Funding & Capital Raising
Understanding Authorized, Issued and Reserved Shares

In this blog we explore the difference between a corporation’s authorized, issued and reserved shares and some corporate governance considerations to keep in mind as shares, options, and warrants are being issued to founders, service providers, and investors.


General Business
Mistakes that Take the Cake

Corporate attorneys tend to see recurring mistakes that businesses make, and the large impact they can have. This article summarizes four common errors we see at Vela Wood, in the hopes that you (the reader) can avoid them. State Annual […]


General Business
Understanding Basic Contracts: Liability Limitations

We are back with our Understanding Basic Contracts series with a post about the often seen, but little understood, “Liability” or “Liability Limitation” Section. The liability limitation section, much like the indemnification clause, is all about allocating risk and monetary […]


General Business
What’s In a Name: A Primer on Types of Agreements

This is a brief primer regarding the typical names and usages of different types of product and service agreements, particularly in the technology space, so you have a better understanding of what types of agreements you might need for your startup’s services and products; and what to expect from someone else.


General Business
Understanding Basic Contracts: The (Ir)Relevant Title

A client reached out yesterday to ask what the difference was between an independent contractor agreement and a master services agreement. He had two sitting in his inbox – different titles, though they were for the same project. At their […]


General Business
Understanding Basic Contracts: The Payment Provision

I know, it seems like a simple contractual provision. It can be, but a lack of detail in the payment section of a contract can be disastrous. Take the following provision for example: Payment: “Contractor shall be paid $40,000 for […]


General Business
Understanding Basic Contracts: The Indemnification Clause

One of the most confusing, yet critical, sections of a contract is the indemnification section. Hard word, hard section. Hopefully this blog will help. “To indemnify” means to compensate someone for his/her harm or loss. In most contracts, an indemnification […]


General Business
Understanding Basic Contracts: Terminating for Material Breach

All contracts will have a term (length of the agreement) and termination (how you terminate the agreement) clause. Well, they should have a termination clause. As I wrote last time, it’s important to take great care in reviewing your contracts […]


General Business
Understanding Basic Contracts: The Termination Clause

A client of mine called me last week to express her frustration with a vendor. The vendor wasn’t turning around the work in a timely fashion, and this was severely impacting her business. She wanted out of the contract. My […]


General Business
The Three Levels of Control Within an Organization

A common misconception in any startup is thinking ownership percentage equates directly with control. While it’s true that the majority equity holder(s) usually controls the business, this isn’t necessarily always the case. Let’s break it down. Day-to-Day Operations Day-to-day operations […]