What type of lawyer do we need?

Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, I've never played one on TV, and it has been ages since I've stayed at a Holiday Inn.

However, it sounds like you've stated clearly that your need is a lawyer who SPECIALIZES in contract law, with EXPERIENCE doing so for Digital Agencies.

A great way to find someone like that is to ask other agencies that you have a good relationship with.

For critical professional services like legal representation, I've always had a strong preference for a referral. Preferably from someone I know who has enough similarity in business and principles that I can reasonably expect to have the same good outcomes they've enjoyed.

I'd say this is a matter of asking a few friends in the business for referrals - and then interviewing them.

If you don't have friends in the business - consider searching Clarity for people with digital agency experience (rather than legal experience), and request a call to get their recommendations on counsel.

Ryan provides an excellent answer. You also need a contracts lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction. I would personally steer clear of mass consumer sites like LegalZoom or Avvo, and focus on more market related referral sites such as Clarity, UpCounsel, or Priori Legal. You will find they have a vetting process that is more rigorous than sites that anyone can be on, for the right amount of ad spend.

If you're in the U.S., lawyers Gabe Levine (San Francisco) and Sharon Toerek (Cleveland) specialize in agencies.

I've been in business for 20 years. I use a pre-paid service. I thought my husband was crazy for signing us up years ago but its been the best money I've ever spent. I once paid a lawyer $1500 to do my contracts which was ridiculous. These people charge about $39 per month and you have unlimited access to their business lawyers. Shannon has personally helped me collect money from clients, create contracts and agreements and also helped me navigate my husbands will after his death. I didn't have to go to probate because of her. She also helped me transfer the company into my full ownership. For more info go to www.desireecolonna.com. I wouldn't hire anyone else.

You can use a Contract Attorney, General Business Attorney, or a Copyright Attorney. I got mine after contacting about 50 on LinkedIn. They will generally send you and email to discuss your needs. From there you narrow the field and chose one. Many now specialize in serving digital agencies.

Bonus:
Here is $10,000 worth of information for free and in a nutshell.

Concentrate on the 3 M's. There are actually 7, but 3 will do for now. These are Market, Message, and Media. They come in that order.

Who is your target market (customer, clients, buyers, users, etc.)?
Tailor your laser focused message for this target market.
What is the best media mix to get your message to that market?

Here's what you do...first, make it an offer that is so incredible that they cannot resist. Secondly, do all the work for them. Make it so easy to make the purchase now that they can do it virtually without effort. Thirdly, give them an incentive to act right now. Fourthly, offer an almost unbelievable guarantee. Fifth, offer a bonus for acting now. There are many other incredible steps, but these steps should help the novice to the professional sell anything.

Whether you are selling B2B or B2C, you have to focus on selling to only one person. You can actually sell to one person at a time while selling to millions at a time. They are one and the same. Don't get off track, what we call digital marketing selling is just selling in print. And that has not changed since Cluade Hopkins wrote "Scientific Advertising." Really long before he wrote the book.

The secret to success: I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with some of the biggest names in business, celebrities, actors, entrepreneurs, business people, and companies from startup to billion dollar operations. The number one reason for their success is doing what they know and love while doing it in new, creative, and innovative ways.

Ask, Ask, Ask. Have thick skin and learn from each "mistake." In a short while, the market will tell you what you need to do and who and what you need to ask. But get started now even if that just means asking a contact on LinkedIn.

While you are thinking, think big and think of something at least 1% better, newer, or different. And being cheaper is not a winning strategy.

Best of luck,
Take massive action and never give up.
Michael

Michael Irvin, MBA, RN