We are proud to be recognized as one of the top business law firms in California. We help small business owners and startups launch their companies, fund their ongoing activities and serve as their outside general counsel so they can focus on successfully running their business. We act as a catalyst by providing our clients with exceptional resources to help their businesses grow, and when the time is right we can help navigate a successful exit. It is like having a good friend or family member advising your business.
Team
Doug
Doug Bend
Business and Startup Attorney
Doug is the founder of Bend Law Group, PC, a law firm focused on advising small businesses and startups. He has been featured in numerous publications, including The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Fox Business, MSN, Inc., and Forbes. Raised in Omaha, Doug is a graduate of Drake University where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with his B.A. in Political Science and History. He also received an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. When Doug is not wearing his lawyer hat, he enjoys exploring the Bay Area with his wife Joanne and their four year old daughter (Maddie) and two year old son (Billy).
Brandon
Brandon Shelton
Business and Startup Attorney
Brandon is a business and startup attorney, focusing on assisting new and emerging businesses in all of their transactional matters. He has represented clients from a wide array of industries, including tech and app developers, filmmakers, breweries, wineries and restaurants, real estate companies, and even chocolate makers. He has counseled clients on corporate formation, late stage preferred financing rounds, mergers & acquisitions, and everything in between. He also serves as outside-inside counsel, providing general counseling on all day-to-day matters, including licensing, brand management, and employee stock incentive plans. Brandon was formerly a computer programmer in the U.S. Air Force, and received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Dramatic Arts. Brandon received his J.D. at King Hall at the University of California, Davis.
Vivek
Vivek Vaidya
Intellectual Property and Brand Protection Attorney
Vivek Vaidya provides legal counsel surrounding intellectual property, brand protection and creative content. This includes the life-cycle of trademarks and copyrights, from registration and licensing to enforcement. Additionally, Vivek works with contracts and other issues in the ever-growing field of internet law. Vivek earned his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Law. He earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, obtaining an Intellectual Property Certificate with Honors.
Alyssa
Alyssa Ziegenhorn
Business and Startup Attorney
Alyssa focuses on assisting new and emerging businesses. Before attending law school, Alyssa practiced as a paralegal in Silicon Valley, working on intellectual property and product counseling issues at businesses ranging from a startup to an established enterprise software company. Alyssa received her J.D. at King Hall at the University of California, Davis, where she spent her final year interning at a publicly held utility company, working on a wide range of environmental and regulatory issues.
Hank
Hank Brown
Operations Manager
Hank arrived at Bend Law Group after working as a coordinator at a buzzing Bay Area startup that teaches computer programming skills to kids. Before that, Hank had a background as a copywriter and editor at an award-winning San Francisco creative agency.
Hank holds a degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and currently lives in Marin County with his lovely fiancée, dog and baby boy.
