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by 7Figures2Commas 4354 days ago
> Your lawyer will have a lot of fun with a newly rich entity which desires to commit to the position on paper that it has stolen your IP. The acquirer's legal team are also going to raise holy hell about representations made during due diligence, because "WHAT?!"

The OP should absolutely consult with qualified legal counsel, but I'm always amused at how quick folks are to make assumptions when it comes to legal disputes. Just about everything beyond the first three words you wrote ("find a lawyer") requires one to make significant assumptions, including:

1. The OP's description of what occurred is accurate.

2. The OP actually understands the legal documents he signed.

3. The OP's former employer made mistakes or attempted to defraud the OP.

4. The acquiring company didn't perform adequate due diligence.

5. The value of the shares in dispute makes them worth fighting for.

All of these (save the second, clearly) are absolutely possible, but generally, Occam's razor applies to legal disputes.
2 comments
tptacek 4354 days ago
I'm not sure what any of those 5 points have to do with whether he should talk to a lawyer.
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7Figures2Commas 4354 days ago
Per my comment, they don't. But the rest of the comment I was responding to ("he'll send them a sternly written letter", "your lawyer will have a lot of fun with a newly rich entity which desires to commit to the position on paper that it has stolen your IP") is pure speculation based on assumption.

Folks should stick to "find a lawyer" and leave it at that.

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tptacek 4354 days ago
Disagree. Some of us have actually done the "find a lawyer thing" in various circumstances and seen what happened. Where it's possible to share details, it's helpful, and so we do.
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7Figures2Commas 4353 days ago
My SO is a litigator. Based on the stories I hear all the time, I can state with absolute confidence that the sharing you refer to here, which consists primarily of non-attorneys making assumptions and engaging in speculation, is not only unlikely to help the OP but could be detrimental to him if he acts based on the information he received from a non-attorney (or even an attorney who has not agreed to represent him).

Your own past experiences with attorneys are irrelevant here and do not eliminate the fact that nobody can use HN to provide the OP with the legal counsel he clearly needs. The simple truth of the matter is that the OP is unlikely to find a satisfactory resolution to this matter without the help of a competent attorney.

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tptacek 4353 days ago
That was a very forceful argument for something Patrick had already said.
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jamesaguilar 4354 days ago
Is there any value whatsoever added by questioning OP's version of events? It's not like we are liable to ever hear from OP or the company that supposedly wrong him. So, just go with it, there's no benefit to doing otherwise.
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7Figures2Commas 4353 days ago
Go with what? The OP came to HN asking legal questions. Non-attorneys on HN have no business speculating and trying to provide legal advice to the OP. Attorneys on HN may not be licensed in the OP's jurisdiction, may not be engaged in the relevant practice areas and have obviously not been retained by the OP. They, therefore, cannot provide the OP with the type of guidance the OP would receive from an attorney with whom he has established an attorney-client relationship.

If the OP had posted "Ask HN: I think I just had a heart attack", I would hope that most of the folks here would be responsible enough to suggest that the OP go to the nearest ER or call 911 right away instead of playing the online differential diagnosis game. But legal issues that could have a material impact on someone's career and finances? Speculate away!

For heaven's sake, the most upvoted comment here, which starts with the only correct response ("find an attorney"), goes on to suggest that the OP find any attorney ("basically any will do"). Really.

I hope you see the problem now.

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jamesaguilar 4353 days ago
Nope, still don't. People speculate about the domains of other professions constantly. It's just part of how people are wired.

OP got the advice he needed. A lawyer will correct misconceptions developed here, such as they are. And in the mean time, we will in all likelihood continue to feel free to jaw about what might happen.

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