Ethical Considerations in Representing Entrepreneurs and Startup Companies in New York

It’s no secret that entrepreneurial clients can be extremely demanding on your time and resources, but they can also push you to the limit when it comes to complying with your ethical duties as an attorney. While the Model Code of Professional Conduct does an excellent job of spelling out your ethical responsibilities in litigation and other areas of the law, many of the ethical issues you will encounter in a practice representing entrepreneurs are “cutting edge” situations for which there are no easy answers. From taking “sweat equity” in a client, to working with “serial entrepreneurs” involved in multiple ventures, to dealing with entrepreneurs who are not of legal age, this program will focus on many of the most common ethical issues that arise from representing entrepreneurs and fast-growing technology companies.

This program is taught by Cliff Ennico, a leading expert on the legal and tax issues facing entrepreneurs and early-stage companies and the author of 16 books, including “Advising eBusinesses,” “Forms for Small Business Entities” and “The Crowdfunding Handbook: Raise Money for Your Small Business or Startup with Equity Funding Portals”. A New York State admitted attorney for the past 37 years, he has helped launch over 15,000 businesses and is perhaps best known as the former host of MoneyHunt®, a fast-paced reality TV show for entrepreneurs that aired on PBS nationwide from 1994 to 2003 and is widely considered a precursor to SharkTank.

Learning Objectives:

1. Manage expectations with entrepreneurs with multiple ventures who expect you to provide legal advice to all of them
2. Advise the startup company with multiple “key players” who don’t often see eye to eye
3. Understand how to advise entrepreneurial clients who are under 18
4. Discuss best practices for the client who needs business consulting and other non-legal services
5. Identify ethical issues in accepting company stock in exchange for your services
6. Assess whether you can retain a client who moves to another state or country