Business Counseling & General Corporate | Startups | Mergers & Acquisitions
James Graves joined Carney Badley Spellman in 2018. His practice focuses on startups, angel and venture financing, corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, and securities. James holds an undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University and a law degree from Seattle University School of Law, both cum laude.
James has advised numerous companies across a diverse range of industries, including, but not limited to, blockchain, consumer products, private equity, entertainment, I-502, and more. He is a native of Walla Walla, Washington and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. You can connect with him on Linkedin.
Focused Services
- Business Counseling & General Corporate
- Startups
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Education
- JD, Seattle University School of Law, cum laude, 2015
- Seattle Journal of Environmental Law, Editor-in-Chief
- BA, Gonzaga University, 2012
- International Relations
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Washington
- United States District Court, Western District of Washington
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Professional Associations
Publications
- “How to Avoid Millions of Dollars in Capital Gains Tax by Using the Qualified Small Business Stock Exclusion,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “How to Read Your Founder Documents,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “How to Obtain a 409a Valuation for your Company and When to Do It,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “Be Careful Who You Issue Stock Options To Under Rule 701,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “How to Use and Review Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs),” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “CARES Act: The Affiliation Rules and How They Could Affect Your Eligibility for a PPP Loan,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “Why it is So Difficult to Take investment From Non-accredited Investors,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “Update to Statutory Preemptive Rights in Washington Corporations,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “CARES Act: How the Paycheck Protection Program Can Help Your Company,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “Raising Equity Capital for Your Startup: Securities Law Exemptions Ranked by Ease of Use,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “How to Read Convertible Promissory Notes,” The Startup Law Blog, 2020
- “SEC Concept Release Letter,” The Startup Law Blog, 2019
- “The Rule 701 Math: How to do it,” The Startup Law Blog, 2019
- “How to Form a Washington Corporation,” The Startup Law Blog, 2019
- “Repricing Stock Options: The Rule 701 Math,” The Startup Law Blog, 2019
Representative Transactions
- Lead Counsel to a local SaaS startup in connection with Series Seed-2 Preferred Stock financing worth $1.8M.
- Lead counsel to a local SaaS startup in connection with Series Seed-3 Preferred Stock financing worth $3.6M.
- Lead counsel to local market research startup in cross-border strategic partnership involving preferred stock ownership and corporate governance matters.
- Lead counsel to national boating club company in connection with local asset acquisition worth $500K.
- Lead counsel to local electronic safety device startup in cross-border share exchange transaction involving a strategic international partner.
- Lead counsel to minority limited liability company owner in connection with preferred unit financing and follow-on investment transactions.
- Counsel to local FinTech Company in the $500K sale of Series Seed Preferred Stock to strategic partner.
- Counsel to local web services company in connection with $9M asset sale to industry-specific holdings company.
- Counsel to local video game studio startup in connection with $750K Series Seed Preferred Stock financing.
- Counsel to west coast PropTech company in connection with asset acquisition worth $1M.
- Counsel to industry leading marine transportation company in debt-financing of vessel sale worth over $2M.
