216.696.8700

Practice Group

Start Up Attorneys

From de novo start-up, to development and market entry phases, to exit (including “restarts” and “pivots”) we advise companies at all stages of maturity on ideal organizational structure, governance matters, tax efficiency, intellectual property, asset protection, fundraising strategy and execution, as well as mergers and acquisitions and public securities offerings.

We advise on more than legalities: offering business counseling on investment strategy, intellectual property and technology asset creation and protection, go-to-market strategies, marketing, and branding, as well as participating in day-to-day management and board-level discussions.

Our goal is to help you create, protect, and communicate value, while advising you through the sometimes difficult phases of growing and retaining a world-class value proposition and team.

Start-Up Legal Services 

START

  • Entity Formation and Agent Services
  • Governance Model Development and Implementation
  • Founder Agreements and Support
  • Capitalization Structures and Strategies
  • Day-to-Day General Corporate Governance
  • Conflict of Interest Policy and Support
  • Private investment transaction design and support
  • Crowdfunding
  • Securities law compliance

GROW

  • Incentive Compensation Structures
  • Technology & Intellectual Property Cultivation, Protection and Commercialization
  • Invention review and strategic support
  • Brand Development and Enforcement
  • Creative Capital formation strategies, including non-dilutive, grants and equity investments
  • Board and Investor Advice
  • Commercial Contracting and Procurement
  • Manufacturing and Distribution Support
  • Employment Support and Policies
  • Business taxation, public incentives and opportunity zones

MONETIZE

Customer Services for Emerging Companies:

WHAT WE DO

ENTITY STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE

KJK’s attorneys advise on optimal affiliate and holding company structures, prepare formation and governance documents and ensure that all of your required corporate formalities are maintained.

Fundraising & Securities Compliance

From pre-seed to mature companies, KJK’s Start-Up & Capitalization attorneys guide clients through financing rounds, including preparing and negotiating investor term sheets, preparing subscription documents and agreements for equity, debt, convertible debt and SAFE investments.

Day-to-Day Operations

Start-ups that take advantage of KJK’s GC Program are able to access unlimited advice on matters like intellectual property, contracting and employment matters, including executive incentive plans and HR policies for a monthly flat fee.

Get to Know the Start-Ups & Capitalization Team:

Attorney Spotlight

Managing Partner Jon Pinney

As KJK’s managing partner, Jon’s natural leadership abilities and business savvy nature have aided him in becoming a trusted advisor and advantageous negotiator for emerging companies. Drawing upon deep experience in real estate development, construction and property management, Jon manages projects that help businesses and communities thrive. With a sophisticated wealth and risk management practice, he assists clients with ease through various financial rounds, helping them to mitigate risk and create blueprints for growth.

Ted Theofrastous

Working to protect a company’s technological and brand assets through the establishment of comprehensive intellectual property strategies, Ted has asserted himself as a leader in the field of early stage innovation. Ted counsels clients across a wide range of technological domains, including life sciences, telecommunications, IT, alternative energy, and advanced materials, in both legal and business issues.  As Chair of KJK’s IP & Technology Practice Group, Ted assists clients as they navigate the complexities of starting a business and working toward investment,  providing them with the real-time help and insight they need in order to compete and thrive in the years to come.

Beyond Legal Services:

Innovative services

Start-Up Programs

KJK’s Start-Up Programs are designed for entrepreneurs who need cost certainty as they build their business. Learn more about how we can help you with your start up endeavors, from formation to funding, and everything in between.

KJK IP Management

Intellectual Property is both an asset and a tool for building value in your company.  We can help you assess, cultivate, and protect the potential of your core technology, brand, and product & service offerings through patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection: identifying creative and cost-effective strategies that are compatible with your business objectives.

Entity Formation Services

Our corporate attorneys use their experience to guide you through the entity selection process, form your entity with the applicable government body and prepare your initial formation and governance documents.

Start Ups & Capitalization

Attorneys

Ted Theofrastous

Ted C. Thefrastous

PARTNER

Jon Pinney Cleveland Corporate Lawyer

Jon J. Pinney

MANAGING PARTNER

Steven Bersticker Cleveland Corporate Attorney

Steven C. Bersicker

PARTNER

Christopher Hubbert Cleveland Corporate Attorney

Christopher J. Hubbert

PARTNER

Scott Norcross

Scott A. Norcross

PARTNER

Demetrius Robinson

Demetrius J. Robinson

PARTNER

Demetrius Robinson

Stephanie P. Balla

OF COUNSEL

Andrew Wilber

Andrew J. Wilber

PARTNER

Steven Bersticker Cleveland Corporate Attorney

Steven C. Bersticker

Partner

Christopher J. Hubbert

Partner

Alex Jones Cleveland Corporate Attorney

Alex E. Jones

Partner

Scott A. Norcross

Partner

Demetrius Robinson Columbus Tax Attorney Columbus Corporate Attorney

Demetrius J. Robinson

Partner

Ted Theofrastous

Theodore C. Theofrastous

Partner

Andrew Wilber

Andrew J. Wilber

Partner

Samantha M. Cira

Associate

Christopher G. Herrel

Associate

Paige M. Rabatin

Associate

Emily L. Stoerkel

Associate

Peggy Beistel

Peggy S. Beistel

Senior Counsel

Kevin T. O’Connor

Of Counsel

Steven Bersticker Cleveland Corporate Attorney

Steven C. Bersticker

Partner

Christopher J. Hubbert

Partner

Alex Jones Cleveland Corporate Attorney

Alex E. Jones

Partner

Scott A. Norcross

Partner

Demetrius Robinson Columbus Tax Attorney Columbus Corporate Attorney

Demetrius J. Robinson

Partner

Ted Theofrastous

Theodore C. Theofrastous

Partner

Andrew Wilber

Andrew J. Wilber

Partner

Samantha M. Cira

Associate

Christopher G. Herrel

Associate

Paige M. Rabatin

Associate

Emily L. Stoerkel

Associate

Peggy Beistel

Peggy S. Beistel

Senior Counsel

Kevin T. O’Connor

Of Counsel

Contact

CLEVELAND OFFICE

1375 East Ninth Street

One Cleveland Center, 29th Floor

Cleveland, OH 44114-1793

216-696-8700

 

 

COLUMBUS OFFICE

10 West Broad Street

One Columbus Center, Suite 2500

Columbus, OH 43215

614-427-5731