High-leverage counsel for good people building good organizations.

Formation through Series A.

Wheelhouse

  • Entity type

    Incorporation

    Founder equity

    Initial operations & systems

  • Founder loans

    SAFEs

    Convertible notes

  • Employees

    Advisors

    Consultants

    Compensation & equity

    Termination (incl. founder separations)

  • Risk analysis

    Thorny issues

    Market benchmarking

    Negotiation and dealmaking

    Cap table strategy

  • Investors

    Team members

    Consultants (design, finance, engineering, tax, growth)

    Legal specialists (patent, trademark, licensing, regulatory)

    Executive coaches

  • Due diligence

    Preferred stock

Who ‘we’ are

After graduating from Stanford Law School, Sam McClure started his career at Gunderson Dettmer, where he worked with top-tier venture capital firms as well as dozens of startups from formation through maturity.

He left the law firm in 2019 to co-found a live events marketplace, Fanimal, Inc., heading product & growth and co-leading various business functions as the company went from zero to one and survived a complete industry shutdown during the pandemic. Fanimal is growing quickly under the leadership of the remaining co-founders and with the resurgence of live events.

In 2022, Sam returned to Stanford Law to teach at the intersection of startups, law, sustainability, and impact. He regularly consults with founders who need a strategic legal advisor with operational experience and a 360-degree perspective. Cedar Grove is the result of that practice.

Founders have tight budgets and uncertain timelines (we’ve been there). Unlike most law firms we give lean estimates where possible and strive for efficiency and transparency. Payment is either hourly or reduced hourly plus an equity grant vesting over time. Deferrals are available and are discussed case by case.

Billing