“Hello All, I am looking for a good lawyer for a real estate exchange/internet startup that has the ability to see beyond the hourly rate and help us do some basic contractual and corporate work for a new startup. I have, as I am sure we all do, great lawyers at large firms that charge large fees, where the clock is always ticking, and they certainly have a place in many situations. I am looking for someone who can potentially defer compensation (assuming they believe in the concept) and add value with some fairly basic agreements, and can then grow with the company. Any suggestions would be appreciated as always.
Raj Bhatia, ‘95”
Lawyer Recommendations Columbia Alumni Network: (Unedited)
• I'd like to introduce you to Heather Miles, a friend whose practice focuses on startups and entrepreneurial ventures. Heather is based in NYC and might be able to help you out. Heather Miles heather@milesllp.com
• I may be able to help you. I was a corporate attorney before I went to law school. If you give me a little more color on what you want, I may be able to recommend someone. Feel free to e-mail me or call me at (212) 699-2610.Best, Jonathan
• Try Alan Forman at Brown Rudnick (AForman@brownrudnick.com)
• Raj, I have someone who might be perfect. Also from Columbia. His name is John Goodman Ill have him call you tomorrow
• I strongly recommend Elizabeth Napjus. I worked with her closely on several deals when I was at a real estate turnaround private equity shop near Grand Central. She is smart, easy to work with, and well established with startups and large PE shops alike. I cannot speak to her compensation model. I have cc'ed her on this email, and her contact info is:
Elizabeth Napjus LLC
Elizabeth Napjus, Esq.
280 Madison Avenue, Suite 912
New York, New York 10016
(P) 212-933-0202
(F) 212-386-5543
• I highly recommend Gil Breiman at Burns and Levinson in Boston. Gil has worked with us as you outline below from the idea stage of our start up 4 years ago. While we’re based in NYC, the geography has had no impact.
Gil Breiman, Esq.
Partner
Burns & Levinson LLP
125 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02110
Work: 617-345-3627
Cell: 617-529-9679
Fax: 617-345-3299
gbreiman@burnslev.com
www.burnslevinson.com <http://www.burnslevinson.com/>
• Boris Sorin is your guy. He's perfect.
917-579-5263
212-972-1106
Bsorinesq@gmail.com
• I am a partner of the New York City law firm Rosner & Napierala, LLP and received my MBA from Columbia Business School in February 2009.
In terms of our firm background, most of our attorneys previously practiced at prestigious national and international law firms, and all have significant experience and a high degree of specialization in their respective practice areas, including corporate law. I would be pleased to discuss alternative billing arrangements and may be reached at the number below.
Sincerely,
Natalie
Natalie A. Napierala
Rosner & Napierala, LLP
26 Broadway, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10004-1808
(212) 785-2747 (direct)
(212) 785-2577 (main)
(212) 785-5203 (facsimile)
www.rmnllp.com <http://www.rmnllp.com/>
• My attorney is Gary Marx with Marx and Lieberman (cc'd). Gary is based here in Washington DC. He's been very helpful to me in starting my firm, Noetic Partners (including the deferral of substantial payments until the cash flow began), and also in helping me to negotiate my entry and exit from Freddie Mac.
• Recommend Steve Ross: 201-488-4300. Very sharp.
• With regard to your posting in the Columbia Alumni system, you can contact Charles Obrien, an attorney at McCormick & O'Brien in NYC. Charles@mccoblaw.com.
• Andrew W. Albstein, Esq.
Goldberg Weprin & Ustin LLP
1501 Broadway - 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: (212) 301-6970
Fax Number: (212) 730-4518
email: aalbstein@gwulaw.com
Andy is the head of this firm. They do some RE work for some heavy hitters as well as a lot of smaller folk. Their fees are probably $300-400 ph. Very entrepreneurial. Will go way beyond most lawyers.
• Peter Suzuki has a great breadth of experience, is flexible and has practiced law in New Jersey for twenty years. He represents businesses and investors in corporate and other commercial transactions. He also represents individuals with employment agreements, separation agreements, employment disputes, and estate planning. Peter can be reached at 908-277-2600. For more information you can also check out his website www.suzukilawfirm.com.
• Hi. I'm class of 1992 from NYU Law School, formerly with Proskauer Rose and Herrick Feinstein in the real estate department. I just started my own firm and would be happy to discuss this with you further.
You can call me at the number below tomorrow if you like.
