I managed to get some time with a few startup lawyers in NYC (Wigins, Reitler, Goodwin Procter). I'm at the very beginning of my project with few real customers, no revenue, no incorporation and no outside capital. What questions would solicit meaningful answers for a startup at this stage?
1) What are your fees and fee arrangements? (Some firms accept equity or have special arrangements for accepting payment to accomodate startups.)<p>2) Who will be working on my issues? (I bring this up because larger firms usually have associates do the actual grunt work.)<p>3) Given my situation, and my goals [which you will describe to them], what is the best structure for my company for (a) legal purposes? and (b) tax purposes?<p>4) Same as 3a) and 3b), but <i>for you.</i><p>5) Ask them about IP issues. (You haven't provided enough info to provide a sample question.)<p>6) Ask them about employees/labor law issues, especially as it relates to co-founders, hiring your first employee, and compensation. (You haven't provided enough info to provide a sample question.)<p>7) Ask them about compliance/paperwork/etc. associated with maintaining the structure you will use. (It can very from a little to a lot.)