[rdl]

IMO, this is true.

1) Saul: "sometimes you need a criminal lawyer". 2) Startups: "sometimes you need an entrepreneur lawyer". I've always heard that the difference between competent and great lawyers is that competent lawyers will tell you what you can do within the law (i.e. how you can handle a financing round, etc.), and great lawyers will help you figure out how to do the best thing for yourself and your business while remaining within the law.

[swampthing]

It's true, but it's also pretty hard to figure out whether you're actually remaining within the law since things are so rarely tested (at least in the startup world).

[rdl]

For really crazy stuff people get no-action letters from SEC in advance of doing crazy things ("private letter rulings").