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Questions to ask a lawyer about a partnership or licensing deal

Dealing with a partnership or licensing deal? Describe it in your own words, and Tellbrief turns your answers into a short brief with the questions worth asking and the records to have ready, so your first call with a lawyer starts further ahead.

For example: A partner on the other side, a secret process, licensed software and a brand name. A brief for this founder suggests the lists below.

Questions worth asking

  1. Who will own what we build together, and what happens if the deal ends?
  2. How do we protect what we keep secret when others need to see it?Under federal law, information counts as a trade secret only if its owner takes reasonable measures to keep it secret.1
  3. Is our name clear to use and register where we sell?

Records to have ready

  • Any draft agreement, term sheet or letter from the other sideSomeone else is on the other side of this deal.
  • Trademark searches, filings or registrationsYour brand name is part of this.
  • Licenses for software, content or data you useYou rely on someone else’s content, software or brand.

Your brief builds its own lists from your answers.

Build your own brief

About 30 questions, most of them one tap. No account and no card during early access. Tellbrief isn’t a law firm and doesn’t give legal advice.

Start your brief

Questions founders ask

What questions should I ask a lawyer about a partnership or licensing deal?

For the founder in this example, the brief suggests: Who will own what we build together, and what happens if the deal ends? How do we protect what we keep secret when others need to see it? Is our name clear to use and register where we sell? Your own brief builds its list from your answers.

What should I have ready before the first call?

For this example: Any draft agreement, term sheet or letter from the other side; Trademark searches, filings or registrations; Licenses for software, content or data you use. Your own brief lists what fits your answers.

Is this legal advice?

No. Tellbrief organizes your information so the first conversation with your lawyer starts further ahead. It isn’t a law firm, and using it doesn’t make anyone your lawyer. Legal advice comes from a licensed lawyer, once they agree to take on your matter.

What does it cost?

Your brief is free during early access, with no card and no account. If you’d like Jordan to take on the work, he reads your answers first, then talks through the scope and his fee with you before any work starts. Tellbrief takes no share of it.

How long does it take?

About 30 questions once the names are cleared, and most take one tap. Plan on 10 to 15 minutes.

Other situations

  1. 18 U.S.C. § 1839(3) (opens in a new tab).