By Katie Messner, Senior Director of Operations

For the last decade, I have spent almost every waking hour doing two things: raising my two daughters and leading operations for deep tech companies. Both jobs are equally tough and rewarding, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a time where technology makes it possible to be in two places at once.

During these years, in the trenches with kids and these companies, I’ve learned that you can try to plan every step, but the unexpected always happens (see: Q1 ’23 SVB). The difference between success and failure is, in my view, building a foundation to withstand the unknowns.

I share this to explain why I have tackled my newest challenge, and why we launched Lex Generalis: Companies need better planning and strategy on the legal front. The current legal system wasn’t built to support this approach, especially for venture backed and startup companies. Calling a lawyer was a last resort.

Lex is born of Anzu Partners’ experience supporting early-stage hard tech companies, and our mission is simple: deliver strategic, cost-effective legal services that move at the speed of innovation. We’re combining flat-fee transparency, technically fluent counsel, and operational efficiency so founders can focus on building, not budgeting.

Our team brings together seasoned attorneys, engineers, and operators like me who understand what it takes to bring technology from concept to commercialization. In pairing human expertise with smart technology, we streamline essential functions like corporate formation, IP protection, investor readiness, and beyond — helping our clients build that smart foundation. Whether supporting a university spinout or a growth-stage startup preparing for Series B, our goal is to be there early and often; to prevent problems rather than capitalizing off them.

The old adage – “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – is true for both parenting and company building. I figured that out a long time ago with my kiddos, and I’m thrilled to be moving the needle for our ecosystem at work.

Lex is here to support the innovators, and builders who are shaping the future — and we’re excited to share more insights, resources, success stories, and lessons learned in the weeks ahead. Thank you for joining us as we try to redefine what a modern legal partner can be.