#238 - Legal Ask-Me-Anything with Giannuzzi Lewendon

The Startup CPG Podcast · 3 Mar 2026 · 1h 04m · Episode 264

What this episode covers

Adam Marsh and Gabrielle McGonagle of Giannuzzi Lewendon, a CPG-focused law firm, answer legal questions from the Startup CPG Slack community. They advise founders on structuring friends and family rounds to avoid side letters that derail Series A, building data rooms early for institutional diligence, and negotiating term sheets to retain board control. The attorneys also warn against vague co-manufacturer agreements that can lead to IP ransom demands or product failures on shelf, and discuss the risks of using DIY tools like LegalZoom for entity formation.

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