Business Details
Your Trusted Startup Legal Partner
SPZ Legal is a boutique law firm dedicated to serving venture-scale startups and impact-driven businesses. Our team combines experience from top-tier firms with a personalized approach to deliver practical legal solutions tailored to each client's growth journey. We specialize in corporate governance, funding rounds, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property protection, and global expansion strategies. Our attorneys have supported over $1 billion in deals and served more than 950 startups, offering services at a fraction of traditional law firm costs.We prioritize reliability, proactive problem-solving, and ethical representation while maintaining deep expertise in sectors like fintech, edtech, cleantech, and SaaS. Our hybrid remote model enables collaboration with clients across Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Services
Funding
Data Privacy
IP Protection
Commercial Agreements
Mergers & Acquisitions
Employment Law
Formation & Corporate Governance
Venture Capital
Trademark Prosecution
International Expansion
Highlights and features
- We offer legal services at 50% (or less) of the cost of Big Law firms
- Our team has supported $1B+ in deals and served 950+ startups
- We provide personalized legal strategies for venture-scale companies
- Our attorneys combine experience from top-tier law firms with startup expertise
- We operate a hybrid remote model serving clients globally
What people say
Exceptional service
Cost-effective solutions
Personalized approach
Deep startup expertise
Proactive problem-solving
Services
Funding
We guide startups through all funding stages from pre-seed investments to late-stage venture capital. Our services include structuring SAFE agreements, convertible notes, priced rounds, and venture debt while ensuring compliance with securities laws. We help clients negotiate with top-tier VCs and institutional investors while maintaining cost efficiency.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Our M&A team specializes in exit transactions for venture-scale companies. We provide comprehensive support from letter of intent through closing, including tax optimization strategies, regulatory compliance, and deal structuring. We represent clients in various transaction types including stock purchases, mergers, and tax-free reorganizations with deals ranging from seven figures to $100M.
IP Protection
We help protect clients' core innovations through trademark prosecution, copyright protection, and trade secret management. Our services include trademark clearance searches, IP licensing agreements, and international trademark registration. We also coordinate with specialized firms for patent prosecution needs while maintaining industry-standard IP assignment agreements.
Commercial Agreements
We create and negotiate critical business agreements including SaaS contracts, terms of service, privacy policies, and master service agreements. Our approach balances legal protection with business growth objectives, helping clients establish clear contractual relationships with customers, vendors, and partners while minimizing transactional friction.
Formation & Corporate Governance
We assist with entity formation, corporate structuring, and governance for startups at all stages. Services include business entity selection, corporate reorganizations, international expansion through subsidiaries, and ongoing compliance support. We help establish robust legal foundations for corporations, LLCs, and benefit corporations with global operations.
People
Hash Zahed
Partner
Hash Zahed is a partner at SPZ Legal focusing on corporate law and venture capital transactions. He brings extensive experience in representing startups through funding rounds and M&A transactions while maintaining a client-centered approach to legal representation.
Ryan Shaening Pokrasso
Partner
Ryan Shaening Pokrasso co-founded SPZ Legal and leads the firm's corporate practice. With experience from top-tier law firms, he specializes in representing high-growth startups through formation, funding, and exit transactions while emphasizing cost-effective legal solutions.
Sam Taylor
Startup Counsel
Sam Taylor serves as Startup Counsel at SPZ Legal, providing legal guidance to early-stage companies. He focuses on corporate formation, venture capital financing, and general corporate matters while maintaining a practical approach to startup legal needs.
Tami Gore
Senior Corporate Paralegal
Tami Gore is a senior corporate paralegal with extensive experience supporting venture-scale startups. She manages corporate governance matters, stock option administration, and transactional support while maintaining meticulous attention to detail in corporate records.
Becky Mancero
Startup Counsel
Becky Mancero provides legal counsel to startups at SPZ Legal, focusing on corporate formation and early-stage financing. She brings practical experience in supporting founders through the initial legal challenges of building scalable ventures.
Questions
What legal services does SPZ Legal offer for startups?
We provide comprehensive legal services including corporate formation, funding round support, M&A transactions, intellectual property protection, commercial agreements, and corporate governance for venture-scale startups.
How does SPZ Legal's pricing compare to traditional law firms?
Our services cost 50% or less than traditional Big Law firms while maintaining the same quality through our boutique model and specialized network partnerships.
Do you work with international startups?
Yes, we serve clients globally with experience in cross-border transactions, international expansion, and multijurisdictional legal matters for venture-scale companies.
What industries does SPZ Legal specialize in?
We specialize in technology sectors including fintech, edtech, cleantech, SaaS, and consumer tech, along with social impact businesses and environmental startups.
How do you handle complex M&A transactions?
Our M&A team manages transactions from $1M to $100M+, including stock purchases, mergers, and tax-optimized structures with support from specialized boutique partners when needed.
Can you assist with trademark registration?
Yes, we provide trademark prosecution services including clearance searches, USPTO applications, and international trademark registration for brand protection.
