Do you act as outside general counsel?

Yes. For many clients we function as the legal department — answering day-to-day questions, reviewing agreements, and coordinating specialist counsel when a matter calls for it.

Will I work with the same attorney throughout?

Yes. Astuno & Associates is intentionally small. The attorney who takes your first call remains responsible for your file. Junior attorneys assist; they do not replace the relationship.

Can you handle a transaction outside California?

Often, yes. Our attorneys are admitted across seven jurisdictions and routinely coordinate with local counsel where required.

Practice Area

Attorney Advertising

Business & Corporate

Formation, governance, contracts, M&A, intellectual property, and day-to-day counsel for privately held companies and their owners.

Overview

We act as outside general counsel to closely held companies — from formation through generational transition. The work spans entity choice, governance, financings, commercial agreements, intellectual property, and the kinds of operating questions that don't fit neatly into a deal but shape every quarter that follows.

Our approach

Boutique attention, partner-led. The lawyer who scopes the matter is the lawyer who drafts the documents, takes the call when the term sheet shifts at midnight, and sits across from the other side. We default to clear, durable structures over clever ones, because the documents we sign today must hold up across the next decade of changes we cannot foresee.

Who we serve

Founders and operators of closely held businesses
Family-owned companies navigating succession
Private investors and holding company principals
Boards and minority shareholders requiring independent counsel
Companies with intellectual property, technology, and creative assets

Representative matters

Business Succession Planning
Corporate Compliance & Risk Management
Corporate Formation & Governance
Corporate Finance
Intellectual Property & Technology Licensing
Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Disclaimer.The matters listed above are illustrative of the firm’s experience and are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any future legal matter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case turns on its own facts and applicable law.

Frequently asked

Common questions

Do you act as outside general counsel?: Yes. For many clients we function as the legal department — answering day-to-day questions, reviewing agreements, and coordinating specialist counsel when a matter calls for it.
Will I work with the same attorney throughout?: Yes. Astuno & Associates is intentionally small. The attorney who takes your first call remains responsible for your file. Junior attorneys assist; they do not replace the relationship.
Can you handle a transaction outside California?: Often, yes. Our attorneys are admitted across seven jurisdictions and routinely coordinate with local counsel where required.

Related practices

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