Richmond Business Lawyer

Earley_Law_24-8-1-683x1024

Expert Advice. Normal People.

Hi. I’m Justin, and I founded this practice five years ago with a vision to make business law understandable. After working for years in Big Law on Fortune 500 deals, I realized that most legal questions aren’t as complicated as people think. Contracts can be written in simple language and business law doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We love what we do because we solve people’s problems everyday. But you’ll love it because we solve them affordably.

So whether you need sophisticated counsel for on-going contract review, or whether you just need to set up an LLC — we’ll solve it for you.

Meet The Team

Expert business lawyers. Normal people. (The best combination.)

JUSTIN WHITMEL EARLEY
JUSTIN
Owner
Justin is a business lawyer who helps companies with a wide variety of legal issues. If your company is forming, seeking funding or investment, hiring a key employee, negotiating a major agreement, considering a franchise,...
CHRIS ROHDE
CHRIS
Associate
Chris advises businesses on a host of corporate and regulatory matters. Chris brings an innovative and business-focused mindset to the legal needs of his clients. After law school, Chris spent his first seven years in-house...
ANDREW HEMBY
ANDREW
Associate
Andrew assists companies and individuals with a range of business and corporate law matters. Prior to joining the firm, Andrew began his legal career practicing in big law at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, litigating...
BLAIR BRAKE
BLAIR
Executive Assistant
Blair is our executive assistant who handles all things that do not require taking the bar exam - though frankly she can do those things pretty well too! Blair graduated from the University of Virginia...
Earley_Law_24-53-1-1024x683

Mergers & Acquisitions

At Earley Business Legal, our mergers and acquisitions (M&A) team supports business owners through the entire acquisition or sale process. We provide expert legal advice on deal structuring, due diligence, regulatory compliance, and contract negotiations. Whether you’re acquiring a new business or selling your company, we ensure the process is smooth and legally structured to minimize your risk and maximize your value.

We consistently represent buyers and sellers in various equity purchases or asset sales. With a focus on Virginia-based transactions, we leverage our local knowledge and experience to handle both simple and complex deals, ensuring a seamless transition for all parties involved.

image (44)
pen-img

Venture Capital & Fundraising

WE WORK WITH FIXED FEES TO GET YOU YOUR DOCUMENTS FAST

Securing the right funding for your business can be complex, but our team simplifies the process with tailored legal advice. We assist startups and growing companies in negotiating term sheets, drafting investor agreements, and managing compliance. Whether you are raising a friends and family round, seed funding, or a Series A round with NVCA documents, we are familiar with all kinds of capital raises and could guide you through the process while protecting your interests at every stage.

A key part of fundraising is understanding your cap table and negotiating good governing documents, both of which we guide entrepreneurs through. 

Entity Formation & Partnership Structuring

Starting a new business or restructuring an existing one requires careful planning. At Earley Business Legal, we provide comprehensive entity formation services, helping you choose the right structure—whether it’s an LLC or corporation—as well as structure your governing documents. Our team drafts and reviews essential agreements to ensure compliance with state laws and protect your business interests.

We also specialize in partnership structuring, creating agreements that align with your vision and minimize future disputes. From operating agreements to joint ventures, our Virginia business attorneys help you build a solid foundation for long-term success.

Earley_Law_24-110 (1)
pen-img What Our Clients Say
Client Testimonials
Serial Entrepreneur
star-img
I’ve worked with Earley Business Legal on a wide variety of engagements over several years and now rely on them as a consigliere that helps guide me through the most important and challenging decisions that I make.
Owner of Software Company in $25M sale
star-img
Earley Business Legal successfully negotiated the sale of my company and represented my interests extremely well.
High Growth Tech Company
star-img
Earley Business Legal understood our business extremely quickly. We trust them with critical business contracts, agreements, and reviews. They are great people to work with.
Serial Entrepreneur
star-img
I’ve worked with Earley Business Legal on a wide variety of engagements over several years and now rely on them as a consigliere that helps guide me through the most important and challenging decisions that I make.
Series A Tech Company
star-img
We have worked with Justin and his team for a few years and they are always responsive and help take care of our legal needs
Earley_Law_24-53
pen-img

Commercial Contracts

Contracts form the backbone of any business, and our team ensures that yours are robust and enforceable. At Earley Business Legal, we draft, review, and negotiate all types of commercial agreements, from supplier contracts to service agreements. Our goal is to protect your business interests and ensure that every contract serves your needs.

We pride ourselves on making contracts as brief and simple as possible. However, we also understand the importance of robust contracts that minimize risk and prevent disputes. With our expertise in commercial law, we ensure that every agreement is tailored to your business and legally sound.

Outside General Counsel

Our outside general counsel services offer a cost-effective solution for businesses that need ongoing legal support but don’t require a full-time Virginia attorney. We act as your in-house legal team, providing advice on everyday matters such as compliance, employment law, and contract negotiations, including managing hiring outside experts for in-depth regulatory matters. For many clients, this reduces their costs drastically.

By working with Earley Business Legal, you gain access to experienced legal counsel without the overhead of hiring an in-house lawyer. We develop long-term relationships with our clients, ensuring we understand your business and can provide proactive legal solutions as you grow.

Earley Law '24

Consult With a Business Attorney in Virginia Today

Let's Work Together. (Really, we want to!)

When setting up your company or preparing business agreements, a well-practiced Virginia business lawyer could help save you from future headaches and costly litigation.

The legal professionals at our firm use our Handshake Portal to help get you started in the right direction for your contractual needs without the complicated legal jargon. To help minimize your legal costs, we provide these services at a fixed fee rate. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started.