Build on Sound Advice
Experienced business counsel for important decisions and everyday questions. A direct relationship, a practical approach, and monthly fees you can plan around.
Direct attorney access. Fixed monthly retainers. AI-assisted work.
Five years at OrrickTransactions & IP litigation
Founder & former CEOThree international companies
Registered patent attorneyBusiness-minded IP counsel
AI-assisted. Attorney-led.Modern tools, personal accountability
What I handle
A start-up’s value often begins with the intellectual property it creates. Founders need to secure that asset; investors need confidence that the company owns and can protect it. As a former founder, business attorney, and registered patent attorney, I build the legal structures that support both.
Every agreement can strengthen or dilute the value of a business. I structure customer, supplier, employee, and contractor terms to secure IP ownership, control licensing rights, and protect confidential information—so commercial growth supports the value founders build and investors back.
Entity structure, financing terms, governance, and board decisions shape how a company’s assets and its investors’ interests are protected. I help establish clear ownership, decision-making authority, and rights and obligations that support the business through funding, growth, and changes in leadership.
IP protection starts with making sure the company owns what its founders, employees, and contractors create. I develop strategies for patents, trade secrets, and licensing that preserve the core asset and support investment. Specialist counsel handles patent drafting and prosecution, guided by the company’s business goals.
A brand’s goodwill is an asset, too. I help secure the names and marks that distinguish the business through clearance, filing, office-action responses, and maintenance before the USPTO, handled in-house at flat fees. Clear brand rights help protect the value built by founders and backed by investors.
Regulatory gaps can jeopardize revenue, delay a financing, or undermine an investment. I address licensing, filings, and privacy obligations as part of protecting the business and its assets. Experience includes GDPR and CCPA matters, autonomous-vehicle approvals, and NHTSA filings.
For founders preparing to raise capital and investors evaluating an opportunity, diligence should establish who owns the IP, what rights have been granted, and where the risks lie. I review ownership records, contracts, and compliance issues to identify gaps and help put protections in place before capital is committed.
A more efficient way to practice
I use advanced AI throughout my practice to accelerate research, drafting, and review. Cross-checking between systems helps expose inconsistencies and find additional legal angles; I evaluate the findings and review the work before you receive it.
Regulatory filings follow the same attorney-led process, using AI to help reduce human error and examine issues from more than one angle.
How it works
Here are the first six months, which is the initial term.
The first 30 days. An in-depth review, on site if you like, of your contracts, templates, privacy practices, and IP position. You get a ranked list of risks and quick wins.
Month 1.Every day of the term, by email, text, or a call.
Available throughout months 1 through 6.Hours used, matters handled, and fees avoided, so you can see the return.
A report at the end of each month, 1 through 6.Board meetings, securities filings, and investor communications, brought current.
At the end of months 3 and 6.Retainers
Fixed monthly fees from $4,500.
A six-month initial term, with the flexibility to move between tiers as your needs change. Hours beyond your tier are billed at a discounted hourly rate.
For businesses that need a reliable legal foundation and regular access to counsel.
For businesses managing an active flow of contracts, new relationships, and more complex decisions.
For leadership teams that need substantial, ongoing outside general counsel support.
Standalone projects—including a financing, license, or trademark filing—are also available on a flat or hourly fee.
About Edwin
I studied physics at Northwestern and began my career in business, selling Apple computers in Moscow immediately after the Berlin Wall fell, before founding and running three international companies in computer distribution and support, video games, publishing and translation.
After law school at UC Davis, I spent five years at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, working on intellectual property litigation and technology transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, investments, licensing, and sales.
Since 2019, I’ve run my own practice. When you hire me, you work directly with me, not a string of junior associates. For matters that call for specialist counsel, I can bring in my network of attorneys at your option.
Let’s talk
Book a 30-minute call. Tell me about your business, the decision in front of you, and where you could use legal support. Email is fastest; I’ll reply with times.
Email to arrange a callMailing address
556 S. Fair Oaks Ave. #101-116
Pasadena, California 91105
Your business, your counsel
For investors, founders, business owners, and leadership teams.