Paradox Principals

legal, in alignment

Sophisticated Counsel,
Modern Approach

Paradox Principals is a boutique corporate law firm combining deep legal expertise with practical, business-aligned counsel for private funds, startups, growth-stage companies, founders, and creatives.

Our Story

Built for Builders

Paradox Principals was founded in 2023 by Laura Schnaidt and Joel Cohen — highly experienced corporate attorneys and entrepreneurs who have founded and operated multiple businesses from scratch. Together, they bring over 30 years of legal experience advising clients on corporate, transactional, and fund formation matters.

PAR·A·DOX

noun

A seemingly self-contradictory proposition that proves to be true.

Paradox Principals · New York

Law Firm Principles

Sophistication Without the Overhead

Training from Skadden, Paul Weiss, and A&O Shearman, delivered through a lean, technology-enabled model. High caliber work without a large firm’s cost structure.

Partner-Led Representation

Partners lead every engagement and staff matters leanly. Responsive by structure, not by exception.

Business-Aligned Counsel

We have sat on the client’s side of the table as general counsel, founders, and operators. Advice starts with your commercial objectives, budgets, workflows, and timelines.

Practical, Results-Driven Advice

Clear recommendations, not a catalog of risks. Candid about what’s worth fighting for, deliberate about the path to the outcome.

AI-Forward Practice

We put AI and legal technology to work where they reduce cost and turnaround — and teach the subject elsewhere: Columbia Law guest lectures, two industry podcasts, and TalksOnLaw.

Our Team

Attorneys

Laura T. Schnaidt

Co-Founder

Premier investment management attorney. Paul Weiss and Shearman & Sterling. Three-time General Counsel & CCO. Founder of Women in Funds.

laura@paradoxprincipals.com

Investment MgmtFund FormationSEC/ComplianceCorporateGeneral Counsel

Joel Cohen

Co-Founder

Seasoned corporate & M&A attorney. Skadden trained. Founder of TalksOnLaw. Columbia Law guest lecturer. Host of AI Lawyer and New Law Order.

joel@paradoxprincipals.com

CorporateTransactionsStructuringCommercialAI & Law

What We Do

Practice Areas

Investment Funds

Fund organization and governance, launches and structuring, LP negotiations, side letters, SEC regulatory and compliance, and succession planning.

Advising Founders

From formation through funding to exit. Strategic legal guidance at every stage for entrepreneurs and visionaries building something worth protecting.

Growth Companies

Corporate advisory, partnerships, and new ventures. Navigating the legal complexities of scaling with governance, compliance, and deal structuring.

Transactions & Structuring

Equity investments, deal structuring, joint ventures, and commercial transactions. Structured by attorneys with experience at leading firms including Skadden Arps and Paul Weiss.

Artists & Creatives

Representation, campaigns, and collaborations. Protecting creative work and structuring deals that respect the art across entertainment and media.

Outside General Counsel

Embedded legal partnership for companies that need seasoned counsel without the overhead of a full-time hire. Strategy, governance, risk management, and compliance.