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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThere is no substantiated promise of paying zero legal fees. A May 2026 article from MHFM Journal attributes four ways to control deal-related legal costs to Josh Kim: use standardized forms, work through intermediaries, negotiate how fees are paid, and limit counsel’s work to higher-risk issues. The article does not independently verify the attribution or show that these approaches make legal services free.
What are the four cost-control methods?
The May 29, 2026 MHFM Journal article presents these as advice from Josh Kim. It identifies him as founder and CEO of 7A Accelerator, but does not link evidence for that role or document an interview or other basis for attributing the advice to him. No recorded interview or exact quote is provided, so the methods should be understood as claims made by the article, not independently verified statements by Kim.
1. Start with standardized forms
The article suggests using paperwork already accepted by a lender or institution to reduce custom drafting. It names no specific form and does not establish that any form is valid for a particular jurisdiction, lender, or transaction. Acceptance in one context does not make a document suitable for another.
2. Consider an intermediary
Brokers or accelerators may, according to the article, help prepare standardized packages and reduce negotiation time. It identifies no particular intermediary and supplies no documented comparison of costs or results. Before relying on one, clarify what work it performs, what it charges, and whether its service includes legal review.
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3. Negotiate the payment structure
The article suggests asking about contingent, success-based, deferred, or other performance-linked fees. Such arrangements may change when or how payment is due, but they do not by themselves show that a service is free. Ask for the fee terms in writing, including what triggers payment and what happens if the deal does not close.
4. Keep counsel focused on consequential issues
The article proposes handling routine preparation yourself and reserving counsel’s time for complex or high-risk matters. It specifically flags regulatory compliance, securities exposure, intellectual-property ownership, tax consequences, and complex indemnities as areas where professional legal advice may be warranted. Limiting a lawyer’s scope can reduce work billed, but it also means taking responsibility for tasks outside that scope; agree clearly on what counsel will review and what will remain unchecked.
Rank #2
Does this mean a deal can be closed with zero legal fees?
No. The 2026 article’s headline says “zero,” but its body describes ways to reduce or restructure costs and acknowledges situations where legal advice may matter. None of its four methods establishes that a transaction can be completed without fees, or that skipping counsel is safe. The material is not jurisdiction-specific legal guidance.
The article also mentions DeFi projects, audited open-source smart-contract templates, standardized token documentation, specialized audits, escrow, and on-chain governance. It names no template, auditor, or tool, and provides no evidence that these measures remove legal obligations or risk. They should not be treated as a substitute for assessing the legal and financial issues of a specific project.
Rank #3
How reliable are the article’s savings figures?
The MHFM Journal article refers to an unnamed industry report for savings of “thousands,” attributes a 40–60% transaction-cost saving to unnamed specialists at SBA lending firms, and repeats a 20% complex-work / 80% standard-documentation split attributed vaguely to finance experts. It names no original report, publisher, study year, methodology, sample, or specific experts. These figures are not established statistics and should not be used to forecast savings on a deal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why does another same-title article give a different account?
A May 9, 2022 TechBullion article with the same title gives materially different lessons and includes personal allegations. The retrieved evidence does not corroborate those allegations, so they should not be repeated as fact or combined with the four cost-control methods in the 2026 article. The conflicting accounts also mean readers should not treat the title alone as verification of who said what.
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What to clarify before using one of these approaches
- Confirm that any form fits the transaction, institution, and applicable jurisdiction.
- Ask an intermediary to specify its services, fees, and whether independent legal review is included.
- Get payment triggers and obligations in writing before accepting a deferred or success-based fee.
- Agree with counsel on the exact scope of review and identify any issues the proposed scope excludes.
- For DeFi or token-related work, do not assume a template, audit, escrow arrangement, or governance process resolves legal obligations.
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