Genuinely, ask everyone you know for good recommendations. Even if they give you their uncle’s best friend in Cincinatti who does public defender work, that guy might know the woman who is the best litigator in the US who has a speciality in what you need. And then if she’s too expensive or won’t help you direct, she will happily refer you to someone who does.

And that kind of hustle is a prerequisite to solid business success anyway. So, get after it!

You probably know people who know people who are good lawyers, but you might not know which. So ask everyone you know.

As for paying, there are some law offices that offer startup-friendly packages and are probably good enough to get you going, at least they should prevent foot-gun mistakes.

And in the SF area you’d be surprised how many people will do stuff for “low fees but equity” if you show any promise.