A new CU program offers legal services to business startups

From left, third-year law student Brad Maxwell; Zachary Shulman, a J. Thomas Clark Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and executive director of the Entrepreneurship Legal Services program; and third-year law student John Marston have a discussion in Myron Taylor Hall. Both Maxwell and Marston work in the ELS program. Robert Barker/University Photography

By Linda Myers

A new program at Cornell, Entrepreneurship Legal Services (ELS), is offering professional-quality legal services to emerging growth-oriented businesses.

The program is sponsored by the Johnson Graduate School of Management and Cornell Law School and is affiliated with the New York State Science and Technology Law Center, a nonprofit organization that works to expand entrepreneurial resources.

ELS-affiliated law students, working with established firms, including local attorneys, began offering their services to clients in late August.

"Often entrepreneurs fail to seek legal counsel until after problems arise," said Zachary Shulman, executive director of ELS, a J. Thomas Clark Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at the Johnson School and an adjunct faculty member at the Law School. "We will encourage interested clients to seek legal guidance from the beginning of their ventures and help them avoid common pitfalls."

ELS will address business law issues that entrepreneurs typically encounter, including choosing an appropriate type of business entity, legal formation of the business entity, contract drafting, fund raising, employer-employee relations, and establishing equity-incentive and related stock-based compensation plans. ELS will not represent parties in litigation nor will it practice before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or draft patent applications. Fees will be $25 an hour for student assistance; law firms affiliated with the program will provide mentoring pro bono.

Shulman was a corporate lawyer for 12 years before joining Cornell. He also serves as general counsel and faculty adviser to BR Ventures, the Johnson School's student-run venture capital arm, and BR Incubator, the Johnson School's student-run consulting provider. At Cornell he earned a B.S. degree in 1987 and a J.D. degree from the Law School in 1990.

For information on ELS, contact Shulman at 255-3012 or zjs2@cornell.edu or visit http://els.cornell.edu.