Ask HN: Law and accounting firms for starting a Web business in NYC

Hey fellow Hacker Newsies, I’ve just relocated to NYC and I’m looking for an experienced law firm and accounting firm to form my LLC, set up my books, and generally advise on legal and tax matters. Everything I’m doing is on the web, so it would be great to hire firms who ‘get it’ in this arena: drafting terms of service specifically for websites, accounting for revenue earned from subscription-based web services and the sales tax implications of selling retail goods online, issuing equity in exchange for outside investment capital down the road, etc.

I don’t want to pay through my nose for firms with a lot of overhead (art on the walls, $1,500 flower arrangements in the reception area) and that are going to have inexperienced associates doing all the work, but I definitely want firms that will be the right fit even if they’re not the cheapest. I set up my previous business in Hawaii myself, but since my business in NYC is for the long-term I want to make sure it’s done right to set the stage for future things to come. Perhaps most important to me is a firm that actually listens to what I’m trying to do and is really excited about helping me build my business, and is interested in bringing their experience to bear as a problem solver; rather than just nodding their heads, whipping out some mediocre boilerplate documents without really thinking about my goals, and sending me on my way. In my previous business I didn’t provide that kind of half-assed service to my clients, and I’d like a lawyer and accountant who have the same kind of pride in the service they provide.

We hear so much about NYC as the next startup scene, so it would really be great to get actual names and first-hand recommendations from people who are here. Of course, we’ve all heard of Wilson Sonsini and the like, but I’d really like to investigate my options. Are there any resources like wikis for NYC entrepreneurs that consolidate all this kind of information in one place? Kind of like a NYC start up guide for startups. If not and people have lots of good suggestions here I’ll see about setting something like that up.

Thanks for reading!