Business Lawyering in the Crowdfunding Era
3 Am. U.B.L.R. 149 (2014)
University of Tennessee Legal Studies Research Paper No. 241
35 Pages Posted: 13 Apr 2014 Last revised: 11 Jun 2014
There are 2 versions of this paper
Business Lawyering in the Crowdfunding Era
Business Lawyering in the Crowdfunding Era
Date Written: December 31, 2013
Abstract
The advent of crowdfunding (and crowdfund investing, in particular) has put strain on business lawyering. This paper identifies and comments on professional responsibility and professionalism issues in the current rapidly changing business finance and regulatory environment -- an environment in which crowdfunded businesses and projects have become a reality. Traps for the unwary exist in a number of areas ranging from the unlicensed practice of law, through matters of competence and diligence, to compliance with a lawyer's public duties. By appreciating these issues and being attentive to these observations, legal counsel should be better able to engage in productive, valued, ethical lawyering in the crowdfunding era and beyond.
Keywords: crowdfunding, securities, investing, lawyering, professional responsibility, professionalism, model rules, unauthorized practice, competence, diligence
JEL Classification: K20, K22, K23, K30, K40, M10, M13
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation