Sophisticated Legal Counsel for Serious Entrepreneurs & Nonprofits

MSN Law Office empowers entrepreneurs, founders, dreamers and innovators to pursue their passions with absolute peace of mind. We handle the complex legal foundation of your business or nonprofit—providing practical advice and real-world solutions—so you can focus on building something amazing. From startups to growing organizations, our clients rely on us for clear explanations, transparent pricing, and no billing surprises.

If you love what you do and want to build something amazing (or take amazing to the next level), then let’s talk.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.9 Google Rating | Columbus, OH Outside General Counsel

Maritza "Shay" Nelson

Founder & Managing Attorney, MSN Law Office

Legal Protection Designed for How You Actually Run Your Business or Nonprofit

Legal Advice in Plain English

No legalese, no condescension. I explain the ‘why’ behind every contract clause so you make confident, informed decisions.

Proactive Risk Mitigation

I don’t just react to fires; I spot liabilities before they become expensive problems. Be able to honestly say, ‘My attorney is handling this.’

Disciplined Capacity

I intentionally limit my client intake so that your legal matters always receive my prompt, undivided focus, tailored strategic direction, and experienced legal advice.

Core Practice Areas

Sophisticated legal counsel for every phase of your business or nonprofit—from proactive legal advice to complex contract execution.

Outside General Counsel & Strategic Advice

  • Modern Retainer Subscription Framework
  • Proactive, recurring legal check-ins 
  • Business Operations Consulting
  • Founder Exit Planning
  • Advisory Board Structural Planning & Modeling
  • Readiness & Pre-Transaction Architecture

Nonprofit & Social Enterprise Governance

  • 501(c)(3) & 
    501(c)(4) Formation & Reinstatement
  • Board Governance, Bylaws & Conflict of Interest Policies
  • Founder Transition & Executive Compensation
  • Fiscal Sponsorships, B Corps & Social Enterprises

Brand Protection & Intellectual Property Strategy

  • USPTO Federal Trademark Search & Registration
  • Licensing Agreements
  • Copyright Registration & Work For Hire Contracts
  • Website Privacy Policies & Terms of Service

Strategic Business Contracts

  • Multi-Member LLC Operating Agreements
  • Buy-Sell Agreements & Incentive Unit Design
  • Client Service Agreements, NDAs & SaaS Contracts
  • Business Acquisitions, Mergers & LOIs

Employment Law & HR Compliance

  • Employee Handbooks & HR Policies
  • Independent Contractor vs W-2 Classification
  • Offer Letters & Executive Employment Agreements
  • Wage & Hour Compliance
  • Termination Advice & Severance Agreements

What Serious Entrepreneurs & Nonprofits Say

Read real experiences from business owners who transformed their legal protection.

★★★★★

Knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful… and can speak “regular person language” – not just leaglese. I recommend them without hesitation.

Lauren E. | Small Business Owner

★★★★★

From the very beginning, her services are professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to providing excellent service. She answers my questions, keeps me informed throughout the process, and made what could have been a stressful experience much easier to navigate.

Courtney R. | Founder

★★★★★

The support at each step of the entity formation process, the coordination with our partner’s legal team, and explanation of each contract clause or other legal terminology made the whole process stress free.

Joey D. | Entrepreneur

Sophisticated Legal Insights for Serious Entrepreneurs & Nonprofits

How MSN Law Office Works: The Modern Retainer

Say goodbye to surprise hourly bills and unused monthly retainers. You deposit a flat monthly amount into your dedicated Client Trust Account, and MSN Law Office deducts standard, transparent fees as your work is completed.

Why Picking Up the Phone Shouldn't Feel Like a Risk

Legal advice shouldn’t be based on the tick of a clock. You pay for knowledge and strategic solutions that move your business or nonprofit forward—not how many minutes an attorney spent answering an email.

How Trust Funding Protects Clients Under Ethics Rules

3 Key Rules

  1. Dedicated Client Trust Account: Your $2,500 deposit and $500/mo contributions remain 100% your money until earned.
  2. Flat-Fee Deductions: Standard deliverables are deducted off our published fee schedule—zero surprise invoices.
  3. Zero Risk: Pause or cancel anytime for a 100% refund of unearned balances.

Scaling Teams & Commercial Contracts Without Cash-Flow Shocks

Case Takeaways:

  • How Sarah transitioned long-term 1099 freelancers into compliant W-2 roles while locking down IP work-for-hire assignments.
  • How Marcus executed a seller-financed junior partner buy-in with supermajority voting rules.

Board Liability Protection & Dual-Entity Structuring

Case Takeaways:

  • How Teresa modernized outdated bylaws and established the IRS “Rebuttable Presumption” for executive compensation to shield board members from excise taxes.

  • How a mission-driven tech initiative spun off a commercial Benefit Corporation without endangering grant eligibility.

Your Legal Roadmap with 100% Consultation Credit

What’s Included:

  • 45-minute comprehensive consultation including document review.
  • Tailored Legal Roadmap with exact flat-fee pricing.
  • 100% of your $300 fee credits directly toward your initial services.

01

$2,500 Initial Trust Deposit

Opens your client file and pre-funds your initial legal services.

02

Monthly Reserve Contribution

You have the option to auto-deposit funds directly into your client trust account to plan for future legal needs.

03

Transparent Fee Schedule

With flat-fee first billing, most legal services are billed off published flat fees—no hidden add-ons.

04

Zero Risk

Your funds remain 100% your property until earned. Pause or cancel anytime for a full refund of unearned balances.

Ready to Pursue Your Passion & Scale With Confidence?

Book your $300 Legal Deep Dive today. We’ll review your current operations and concerns, as well as any key documents, then map out your proactive risk mitigation, and credit 100% of your consultation fee directly toward your initial legal services.

100% Credited Toward Your Legal Services | Zero Billing Surprises

Want to explore legal counsel before diving in? Schedule a complimentary 15-Minute Fit Assessment to discuss your goals and see how we can work together.