- Quality Work
- Fixed Fees
- Founder-Friendly
Work with a founder-friendly startup lawyer.
Most traditional law firms still operate on an outdated billable hour model that wastes startups’ time and money. We built a modern startup law firm from the ground up that saves startups time and money and helps them scale smarter.
Big Law
Westaway
CORPORATE
HUMAN
OPAQUE
TRANSPARENT
SLOW
FAST
ANTIQUATED
INNOVATIVE
EXPENSIVE
REASONABLE
We help founders scale smarter.
From first checks to Fortune 500 contracts, we help founders punch above their weight. We’ve helped venture-backed unicorns, bootstrapped hackers, and hundreds of startups in between navigate complex legal issues efficiently. We can help you too. Book a free consult to get started.
$100M+ capital raised.
Our startups are backed by top tier VCs.
Y Combinator
First Round Capital
Sequoia
General Catalyst
Founders Fund
Redpoint Capital
Capital G
Thrive Capital
Spark Capital
$1B+ deals closed.
We help startups close deals with Fortune 500 companies.
Walmart
Amazon
JPMorgan Chase
Microsoft
General Motors
Citigroup
Pfizer
Morgan Stanley
Accenture
Goldman Sachs
Starbucks
Sony
TRUSTED BY ALUM OF:
our founders are backed by:
General Counsel is one of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas.
AWARDS
Why founders love Westaway.
- Quality work.
- Ships on time.
- Friendly.
- Fixed fees.
- Close deals faster.
- No surprise legal bills.
- Smooth venture capital due diligence.
- Save time.
- Save money.
- Level up your legal knowledge.
- Attorneys who think like founders.
- Focus on business growth.
Founders are talking.
Founders love working with us because we deliver quality advice, fast with transparent fees. But don’t take our word for it, check out our client testimonials, our case studies, or our Google verified reviews.
What we do.
Work with an experienced startup lawyer to set up your business for success. We provide specialized legal services so you can focus on growing your company, not paperwork. Our core startup law services include: incorporation, funding, intellectual property, employment, contracts, mergers & acquisitions, impact evaluation and general counsel.
Get funded. We guide you through the fundraising process whether you are using Convertible Debt, a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) or Equity.
Protect your ideas. The core asset of startups are great ideas. We help you take ownership and protect the use of your intellectual property.Â
Build your team. You’re only as good as the people you work with. We draft employment and independent contractor agreements to help you hire and retain rockstar talent.
Get it in writing. We draft and review contracts with your clients, partners, vendors and suppliers to ensure that you are maximizing both profit and purpose.
Measure what matters. Did you achieve what you set out to achieve? We design, implement and report on your social and environmental impact using the B Impact Assessment or a custom designed set of metrics.
Scale up without selling out. We help you achieve scale through a merger or acquisition while ensuring that your mission remains the focus.
Get quality advice. We’re here for you as any legal challenge arises. We’re your partner every step of the journey.
An Al-native startup law firm.
We use Al to gather context and handle the legwork so our expert attorneys can focus where they matter most: judgment, strategy, and getting the deal done. The result is higher-quality work, delivered faster, with cost certainty.
A law firm by founders for founders.
Most lawyers never experience the founder’s side of the table – so how can they truly understand what founders need? Kyle Westaway was a founder before he was a lawyer. As a founder, he discovered that traditional firms weren’t just expensive – they were fundamentally misaligned with startup interests: surprise hourly bills that drained runway, risk-averse advice that slowed innovation, dismissive treatment of early-stage companies, and one-size-fits-all service designed for Fortune 500s.
So Kyle made a bold move: in 2008, he built a law firm by founders for founders. Westaway honors founders by replacing unpredictable bills with transparent, flat fees; giving early-stage founders the attention their ambitions deserve; and providing focused expertise that scales with your company’s growth – all while moving at startup speed.
FAQs about working with a startup lawyer.
What’s a startup lawyer and why do I need one?
While general practice lawyer can offer legal services, startups benefit more from lawyers who focus on early-stage venture-backed companies. By working with a specialized startup lawyer, you gain access to their years of experience in the startup ecosystem, making them a valuable advisor for early-stage, venture-backed companies. They possess a nuanced understanding of startup norms, provide tailored guidance, on funding, intellectual property, equity allocation, and exits. Additionally, specialized startup attorneys are often more cost-effective than general practice attorneys, further adding to their appeal. Learn more here.
What are the risks of not working with a startup lawyer?
Startups are unique types of businesses. At every stage in the life cycle of the company, there are pitfalls that can cost the company millions of dollars. Failing to properly incorporate can derail funding. Negotiating with investors without a startup lawyer risks loss of control. Skipping intellectual property protection invites copycats and lawsuits. Attempting complex merger and acquisitions without a seasoned startup lawyer often ends in costly mistakes. An experienced startup lawyer can help you scale while avoiding these costly pitfalls. Learn more here.
How do I choose the best lawyer for my startup?
Finding the right startup lawyer is an investment in the future of your business. These are the key factors to consider:
- Experience: In many ways, your startup lawyer is your guide through unfamiliar territory, so you want a guide who knows the ecosystem and can point you in the right direction.
- Availability: Choose a startup lawyer who is responsive and able to work at the pace of an early-stage startup.
- Fee Structure: Consider the fee structure of the startup law firm, and find one whose fees align with your budget and needs. At Westaway, everything we do is on transparent flat fees.
- Compatibility: It’s crucial to find a startup attorney who you feel comfortable working with and who shares your values and vision for your startup. Learn more here.
What are the best questions to ask when vetting a startup lawyer?
When considering hiring a startup lawyer, it is important to give clear context about your company and legal challenge then ask direct questions to ensure they are a good fit for your business needs like:
- What’s your experience advising startups in my industry and at my stage?
- Do you experience solving my particular challenge?
- Can you walk me through the process of this engagement step by step?
- How do you bill for your services?
- Who will I be working with day-to-day? Learn more here.
How can a startup avoid wasting money on lawyers?
Avoid the billable hour whenever possible. This model misaligns incentives leading to slow work and high, unpredictable bills. Instead engage a startup law firm that works on flat or capped fees. Flat fees bring transparency and predictability. For most startup legal work, an experienced startup lawyer should be able to offer flat fees. With fixed costs, you can make smart legal decisions for your startup. At Westaway, all services are offered at transparent flat fees. Learn more here.
Avoid these 10 rookie legal mistakes.
Legal missteps can be some of the most costly problems startups face, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Download this FREE guide to get simple, actionable tips on how to avoid these common mistakes. By following these simple tips you will save your startup time and money.
