Boston Startup Lawyer
Legal counsel that moves as fast as you do. Flat fees, plain English, and a lawyer who has practiced in Massachusetts since 2013. Incorporation is $1,250. A trademark filing is $950. A SAFE round is $500. You see the number before we begin, and the number doesn't change.
What we handle for startup founders
Three things, priced up front, done properly the first time. We work with founders in software, consumer products, and games — from first incorporation through Series A, wherever they're based.
Delaware Incorporation
Certificate of incorporation, bylaws, founder stock purchase agreements with vesting, IP assignment, initial board consents, and a clean cap table — delivered in three to five business days. We set vesting up properly the first time: the four-year schedule with a one-year cliff investors expect to see.
Trademark Registration
Comprehensive search, USPTO filing, and responses to office actions. Filing early matters more than founders expect — registering your business with your state gives you no trademark rights at all, a distinction we spend a lot of time explaining.
Funding Rounds
SAFEs, convertible notes, Series Seed, and Series A. We model conversion on your cap table before you sign, so you know exactly how ownership shifts — not after the round closes, when it's too late to negotiate.
Why founders work with us
Four things unusual enough to be worth stating plainly.
Flat fees
Every price is published. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no meter running on your questions.
Fast turnaround
Incorporation in three to five business days. You can't wait three weeks for documents when you have a term sheet in hand.
Plain English
You should understand what you're signing. If a document needs a translator, it isn't finished.
One lawyer, start to finish
You work directly with James — not a rotating cast of associates learning your business on your dime.
Elevate Law has been trusted by
James T. Jones, Esq.
Elevate Law is one attorney. That's the point.
Founder & Attorney
Practicing in Massachusetts since 2013. J.D., Boston College Law School, James also teaches entrepreneurship law at Boston College Law School and Northeastern Law School.
James's practice focuses on early and growth-stage startups — incorporation, equity structuring, trademark protection, and fundraising. His clients have come through Y Combinator, Techstars, MassChallenge, and the Cambridge Innovation Center.
He started Elevate Law after watching founders get unpredictable bills and slow answers from firms that treat a startup as a small version of a large client.
More about James
Know what it costs before you start
Tell us what you're building. We'll tell you what it costs and how long it takes — before you commit to anything.
Tell us what you're buildingJoin so many other early stage startups who chose to #raisethebar
Up front flat fee pricing means no surprises
*plus filing fee
✓ Includes advice, communication, the filing, and a suite of typical startup post incorporation documents
Get in Touch Now*plus filing fee
✓ Includes advice, communication, a comprehensive search for potentially conflicting marks, and the filing
Get in Touch NowCustom pricing
✓ Includes advice, communication, document creation or review. SAFEs. Convertible Notes. Series Seed. Series A.
Get in Touch NowQuestions founders ask us most
Answered without the hedging.
How much does it cost to incorporate a startup?
$1,250 flat, plus Delaware's filing fee. That covers the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, founder stock agreements with vesting, IP assignment, and your initial cap table.
Do I need to be in Massachusetts to work with you?
Not always. Most of what a startup needs early on is Delaware or federal law, not state law — incorporation, USPTO trademark filings, SAFEs, and priced rounds. We work with founders wherever they're based.
Why incorporate in Delaware rather than my home state?
Delaware is the standard for venture-backed startups, with specialized courts and well-established corporate law. Investors expect it. If you're bootstrapping a services business rather than raising, your home state may serve you better and cost less to maintain — we'll tell you which applies to you.
When should I file for a trademark?
As early as possible, ideally before you launch. You can file based on intent to use if you haven't started selling yet, which reserves your place in line while you build.
What's the difference between a SAFE and a convertible note?
Both convert into equity at a later round, but a convertible note is technically debt — it has an interest rate and a maturity date — while a SAFE is neither. SAFEs are simpler and have become the default for most early rounds; notes still come up when investors want the protection of debt terms.
How fast can you turn things around?
Incorporation is three to five business days. SAFEs and convertible notes are usually within a week. Priced rounds depend on negotiation and diligence.
What does a startup lawyer actually do at the early stage?
Mostly, set the company up so it can take investment without cleanup later: a clean cap table, proper vesting, IP assigned to the company, and documents investors recognize on sight.
Let's Talk!
Tell us what you're building and we'll explain how Elevate Law can help, what it costs, and how long it takes. We reply within one business day.
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