Foundation + IP + Operations + Transactions

Integrated Legal and Strategic Support for Technology Startups

Practical, executive-level legal support for startups, university spinouts, and growth-stage companies—from formation and intellectual property strategy to contracts, governance, and strategic transactions.

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20+ Years

Cross-functional legal, IP, and commercial experience.

AmLaw 20 + In-House

Law firm rigor with operating-company practicality.

Technology-Focused

Support tailored to startup execution and growth.

Fractional GC Model

Senior-level guidance without full-time overhead.

What this package is designed to do

A legal framework that helps startups build with confidence

Startups do not just need documents. They need a coordinated legal structure that supports fundraising, protects key assets, enables efficient operations, and reduces execution risk as the company scales.

Outcomes
  • Establish a clean, investor-ready legal and IP foundation
  • Align legal structure with business and financing strategy
  • Build scalable operational and contractual infrastructure
  • Support partnerships, licensing, and growth transactions
Core service areas

Foundational support across the startup lifecycle

Company Formation and Founder Structuring

Build the legal foundation founders and investors expect, including entity formation, governance setup, founder equity planning, vesting, and core corporate documentation.

Entity selection
Founder equity planning
Vesting and option pool design
Governance framework

Intellectual Property Strategy and Ownership Structuring

Clarify ownership, identify chain-of-title risks, and align patent, trade secret, and licensing strategy with the company’s commercial roadmap.

IP ownership review
Patent strategy
Trade secret framework
Collaboration rights analysis

Operational Legal Infrastructure

Create practical templates, processes, and contract structures that support efficient day-to-day execution as the company grows.

NDAs and consulting agreements
Vendor and service agreements
Technology contracts
Risk allocation planning

Strategic Transactions and Growth Support

Support revenue-generating and strategic deals, including licensing, partnerships, development agreements, and commercial transaction structuring.

Licensing and commercial agreements
Joint development arrangements
Deal structuring
Negotiation support
About the advisor

Senior-level counsel with both law firm and in-house operating experience

General Counsel and U.S. Registered Patent Attorney
More than 20 years of legal and strategic experience
AmLaw 20 training in complex transactions and IP strategy
In-house leadership at venture-backed and clinical-stage companies
Experience advising global companies and high-growth startups
Practical support across governance, IP, transactions, and operations
Why startups choose this model
  • Integrated legal and business perspective
  • Investor-ready structuring from the outset
  • Reduced risk of governance and IP gaps
  • Access to senior counsel without full-time overhead
Service model

Flexible engagement structures for startups at different stages

Formation + IP Foundation

Components 1–2
$1,000 – $20,000

Operational Setup

Component 3
$1,000 – $10,000

Transaction Support

Component 4
$1,000 – $15,000

Fractional General Counsel

Monthly retainer
$1,000 – $12,000
University spinout add-on

Additional support for university-affiliated startups

Available options may include preferred pricing, founder workshops, IP strategy education, fundraising readiness support, and ongoing office hours.

Best for

University founders, translational research teams, and early-stage companies preparing to commercialize platform technology or spin out core assets.

Build on a strong legal foundation

Tailored legal support for startups ready to build, scale, and transact

Whether you are forming a new company, organizing key intellectual property, preparing for financing, or negotiating a strategic transaction, this offering is designed to provide practical, senior-level support aligned with your growth goals.

stevechen@drchenlaw.com Request a Custom Package