Lawyer turned founder.
I turn tangled legal problems into a clear strategy. Always in the founder's shoes.
See what I do
§ What I do
I take on big, complicated legal problems, the ones that span several areas of law, and make them simple: a smaller scope, a lower bill and a clear way forward. Always from the founder's perspective. I've been one, and I've seen first-hand the founder's position falling through the gaps.
Most problems don't sit neatly in one area of law. One issue can touch corporate, employment and insolvency at once, and each usually means another lawyer and another bill. I take in the whole picture, set the strategy, and narrow it down to exactly the advice you need. You can hand it over knowing it's in safe hands, and keep your focus on the business.
One size doesn't fit all. Founders often get channelled down the same route: the same structure, the default market position and the same list of what they must give away or accept. If you don't know what to ask, you can't ask for it. I'll help you find the position that works for both sides, from dilution and option pools to future payouts. Includes EIS and SEIS advance assurance where needed.
Even with a very good lawyer, things can get lost between the legal advice and the business. I've seen it first-hand in businesses I've founded. I work through documents and advice alongside you, help you understand what they mean in practice, and make sure your lawyers know what matters to you.
When it comes to drafting or representation, you'll need a lawyer. I'll connect you with one from a small pool I work with regularly, at prices that work for early-stage companies. We already know how each other works and the scope is already done, so the job is smaller, costs much less and is more likely to get you the result you want.
§ Projects
Private, invitation-only dinners connecting founders and investors, since 2014.
VisitPlain-English guides and tools for the legal jobs founders shouldn't need to pay a lawyer for, starting with EIS and SEIS.
A space for in-house lawyers to work through what AI means for their work. It starts with the Legal AI Sentiment Survey: add your view and get the findings.
Take the survey§ About
I trained as a solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard, then left law in 2007 to build businesses. Since then I've co-founded and helped run companies across e-commerce, marketplaces, people and networking, the circular economy and environmental data. As a founder I've worked on every part of the business, from strategy, commercial and fundraising to operations, and the legal side has always been mine. Through TableCrowd, I've sat at the table with thousands of founders and investors since 2014 and heard the same legal problems come up again and again. I know how lawyers think, what investors want, and what founders actually need from both.
§ Contact
Got a legal problem that's growing, getting expensive or getting complicated? Start with a conversation.
Leave with a defined scope and a clear next step.
Book a sessionSee whether I'm the right fit for your problem.
Book a callThanks, you're on the list.