We help innovative companies build strong foundations, manage risk, seize opportunities, and focus on creating exceptional businesses.
The right legal counsel does more than solve problems. It helps founders anticipate challenges, evaluate opportunities, and make informed decisions as their companies grow. Successful startups benefit from advisors who are accessible, responsive, and aligned with the long-term vision of the business.
HFK Law is committed to serving as a strategic partner to entrepreneurs and emerging companies, providing practical guidance from initial formation through fundraising, scaling, and exit. We take pride in helping innovative businesses build strong foundations and achieve their growth objectives.
Who we help
We partner with entrepreneurs, startups, and emerging growth companies from formation through financing, scaling, and exit. As trusted advisors and an extension of our clients’ leadership teams, we provide practical, business-minded counsel tailored to the realities of building and growing a company.
Our counsel includes:
- helping startups prepare for investor due diligence;
- shaping their organizational structure;
- ensuring their supplier, customer and technological contracts are in place and well-drafted; and
- introducing them to venture funds and other capital sources, along with a comprehensive startup kit of documents needed to begin on solid footing —at no additional fee.
Whether navigating company formation, raising capital, protecting intellectual property, designing equity incentive plans, attracting key talent, negotiating commercial agreements, or preparing for strategic transactions, we help founders make informed decisions with confidence.
A track record of success
Michael J. Halloran, Mark Hobson, Bradfield Biggers, and Timothy S. Spangler have extensive experience representing startups, emerging growth companies, and technology-focused businesses throughout all stages of development.
With decades of experience in Silicon Valley and the national startup ecosystem, Michael and Mark provide practical guidance that helps entrepreneurs raise capital, manage growth, and position their companies for long-term success.
Drawing on extensive experience working with the SEC, FINRA, and other regulatory authorities, Linda Lerner helps companies address legal and compliance challenges while pursuing growth opportunities. Her practice is particularly well-suited for technology-driven businesses operating in the fintech, digital assets, blockchain, and financial services sectors.
Formation
Laying the foundation
Every successful company starts with a strong foundation.
We help entrepreneurs navigate the critical decisions that arise during formation, including entity selection, ownership structure, intellectual property protection, and founder governance.
For many high-growth startups, forming a Delaware entity can provide significant advantages, including a well-established body of corporate law, investor familiarity, and governance frameworks that are often preferred by venture capital investors.
We also advise founders transitioning from previous employment, helping them identify and address potential risks before they become obstacles to growth.
Our goal is to position startups for successful fundraising, scalable growth, and long-term success from the very beginning.
Angel / Pre-Seed
Securing funding
One of the first priorities for many startups is securing early-stage funding through SAFE agreements, convertible notes, angel investments, or pre-seed and seed financing rounds.
We help founders navigate these critical growth milestones while building the legal infrastructure necessary to support long-term success.
We advise on fundraising transactions, equity incentive plans, and compensation structures designed to attract and retain top talent.
We also assist with negotiating customer, vendor, and strategic partnership agreements that enable businesses to scale with confidence.
As products move from concept to market, we guide companies through the legal, regulatory, and commercial issues that accompany product development and launch.
From establishing operational frameworks to addressing compliance considerations, we help founders focus on building their businesses while minimizing risk and positioning the company for future growth.
Venture-Backed
Navigating challenges that come with growth
As startups secure outside investment and enter a period of accelerated growth, founders face increasingly complex governance, operational, and compliance challenges.
The introduction of venture investors often brings new reporting obligations, board oversight, and strategic considerations that can significantly impact the direction of the business.
HFK Law serves as trusted advisors to founders, executives, and boards as they navigate this critical stage of growth. We assist with corporate governance matters, board meeting preparation, investor communications, and the legal and procedural issues that arise as companies mature and scale.
We also help venture-backed companies build the infrastructure necessary to support sustainable growth, including implementing equity compensation programs, strengthening employment practices, developing scalable commercial contracting processes, and addressing evolving regulatory and compliance requirements.
As businesses expand into new markets and jurisdictions, we provide practical guidance on employment, privacy, and data security matters, helping management teams focus on execution while positioning their companies for long-term success.
Startup Practice
Michael J. Halloran
Partner
About
Contact
Mobile: (415) 307-4124
Office: (302) 257-2011, ext. 103
Direct: Jackson (307) 222-6677
Direct: Silicon Valley (650) 290-4142
Linda Lerner
Partner
About
Contact
Office: (302) 257-2011, ext. 111
Mobile: (914) 588-5678
Mark D. Hobson
Partner
About
Contact
Office: (302) 257-2011, ext. 106
Mobile: (305) 632-5709
Bradfield Biggers
Of Counsel
About
Contact
Office: (424) 554-1275
Direct: (214) 535-8684
Timothy S. Spangler III
Associate
About
Contact
Office: (302) 257-2011, ext. 115
Direct: (302) 342-3630