In his second column featured in Entrepreneur's
"Ask the Expert" section—Partner Peter Buckland shares his insight with start-ups
into how to approach equity option pools. "Ask the
Expert" is a regular column that seeks to answer questions
about everything from starting a business to growing one. This is
the second in a series of three columns in which he discusses legal
topics on the minds of start-ups. In his first article, Buckland
discusses how a start-up can find its perfect board of directors.
Both articles "Figuring Out How to Divvy Up Startup
Equity" and "Finding the Perfect Board of Directors for Your
Startup" can be found on Entrepreneur.com.
Buckland is the vice chair of WilmerHale's Corporate Practice and the co-chair of the
firm's Emerging Company Practice Group. He is based in
the firm's Palo Alto office and focuses his practice on
the representation of companies, from start-ups to established
corporations, with particular emphasis on software, Internet and
digital media, devices, energy and clean technologies. Since
joining the firm in 2005, Buckland has counseled numerous
entrepreneurs and emerging companies throughout their lifecycle and
has advised on complex corporate transactions, including venture
capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and
buyouts.