Ryan Hopkins Elliott & Davis, P.C.

For Starters: Legal Essentials for Start-Up Company Founders

So, you have an idea or research that you want to turn into a business. Now what? Most first-time entrepreneurs find themselves in the same shoes, not knowing where to turn for good advice on the many legal choices that need to be made before launching a start-up. In this presentation, Business Attorney Ryan Hopkins will guide you through the confusing process of founding a company. He will answer all of your questions, including: What legal structure should I choose for my business? In what state should I incorporate? How should I allocate founders' equity? How should I finance my business? Ryan will cover all of these questions and more.

Bio:

Ryan Hopkins is a Business Attorney with the Pittsburgh firm of Elliott & Davis, P.C. Ryan's practice is focused on representing start-ups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs in the areas of corporate and technology law. He has represented companies at all stages of development, including several dozen start-ups, in a wide range of legal matters, including: new business formation and capitalization, contract drafting and negotiation, venture capital financings, private placements of securities, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, and trademark prosecution.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Ryan served as an Editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He also holds a Master of Laws degree in International Trade from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom, where he graduated with First-Class Honors, and a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in Political Communication from The George Washington University.