Founders are the dynamic forces that create innovative new
businesses and develop new products and markets. However, they can
face vulnerabilities throughout their careers and are particularly
exposed at certain moments. Our founders-focused team regularly
helps business owners negotiate these difficult transitions and
shares their insights here.
Starting on secure ground
"As a young company takes off, there are often so many
business issues to deal with that founders don't spend much
time looking at their personal legal positions. This can quickly
come back to bite them", says Doug Mandell, the San
Francisco-based head of Withers' Founders practice. "As
businesses grow and the stakes get higher, we have seen an increase
in founders being fired by their boards or forced out by their more
legally sophisticated co-founders. And when they review their
equity and/or employment documents, they may find they have no
protection in terms of acceleration of equity or other
