UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff can access core incorporation services for startup companies through campus partnerships with leading law firms specializing in startups. Through IPIRA's partnerships with legal service providers, startups can consult at no charge with lawyers experienced in launching companies based on technologies developed at universities. QB3 and Berkeley Law offer additional opportunities, with connections to different law firms, educational workshops, and more.
Gunderson Dettmer can provide qualifying startups associated with UC Berkeley a set package of core incorporation services at no charge, consisting of the below legal services.
Incorporation as a Delaware corporation and related startup documents, for example:
- Initial founder consultation
- Action of Sole Incorporator
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Board Action in Lieu of an Organizational Meeting
- Bylaws
- Stock Option Plan and Forms of Agreements Under the Plan
- Founder Stock Purchase Agreements
- Technology Assignment Agreements
- Form Agreements
- Employee Offer Letter
- Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement (PIIA)
- Consulting Agreement
- Advisor Agreement
- Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement
- One Way Nondisclosure Agreement
Cost for Services: $0, plus out-of-pocket costs (including any applicable state filing fees), subject to (i) the use of the Firm’s standard forms with customary terms, and (ii) no negotiation of such documents by one or more founders, stockholders, or employees. Fees for the Firm’s time spent on the negotiation of such documents or other formation documents will be billed as incurred.
Orrick can provide qualifying startups associated with UC Berkeley a set package of core incorporation services at no charge:
- Initial founder consultation
- Formation as a Delaware corporation and the associated legal documentation:
- Action of Sole Incorporator
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Board Action in Lieu of an Organizational Meeting
- Bylaws
- Stock Option Plan and Forms of Agreements Under the Plan
- Founder Stock Purchase Agreements
- Founder Technology Assignment Agreements
- Access to a free contract generator that allows your company to generate:
- Employee Offer Letter
- Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (CIIAA)
- Consulting Agreement
- Advisor Agreement
- Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement
- One Way Nondisclosure Agreement
The foregoing are offered at no charge to most qualifying companies. Your company will need to pay for any out-of-pocket costs to third parties associated with formation (most commonly, a filing fee to be paid directly to the State of Delaware).
Certain initial matters may fall outside the scope of the free package, including (i) if your company’s needs require you to use non-standard forms, and (ii) one or more founders, stockholders, or employees negotiate the Firm’s standard documentation. Fees for the Firm’s time spent on the negotiation of such documents, or other non-standard formation documents, will be billed as incurred, but the Firm also offers a competitive deferral package, permitting for certain fees to be paid once your company raises institutional financing. Ask your Orrick contact about the scope and restrictions of a potential deferral arrangement.
For qualified life science companies, QB3's affiliated law firms offer incorporation at no charge. Typically founders elect to incorporate as Delaware or California C-corporations.
QB3's legal affiliates may also offer introductory discussions of corporate or intellectual property matters at no charge. In some cases they are able to defer fees up to $25K until a company’s first funding round.
In general, companies developing biotechnology or pharmaceutical technologies are eligible for support. For medical devices and health technology, QB3 refers companies to the UCSF Rosenman Institute.
Startup@BerkeleyLaw is Berkeley Law's institute for entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the law. The program supports law students interested in the law surrounding entrepreneurship and provides legal education and services to the Berkeley startup community. These services include workshops for founders, pro bono office hours, and various corporate legal offerings.