After many years advising startups, lawyer Carlos Guerrero decided to create his own startup, Attolón, in early 2021, focused on offering alternative legal services, known as ALSP. "I have always been an entrepreneur," Guerrero defends. Attolón has not been his only project; he also promoted the business angels fund Sitka Capital, which invested in companies like Meller and Colvin, and the LexGoApp marketplace, which connects generalist lawyers with clients.
Attolón innovates in the legal sector by proposing to work on a project basis and on demand for companies of all types, offering fixed prices and not charging by the hour. The advice is provided by former partners and senior lawyers from large firms, law professors, and recognized jurists, who do so by collaborating as freelancers and contributing their accumulated experience over the years.
"It's a model that was born in the United States," explains the founder and CEO of Attolón. In Spain, there are only three companies of this type, and Guerrero does not doubt that this number will grow in the coming years. "Lawyers understand it more and more, and so do clients," he emphasizes.
The advice is provided by former partners and senior lawyers from large firms, law professors, and recognized juristsNational and international companies; listed and unlisted; venture capital funds; scale-ups; SMEs and family businesses can turn to Attolón to solve very specific issues or find support when they have work peaks. The lawyers of thisstartupthey are specialized in multiple areas, such as commercial, corporate, tax, labor, litigation, competition, real estate, administrative, banking, competition, intellectual property, data protection or new technologies.
This different approach to the traditional structure of law firms allows Attolón to reduce fees by 40% and offer more competitive prices, gaining in efficiency. With an initial investment of 100,000 euros, the income it generates is reinvested in business development and continuing to attract clients. Founded in January 2021, the startup has invoiced 600,000 euros during its first year of operation and expects, at a minimum, to double its income for this 2022.
Based in Barcelona, Attolón started working in coworkings, but now has its own office in Travessera de Gràcia. With a staff of 20 employees and actively looking for more permanent employees, the startup has managed to attract 100 specialized lawyers during its first year of existence. It has also landed in Madrid and has started operating in Latin America. Guerrero does not contemplate seeking investors in the short term, but does not rule out evaluating it for 2023 if the company needs to grow more quickly.
Legaltech startup accelerator
Guerrero's desire to change the legal sector has not stopped at Attolón. The lawyer has also created Attolón Reeboot, an accelerator for ALSP and legaltech startups, through which he has already launched Debify and Nevvo. The first is responsible for eliminating consumer debts by negotiating write-offs thanks to the use of technology and the second chance law, while the second is an integral platform for digital legal services, which allows any claim to be made online. For this first quarter, the accelerator is working on founding a third one, which will consist of a very small firm that will offer highly specialized advice on blockchain and cryptocurrencies.