Law Firm Shares Best Practices for Startup Early-Stage Investment

If you have the next big thing but not the big thing budget, a BigLaw firm has just what you've been waiting for: a startup package of financing documents.

Cooley, exclusively through its microsite "Go," has released a free repository of documents for investors and business owners. The documents are for companies in the United States and designed for those incorporated in Delaware.

"It's a way for entrepreneurs and early-stage investors and business owners to access what the firm considers to be best practices for early-stage investment and to streamline the process for committing capital at the seed stage," according to TechCrunch.

Equity Financing

The firm said it released the documents, which it has used in hundreds of transactions for startups, because they are popular and relatively uncomplicated. The documents represent the firm's best practices for startups.

The release includes two repositories -- Series Seed Equity Financing Package -- and Series Seed Notes Financing Package. Each section features forms generators for users to customize their documents.

The equity financing package allows users to generate forms such as:

• Term sheet
• Amended and restated certificate of incorporation
• Preferred stock investment agreement
• Investor suitability questionnaire
• Board consent

Notes Financing

The CooleyGo site also links to articles with news and updates, answers to frequently asked questions, and other topics. It also recommends other documents that entrepreneurs and investors may need.

The notes financing page offers open source documents such as:

• Term sheet
• Convertible promissory note
• Investor suitability questionnaire
• Board consent

Cooley disclaims any responsibility for any use of the documents, and recommends consulting an attorney.

Notably, this move by Cooley illustrates how law firms can generate free publicity. If your firm is looking for information on effective advertising, let the experts at FindLaw's Lawyer Marketing give you a hand.

Want information on effective advertising? Let the experts at FindLaw's Lawyer Marketing give you a hand.

Related Resources:

• Legal Tech Startups Founded by Lawyers (FindLaw's Technologist)
• Google Assistant Is Ready to Assist Your Law Practice (FindLaw's Technologist)
• Startup Funder Funds Legal Startup for Startups (FindLaw's Technologist)