Mindshare for such firms is somewhat higher than the “name” firms. But, hey, we still manage to have fun with our work.
James C. Roberts III
www,globalcaplaw.com

We’re lucky in Toronto to have 2 startup lawyers that blog:
* Rob Hyndman http://robhyndman.com/
* Suzie Dingwall Williams http://venturelaw.blogspot.com/
And the close to blogging:
* Rubsun Ho from Cognition LLP answers questions on StarutpNorth http://www.startupnorth.ca/2009/11/30/start-up-legal-issues-term-sheets-from-an-entrepreneurs-perspective/
* Laberge Weinstein is capable of blogging http://lwlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=13&Itemid=64 but they don’t

We’re lucky in Toronto to have 2 startup lawyers that blog:
* Rob Hyndman http://robhyndman.com/
* Suzie Dingwall Williams http://venturelaw.blogspot.com/
And the close to blogging:
* Rubsun Ho from Cognition LLP answers questions on StarutpNorth http://www.startupnorth.ca/2009/11/30/start-up-legal-issues-term-sheets-from-an-entrepreneurs-perspective/
* Laberge Weinstein is capable of blogging http://lwlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=13&Itemid=64 but they don’t

Hey — now that I noticed this post, I guess I’m going to be somewhat offended by the characterization of my blog as a lack of “a whole lot of personality.” You don’t find the FAQs or About Me page on the blog at least more interesting than the regular WSGR web site?
http://www.startupcompanylawyer.com/faqs/
Anyway, I’d write more stuff more often, but if you find much of the technical nuts and bolts stuff boring/difficult to read, it is even more boring to write. And I think I finished off most of my thoughts on convertible debt and Series A financings already. It’s somewhat hard to come up with some interesting topics to cover so I’d be open for suggestions.

Hey — now that I noticed this post, I guess I’m going to be somewhat offended by the characterization of my blog as a lack of “a whole lot of personality.” You don’t find the FAQs or About Me page on the blog at least more interesting than the regular WSGR web site?
http://www.startupcompanylawyer.com/faqs/
Anyway, I’d write more stuff more often, but if you find much of the technical nuts and bolts stuff boring/difficult to read, it is even more boring to write. And I think I finished off most of my thoughts on convertible debt and Series A financings already. It’s somewhat hard to come up with some interesting topics to cover so I’d be open for suggestions.

My main critique is that your and other legal blogs like it are too technically focused and boring. The only reason I’d ever go there is to find legal info, which makes it more like a Q+A site than a blog per se. If you want me to actually read your blog, you need to get beyond narrowly focused legal issues and expose yourself more as a human being.
Look at Fred Wilson. Nominally, he’s a VC. But only a fraction of what he writes about on his blog is VC specific. Sure, it comes up, but it’s only a part of who he is, not the whole. And as a reader, the thing that’s going to catch and hold my attention is this greater whole, not the narrow identity. Make sense?
I guess the take away point is: Fuck convertible debt! Go beyond your lawyer-ness and write about interesting shit in the world around you. Be an interesting person, not just an interesting lawyer.

My main critique is that your and other legal blogs like it are too technically focused and boring. The only reason I’d ever go there is to find legal info, which makes it more like a Q+A site than a blog per se. If you want me to actually read your blog, you need to get beyond narrowly focused legal issues and expose yourself more as a human being.
Look at Fred Wilson. Nominally, he’s a VC. But only a fraction of what he writes about on his blog is VC specific. Sure, it comes up, but it’s only a part of who he is, not the whole. And as a reader, the thing that’s going to catch and hold my attention is this greater whole, not the narrow identity. Make sense?
I guess the take away point is: Fuck convertible debt! Go beyond your lawyer-ness and write about interesting shit in the world around you. Be an interesting person, not just an interesting lawyer.

Agreed!

Agreed!

Looks cool. Thanks!

Looks cool. Thanks!

I get your point. No offense to the attorneys that blog about the world at large, but I don’t think that there are any attorneys out there that write interesting enough material on a regular basis for me to have it as a must read in my RSS reader.
My blog is not intended to be a blog per se. It’s intended to be single-author wikipeida on startup stuff. I figure that anyone who is that interested in me as a person can simply follow me on twitter and read sarcastic tweets and see pictures of what I’ve eaten. I see twitter as an easier way to show personality, versus the amount of time it takes to write full-fledged blog posts.

I get your point. No offense to the attorneys that blog about the world at large, but I don’t think that there are any attorneys out there that write interesting enough material on a regular basis for me to have it as a must read in my RSS reader.
My blog is not intended to be a blog per se. It’s intended to be single-author wikipeida on startup stuff. I figure that anyone who is that interested in me as a person can simply follow me on twitter and read sarcastic tweets and see pictures of what I’ve eaten. I see twitter as an easier way to show personality, versus the amount of time it takes to write full-fledged blog posts.

Matt, I’m happy to take you up on your challenge. I recently founded a new and different kind of law firm representing startups, Bottom Line Law Group (http://bll.la), based in SF and LA. New firm, but not new lawyer; I worked at WSGR and a NY firm before going in-house to a succession of tech and media companies, culminating in the General Counsel role at eHarmony for the past few years. In addition to legal knowledge, I can offer the pragmatic business orientation that comes from serving as a member of the senior management team at a Web 2.0 company — and having paid millions of dollars of outside counsel bills.
My new blog, Mashtag (http://masht.ag), is aimed at an audience of non-lawyers and addresses a range of issues, although I certainly intend to cover some of the more interesting legal material. There will be a consumer Web/social media slant, drawing on my experience at Excite@Home, MySpace/FIM and eHarmony, but much of it should hopefully be of interest to the broader entrepreneur and investor community. I hope you like it.
P.S.: I’m grateful to have gotten on Venture Hacks’ radar screen already – http://venturehacks.com/articles/social-lawyers

Matt, I’m happy to take you up on your challenge. I recently founded a new and different kind of law firm representing startups, Bottom Line Law Group (http://bll.la), based in SF and LA. New firm, but not new lawyer; I worked at WSGR and a NY firm before going in-house to a succession of tech and media companies, culminating in the General Counsel role at eHarmony for the past few years. In addition to legal knowledge, I can offer the pragmatic business orientation that comes from serving as a member of the senior management team at a Web 2.0 company — and having paid millions of dollars of outside counsel bills.
My new blog, Mashtag (http://masht.ag), is aimed at an audience of non-lawyers and addresses a range of issues, although I certainly intend to cover some of the more interesting legal material. There will be a consumer Web/social media slant, drawing on my experience at Excite@Home, MySpace/FIM and eHarmony, but much of it should hopefully be of interest to the broader entrepreneur and investor community. I hope you like it.
P.S.: I’m grateful to have gotten on Venture Hacks’ radar screen already – http://venturehacks.com/articles/social-lawyers

If you are in tech in any capacity, please blog, period. And it is so easy to do, so many platform choices. You just spoke my mind. Fred Wilson has one of the very best solo blogs out there, period, tech or non tech.

If you are in tech in any capacity, please blog, period. And it is so easy to do, so many platform choices. You just spoke my mind. Fred Wilson has one of the very best solo blogs out there, period, tech or non tech.

I think it’s a really good idea to improve communications between entrepreneur’s and lawyers. I know some very good Boston lawyers that would trust with my life lol. Freemium model sounds really interesting, I’m considering giving it a go thanks.