Billing is less of an issue, if you build a relationship with legal advisors you trust, says attorney Martin Nichols. Entrepreneurs should share their acceptable fee ranges with attorneys, but they may also be able to work out fee caps and flat rates for services. Clients can help ensure the best service from attorneys by showing mutual respect through offering referrals and paying bills on time.

Attorney Martin Nichols shares subjective early filters to use when trying to find a proficient attorney. Beyond these basic measurements, a difference in quality will be found in each attorney's ability to get deals done. Nichols suggests finding an attorney who can also be a solid advisor and a true value-add for your company.

Attorney Martin Nichols believes clients should receive the best practical advice from an attorney, even when the client is in a legally superior position during a negotiation. Nichols shares an anecdote where he needed to explain to a client the practical value of not fighting for a previously agreed on payment, to avoid being exposed to legal costs of an even greater amount.

Attorney Martin Nichols suggests separating legal issues from business issues before entering into negotiations. This strategy is often very helpful, particularly in face-to-face negotiations. In meetings and conference calls, Nichols sets out an agenda and key issues, and then tries to come up with a basket of issues for the business people to try and work out with their counterparts.

According to attorney Martin Nichols, entrepreneurs need to have a great deal of trust when sharing intellectual property with venture capitalists, as VCs often will not sign non-disclosure agreements. If a client is working on patentable technologies, Nichols suggests trying to button up those issues before going to meetings.

The industry norm is for attorneys not to take equity or a board seat as forms of compensation from startups, says attorney Martin Nichols. In Silicon Valley, fee deferrals are far more normal. Big legal firms may be less likely to work with small startups due to time and revenue constraints, but a smaller firm may not be able to provide a startup with everything that is needed when it comes time for big transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions.

Individuals or startups seeking legal advice need to obtain solid referrals on all prospective attorneys. Martin Nichols, partner at legal firm DLA Piper, believes entrepreneurs often don't need big legal teams, but should always seek efficient legal teams.