Business Lawyer in San Antonio

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12 years of
high-level practice
Top-notch
educational background
Big Firm expertise and
In-House perspective
A group of people sitting around a table doing business

San Antonio Startups & Small Business Lawyer

So, you have a vision. You have an idea. You have something that’s going to revolutionize an industry. Great! When it comes to startups, some of my clients have told me that my background is “tailor made” for their needs, due to my years working as General Counsel of a well-funded startup with a staff of a dozen software developers, taking the lead on contract negotiations and “directing traffic” on risk-tolerance front (and sometimes advising as a businessperson as much as (occasionally more than) as a lawyer). Of course, I appreciate their praise. And while I sometimes hasten to add a few other items (more on that below), entrepreneurs don’t always find those parts so relevant. To be fair, I can see why.  It’s because they want the front-lines, boots-on-the ground attorney who has actually negotiated and closed the deal, with not only an eye on this deal, but an eye on the risk profile and the bigger picture, an eye on what’s not in the contract, an eye on the next deal, and an eye on the legal budget.

“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.” – Wayne Huizenga (AutoNation, Waste Management, Blockbuster, Miami Dolphins)

Get in touch
Photograph of Ryan Reiffert, San Antonio Business Attorney

To be clear, I don’t actually have five eyes. But you get the point.

I do have a background that includes one of the very best law schools in the country and several years working with international mega-law firms working closely with some of the best attorneys in the world to close deals into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.

So… whether you’re a software developer with a killer new app, an alternative medicine practitioner looking to go solo, a financial wizard with an industry-disrupting new business model, a family business in transition, a product importer breaking into new international markets, a doctor starting your own practice, a real estate developer with a juicy new deal, an oil man with better geology than your competition, or anything else… get in touch with me; I can help.

To sell you on why I’m so great, I could talk to you about my shiny resume and shiny degrees, or brag about my family history of entrepreneurship, or tell you how I volunteer with several startup incubators and accelerators around the San Antonio area and through Texas.

Instead, I’ve posted below a few reviews from satisfied clients. I think they say it better than I can.

Testimonials

Reviews And Testimonials

Ryan is very helpful and knowledgeable. This guy knows his stuff. He is also very friendly & patient, which makes talking to him easy.

Archie M.

Ryan possesses a laser-like focus that allows him to key in on the pertinent facts of any situation. He has genuine concern for those around him and is community oriented. I have complete confidence in Ryan’s judgement and abilities.

Michele G.

With his passion for law along with tremendous knowledge, Ryan Reiffert makes any legal question or task a smooth and excellent experience.

Michael K.

Ryan Reiffert is a capable attorney who delivers results for his clients. I consider him a trusted consultant in business and management strategies. While Ryan’s education and experience is comprehensive, he also has access to a wide network of resources to ensure desired deliverables are achieved.

John K.

Ryan really helped my wife and I through the process of putting together a living will, he was a pleasure to work with.

Jeremy R.

Ryan, thank you so much for all the help. I was so nervous about the whole process and you made it a breeze!

Whitney S.

Being a client of Ryan Reiffert has been very refreshing. He does very well in assisting me with my unique situation as a small business owner and focusing on protecting my assets.

Steve B.

Other Legal Services for Startups and Small Businesses

Now let’s talk about a few of the other areas that startups and small businesses need guidance where I can help.

  • Choosing an Entity Structure and Forming the Entities (+ Potential Tax Elections)
  • Drafting and Negotiating Contracts
  • Securities Law Compliance for Fundraising and Investment Activities
  • Legal Representation for M&A and Other Transactions
  • Business Succession Planning (often a bit later in the Startup’s lifecycle)

Each of these areas carries an entire range of complexity, from the relatively simple and straightforward simple formation of an LLC to hold a piece of real property, to a devilishly complicated multi-party, multi-step transaction. Having a competent business & corporate attorney who can navigate this range of complexity with you is invaluable, especially because a startup or a small business can very rapidly “grow up” and move up the scale.

Having an attorney on speed-dial to review a contract with a big price tag, or a contract that you don’t understand, can end up saving you tens of thousands of dollars, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). With some minor exceptions, when you sign something, you’ll be held to the terms of it. As a result, if you (on behalf of your business) if you sign something that has unfavorable terms, negative consequences, and/or will end up costing the company a lot of money, you’ll have to pay one way or the other (whether it’s in the form of paying an attorney to sue or paying the other party to void the contract). And of course, as the startup founder (or co-founder), you have less than zero time. You are the CEO, and also possibly the CFO, the COO, the billing department, the marketing department, HR, and/or any and every other department. You’re thinking about a million other things – you may not be thinking about entity structures, contract risk, securities laws, regulatory compliance, what IP you need to protect,  employees, exit options , and many other issues.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had an attorney who knew your business, knew your risk tolerance, and could evaluate that contract and help you determine whether to modify or reject the agreement?

This is the value that I bring to the table.

Similarly, an attorney with experience in securities law compliance – knowing where some of the “traps” are – is a tremendous value for a startup or small business because the penalties for securities noncompliance can be quite large, and the landscape of securities laws is very technical in nature.

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An infographic detailing the stages of how a startup grows, from idea to IPO

A merger or acquisition is a pivotal time in the life of any business. The concerns will be different whether you’re on the buy-side or the sell-side. But what will not be different is that an enormous amount of value is up for grabs in the transaction, and it’s absolutely imperative to do it right. Getting the merger documents right is fundamentally about allocating risk according to what the parties have agreed. And getting the merger documents wrong can have disastrous consequences. Having a competent, experienced attorney on your side is crucial.

Very similarly, as your startup matures and grows into more of an actual established business and less of a startup, it may be time to start thinking about some of the other puzzle pieces that come with being an actual established business. That could be business succession planning, estate planning, and anything else. I can also guide you through these (perhaps) new areas.

If you’d like to work together, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can’t wait to hear about your idea. Or, if this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, please feel free to read about Other Practice Areas.

Reasons to work with us

Why Choose Ryan As Your Business Attorney

01

Excellent Track Record

If you are a startup navigating legal waters for the first time or a small business… If you are an established business looking for a high-quality corporate lawyer… If you are an individual seeking to protect yourself…

If this is “not your first rodeo” and you don’t need hand-holding, you just need a seasoned deal-closer… If your family business is looking for guidance on how to expand or break new ground…

02

Fee Transparency

Legal work can be expensive, and nobody likes a surprise bill. Having been in-house General Counsel, I have been in that boat, too. I can’t cover all your legal needs for free, but I can help you think about which expenses make sense and which expenses don’t… before we start the clock.

Unlike some of the larger and older law firms, I can also help with some unique and tailored alternative fee arrangements.

03

Personal Attention

My philosophy is simple. I believe that when you hire an attorney, that attorney should handle your issue.

Therefore, when you hire me, I will handle your issue. When you call my office, you will talk to me (unless I am meeting with another client). When you have questions, I will be the one answering them (if I can).

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