When in doubt, it is best to ask an Attorney. It was a good idea to ask the company lawyer but you cannot always take their word as their job is to tell you what they want you to hear in the best interest of the company. The information might have been withheld from you as you were not a C-Level executive or similar or higher in the company.
When joining a company if you are a founder always insure the titles are correct as they do make a difference even if you are a founder. If you are not a C-Level executive, apart of the board or an investor the groups under them will always be the last to find out what is going on. If your in the C-Club you are always in the mailing group list for all the important meetings and are expected/invited to all of them. To be honest though, it appears you were left out because you were not family and they probably just considered you as just an engineer that they gave some stock too and not really privileged to the company inner workings or financial activities.
When joining a company if you are a founder always insure the titles are correct as they do make a difference even if you are a founder. If you are not a C-Level executive, apart of the board or an investor the groups under them will always be the last to find out what is going on. If your in the C-Club you are always in the mailing group list for all the important meetings and are expected/invited to all of them. To be honest though, it appears you were left out because you were not family and they probably just considered you as just an engineer that they gave some stock too and not really privileged to the company inner workings or financial activities.