# #243 - Building Your Team Legal Considerations with Giannuzzi Lewendon

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-04-07
- Length: 53m
- Episode: 285
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-07-243-building-your-team-legal-considerations-with-giannuzzi-lewendon
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/16535c62

## Summary

Blake Horn and Ryan Hall, partners at the CPG-exclusive law firm Giannuzzi Lewendon, discuss the legal foundations of building a team for consumer packaged goods brands. They warn against informal equity promises and misclassifying employees as contractors, which can resurface during due diligence to derail exits or fundraises. The guests outline essential documents like offer letters, IP agreements, and employee handbooks, while explaining the nuances of vesting schedules and co-founder agreements specific to the CPG industry.

## Outline

1. Introduction and Firm Overview
2. Horror Stories: Napkin Agreements and Litigation
3. The Compounding Risk of Early Mistakes
4. Misclassification and Essential Early Documents
5. CPG-Specific Employment Complexities and Interns
6. Equity, Vesting Schedules, and Co-Founder Agreements
7. Termination, Severance, and Pre-Fundraise Audits

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Giannuzzi Lewendon (company)
- GL Law (company)
- Startup CPG (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [009: NDAs, Contracts, Insurance & Other Legal Tips with Gordon Firemark of Entertainment Law Update](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-05-31-009-ndas-contracts-insurance-other-legal-tips-with-gordon-firemark-of-entertainm) (Product Startup)
- [068: Partnership & Funding Legal Considerations for Product Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-03-23-068-partnership-funding-legal-considerations-for-product-startups) (Product Startup)
- [Advice Line with John Zimmer of Lyft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-10-23-advice-line-with-john-zimmer-of-lyft) (How I Built This)
- [ActOne Group: Janice Bryant Howroyd](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-03-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd) (How I Built This)
- [#344: Becoming an Advisor to a Medical Device Company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-11-16-344-becoming-an-advisor-to-a-medical-device-company) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

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