Startup Legal Advisory
RecommendedA one-stop legal health check and planning session for early-stage founders
What is Startup Legal Advisory?
A focused legal advisory session covering entity structure, founder agreements, IP ownership, ESOP basics, and the key contracts you need at each stage — so you build on a solid legal foundation from day one.
Most founders start with a great product idea and push legal hygiene to later — and then scramble when a co-founder dispute, an IP ownership question, or an investor's due diligence list surfaces a gap. A Startup Legal Advisory engagement is a structured session (typically two to three hours) covering the key legal questions every early-stage founder should resolve: Is the entity structure right for fundraising (Pvt Ltd is almost always the answer for VC-backed startups)? Have co-founders signed an agreement with a vesting schedule and IP assignment? Does the company own the IP — not the founders personally? Are key employees on proper employment agreements with IP assignment and confidentiality clauses? Is the cap table clean? Are founder shares on a vesting schedule? What contracts are needed before the first customer signs? Are there any regulatory licences required for the business model? The output is a prioritised legal to-do list with specific next steps — tailored to your specific business, structure, and stage.
Who Needs Startup Legal Advisory?
First-time founders at the idea or pre-incorporation stage, early-stage startups preparing for a Seed or pre-Seed round, founders who have been building without formal legal hygiene and need a gap assessment, and any startup founder who wants an independent legal perspective before signing an investor's documents.
What's Included
- Entity structure assessed — whether Pvt Ltd, LLP, or OPC is right for your goals
- Co-founder agreement and vesting schedule gap identified and resolved
- IP ownership chain confirmed — company owns the IP, not the founders personally
- Employment and contractor agreement template prepared for first hires
- Cap table structure reviewed for fundraising readiness
- Regulatory licence gaps identified for your specific business model
How It Works
- 1
Pre-session questionnaire
We send a short questionnaire covering business model, entity status, founder details, and investor timeline so the session time is focused on issues, not background.
- 2
Legal health check session
A two-to-three hour session covering entity structure, founder agreements, IP, employment, cap table, regulatory requirements, and immediate priorities.
- 3
Prioritised to-do list
We deliver a written list of the specific legal actions needed, prioritised by urgency and sequenced for your stage and funding timeline.
- 4
Follow-up support
For items identified in the session, we prepare the specific documents as a separate engagement.
Documents Required
Items marked Required are mandatory; others are situational.
Pre-session inputs
- Business description and modelRequired
- Entity status and typeRequired
- Founder names and equity splitRequired
- Any existing agreements or investor documents
Fees & Pricing
Fees
Government fee
No government fees for an advisory session
Advisory session fee
Quoted upfront — fixed fee per session, follow-on documents quoted separately
* Government fees may vary. GST applicable on professional fees. Final pricing confirmed after review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable if we haven't incorporated yet?
It is the ideal time. Deciding on entity structure, co-founder terms, and IP ownership before incorporation is far easier and cheaper than restructuring after the company is registered and equity has been issued.
What if we're already incorporated but have no agreements?
A post-incorporation legal clean-up is still very achievable. We assess the gap and prioritise what must be done before a funding round versus what can wait.
Do we need separate lawyers for company law, tax, and IP?
For an early-stage startup, the most important legal work can all be handled by one team. Specialist tax or IP counsel is called in for specific complex matters — we flag when that is needed.
What is the most common legal gap in early startups?
IP assignment. Founders build the product before the company is incorporated, so the IP is technically owned by individuals. Without a formal IP assignment agreement, the company does not own what it is selling.
Should we have an ESOP plan before the Seed round?
Yes — setting up an ESOP pool and allocating it pre-money is standard practice. We cover ESOP basics in the advisory session and help you set up a plan if needed.
Do you advise on regulatory licences (NBFC, FSSAI, fintech)?
We cover the common licensing requirements for most startup models in the advisory session. For regulatory-intensive models, we bring in the relevant specialist.
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