*** This article was developed through a series of interviews generously granted by the following general counsels: Sarah Reed, Charles River Ventures; Brian Chase, Foursquare; David Pashman, Meetup; John Geschke, Zendesk; Sarah Feingold, Etsy; Doug Hicks, AVOS Systems; Jared Cohen, Kickstarter. 

  About the Author

  Daniel Doktori works in the emerging companies practice at WilmerHale in New York City and is the co-founder of the Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project. Follow him on Twitter @ddoktori.