Joe M. Wallin

Joe Wallin advises founders, startups, growth companies, investors, and acquirers on the legal issues that matter most in building, financing, and scaling businesses. His practice spans the full business lifecycle, from company formation to exit, and includes counsel on equity compensation, angel and venture financings, mergers and acquisitions, and other significant business transactions. He also brings deep tax knowledge to this work, with an LL.M. in Taxation from NYU and substantial experience writing and advising on Washington tax issues affecting founders, executives, and high earners. 

Widely known in the startup and angel investing community, Wallin has long been active in capital formation and early-stage company law. He serves on the Angel Capital Association’s Public Policy Advisory Council and has advocated for laws that make it easier for companies to raise capital. Wallin wrote the first draft of Washington’s equity crowdfunding law, testified in favor of the legislation that ultimately became law in Washington, and later assisted with amendments to that law. 

The focus areas of Wallin’s practice include startup and emerging companies; company formations and founder structuring; angel and venture financings; equity compensation and stock plan matters; mergers and acquisitions; strategic business transactions; founder, executive, and investor counseling, and QSBS. 

Wallin is also a published author and widely read commentator on startup and tax issues. He co-authored Angel Investing, Start to Finish and contributed to the Holloway Guide to Equity Compensation. Wallin wrote the Washington Tax Guide for High Earners: a planning guide addressing Washington’s evolving income tax landscape, including QSBS strategies, domicile planning, and the impact of recent legislation on founders, executives, and high earners.  

Wallin also authors The Startup Law Blog: a well-known resource in the startup community covering a range of topics, including Washington tax issues, angel investing, and startup law. His work combines practical transaction experience with deep involvement in the startup ecosystem, making him a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs, investors, and executives navigating important inflection points.