About us
Built by lawyers who grew up behind the counter.
Countersign started in 2014 with one idea: a small business deserves a senior lawyer, a fee it can see in advance and answers it can understand. That's still the whole plan.
Why we started
Renée Abara grew up doing the books for her parents' dry cleaning shop. Ken Moriyama was a staff accountant before law school. They met at a large firm where small business clients got the junior associate, the long wait and the big bill.
In 2014 they opened Countersign in Boise to do it differently: senior lawyers on every matter, flat fees quoted in writing before the work starts, and a one-page summary with every document so owners know what they signed.
Today we're three lawyers and a paralegal, working with bakeries, contractors, clinics, retailers, software studios and family businesses across the Treasure Valley. Many come to us through their CPA or banker, and we like it that way.
How we work
Six promises we can actually keep
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1
A flat fee, in writing, first
Most of our work is a flat fee. You see the number and exactly what it covers before we start. If the job grows, we tell you and re-quote before we do the extra work.
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2
Plain English, every time
Every document comes with a one-page summary: what it says, what it means for you and what to watch. If a clause needs a law degree to read, we rewrite it.
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3
A lawyer who answers
A lawyer, not a form, replies within one business day. Clients on a counsel plan get a direct line and a named attorney who knows the business.
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4
Honest about fit
If a filing site, a CPA or a different lawyer is the better choice, we'll say so on the first call.
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5
Owners first, always
We work for small businesses. We don't represent large companies against them.
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6
Your CPA is welcome
Taxes and law overlap. We'd rather have your CPA on the call than guess what they'd say.
One thing we never promise: a particular result. No honest lawyer can.
Filing site, big firm or us? An honest comparison.
| Online filing site | Countersign | Larger firm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files your formation paperwork | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating agreement written for your business | No | Yes | Yes |
| A lawyer reads contracts before you sign | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flat fee quoted in writing first | Yes | Yes | Sometimes |
| A lawyer replies within one business day | No | Yes | Varies |
| Senior lawyer does the work | No | Yes | Often a junior |
| Typical cost for a small business | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
A general comparison, not a review of any particular company. A filing site can be the right call for a simple one-person business, and we'll tell you when it is.
The businesses on your street. That's who we work for.
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Little Bluestem Grocery
Contracts
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Cobble & Crumb Bakery
Formation and lease
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Hollow Pine Candle Co.
Contract kit
Client businesses shown on this demo are fictional.
The team
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Renée Abara
Founding attorney
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Ken Moriyama
Founding attorney
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Hallie Brandt
Attorney
- Marisol Ortega Paralegal and client coordinator
Ready when you are.
- Free 30-minute call
- Flat fee in writing
- Work starts on your timeline