Questions to ask a business lawyer, by situation

Not formed yet, using a brand name, and collecting customer details.

Selling by signed agreement, with renewals, and some work made by outside people.

A retailer’s terms on the table, a contract manufacturer, a brand name and claims on the label.

A first employee, after outside contractors built the early work.

An investor’s offer in hand, ownership not written down, and equity already promised.

A partner on the other side, a secret process, licensed software and a brand name.

Founders who never settled ownership in writing, with some accounts in one founder’s name.

A buyer on the other side, unclear contributor ownership, and assets in a founder’s name.

A complaint from a supplier, with a hard deadline coming up.

Launching under a new brand name, with the domain and social accounts in a founder’s name.

Selling online and collecting customer details, with terms copied from a template.

A subscription business with automatic renewals, selling online on terms from a template.

A larger company sent its own contract and security questionnaire before signing.

An agency and freelancers built the product, and nobody signed anything about ownership.

Adding a customer-facing AI feature that uses customer information and makes claims about results.

Opening a first location, with the landlord’s lease on the table.

Opening a location in a regulated field, not sure which licenses or approvals apply.