Anonymous - In addition to the comments you receive here, you can always find Searcher friendly lawyers on the Directory tab at the top of this page. Tagging some of our Searcher friendly lawyers here to help answer this question: ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌. ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, ^[redacted]‌, (To our commenters, THANK YOU in advance for helping to make Searchfunder a collaborative community. We appreciate it. Searchfunder is pleased to share that beginning January 1st, you will have full access to BVR DealStats on Searchfunder. With Best Wishes, ^[redacted]‌).

In my opinion, it is better to find a licensed lawyer in the location not only because they are authorised in that State, but also because that person would know the specifics of the practice there.

Cultivate the relationship. It doesn’t matter in most cases for your first deal since it’s probably under 10M. If you want to achieve success as soon as humanly possible it’s about multiple moving parts. Message some guys on LinkedIn, interview them over the phone. That’s won’t take more than 5 hours altogether while you continue your search rather than waiting and extending your time toward success by another 5 hours. It can be a long road out here maximize your time. You’ll thank yourself later.

All things being equal, I would agree, best to have an attorney where the business is located. However, depending on how complicated the deal is or other specific circumstances, it may not be as important. If you already have an attorney you use, he/she should tell you if they aren't qualified because of local considerations and can refer you or obtain consultation as needed.

The rules about when a lawyer can help with a deal in a state where they are not licensed vary state by state so there is no easy answer (just like a lawyer...) The American Bar Association Model Rules (Rule 5.5 for those in need of sleep) would tend to allow lawyers licensed in one state to do a deal for a client in another state. But not every state has adopted those rules. I would say find a lawyer who you trust can do the work and ask them if they can help you in the state you need. If they cannot help you, they should be able to help you find a lawyer (preferably one also on SF) who can help. Most deal lawyers are willing to do deals in any state provided there is a way for them to work under that states’ rules. Hope that helps.

Depends, is counsel only acting as advisor only before closing? But for paperwork and legal work, rules could be different by state.