Thanks.
Deborah Goldman, Esq., MBA
917-880-2554
• I might be able to offer some assistance. I am a reformed lawyer – practiced for 8 years and then went to CBS. After business school I was a real estate investment banker, but for the past year I have been advising companies (start-ups and growth companies) on legal, strategic and financial matters. I have flexible compensation arrangements, and generally try to stay away from hourly billing for basic stuff.
I’d love to hear the idea and see if I can add anything.
Jason
===========================================
Jason G. Wilson, Esq.
Strategy | Execution | Analysis
jwilson04@gsb.columbia.edu
(917) 664-4222
• I am an entrepreneur and use Ed Reitler. He is a huge supporter of
entrepreneurship and specializes in tech. I would have a conversation
with him and you can tell him I referred you.
Ed Reitler
Partner, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC
ereitler@reitlerbrown.com
(212) 209-3050
(212) 371-5500 Fax
800 Third Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, New York 10022
www.reitlerbrown.com
• Interesting. I am a lawyer from a big Manhattan firm that brought my practice to a Long Island firm to do something totally different. I specialize in representing companies that need the kind of service you require and years ago I figured out how to use the deferment of my compensation to benefit transactions of the type you describe. Although I primarily work on leveraged buyout transactions, I also represent startups where it makes sense (many times, of course, it doesn't). For many years I ran my own 30 man firm in Manhattan that probably did as many M&A transactions as many of the much larger firms but I got tired of giving such a big chunk of the compensation to Uncle Sam and decided to work for long term capital gains. If you think this is up your alley, get back to me. I have represented many, many well known groups, have been practicing for 40 years, am a graduate of Yale and Columbia and have Martindale-Hubbell's highest ratings (also listed in Who's Who).
Arthur
Arthur A. Lane, Esq.
Lamb & Barnosky, LLP
534 Broadhollow Road, Suite 210
P.O. Box 9034
Melville, NY 11747-9034
Phone: (631) 694-2300
Direct Dial: (631) 414-5809
Direct Fax: (631) 454-3803
Main Fax: (631) 694-2309
E-mail: aal@lambbarnosky.com
www.lambbarnosky.com <http://www.lambbarnosky.com/>
• Raj, I have used Kurt Olender from OlenderFeldman, previously with a couple of large law firms in NY area. He works with startups regularly and I have used him for my ventures, pricing is normal but very flexible in payments. Also, a former SW engineer, which helps how he sees the world.
http://olenderfeldman.com/
• A friend of mine, Jacob Israelow, mentioned that you were looking for legal assistance with a start-up and suggested I get in touch.
My firm provides general counsel services to start-ups and growth companies on an outsourced, as-needed basis. In addition to handling traditional corporate legal matters, we work to engage with our clients and gain a deeper understanding of their business, enabling us to provide significant long-term value in terms of managing legal risks and advising on more complex legal and business matters.
Our team is made up of experienced lawyers who have all practiced at some of the best "traditional" law firms in New York and London, and who are dedicated to a new way of working with clients. Our model is also very different from that of a traditional firm, and we therefore have significantly lower overhead costs.
You can read more about us by following the link below. Let me know if you'd like to speak further about ways in which we may be able to assist with your venture.
Chintan Panchal
Panchal Associates | legal counsel & consulting
48 Wall Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10005
+1.212.918.4988 (tel)
+1.212.918.4801 (fax)
+1.347.789.7940 (direct)
www.panchalconsulting.com <http://www.panchalconsulting.com/>
• I am an entrepreneur and use Ed Reitler. He is a huge supporter of
entrepreneurship and specializes in tech. I would have a conversation
with him and you can tell him I referred you.
Ed Reitler
Partner, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC
ereitler@reitlerbrown.com
(212) 209-3050
(212) 371-5500 Fax
800 Third Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, New York 10022
www.reitlerbrown.com
• Carter Allen - Worked for a big white shoe law firm here in Atlanta, and has since gone independent. He's experienced in technology businesses and will do work for fixed fees/and he has in the past done work for equity. Very thorough, very cost effective.
David B. Walmsley
The Jordan Company
David@rjordancompany.com
4200 Northside Parkway, Building 3
Atlanta, GA 30327
Ph: 404-237-2900 X103
Cell: 770-329-7260
Fax: 404-237-2394
www.rjordancompany.com <http://www.rjordancompany.com/>