Prompt Law Australia | Contract Review & Commercial Law Firm
- Startup & Business Law
Startup Lawyers Sydney
Your startup’s legal foundation is not paperwork. It is what investors check before they write a cheque. Our Sydney startup lawyers build the founder agreements, shareholder structures, IP assignments, and SAFE note documentation that serious investors expect to see.
Same-day response, and 100% online service across NSW. No Sydney office visit required.
5.0 ★★★★★ | 600+ Reviews
CMI Legal - Est. 2014
Law Society NSW Member
Chatswood Office
Australia-wide & International
- Startup & Business Law Services
The Legal Foundations Every Sydney Startup Needs Before Investors Come Looking
Incorporating your Sydney startup correctly means more than registering a company with ASIC. We set up your legal structure, draft founder agreements covering roles and equity splits, document vesting schedules, and ensure your cap table is clean and fundable before you approach any investor.
SAFE Notes, Term Sheets & Investor Agreements
SAFE notes are the preferred investment instrument for most Sydney angel investors. We draft and review SAFE notes, convertible notes, and term sheets, advising on valuation caps, discount rates, pro-rata rights, and information covenants that protect your cap table and your founder control at every round.
A handshake equity deal between co-founders never survives the first serious disagreement. Our Sydney startup lawyers draft shareholder agreements covering decision-making rights, transfer restrictions, deadlock mechanisms, and buyout provisions so your co-founder relationship is protected by a binding legal framework, not goodwill.
If your founders built the product before incorporating, that IP belongs to them personally, not your startup. We draft IP assignment deeds, implement IP ownership agreements, and register trade marks so investors are paying for intellectual property your Sydney company actually owns and controls outright.
Employment & Contractor Agreements
Your first ten hires define your Sydney startup’s culture and legal exposure. We draft employment agreements, contractor arrangements, and NDAs covering IP ownership by employees, equity option terms, non-solicitation clauses, and confidentiality obligations that protect your startup as your team grows and scales
Startup Legal Audit & Investor Readiness
Investors conduct legal due diligence before every funding round. Our Sydney startup lawyers conduct a structured startup legal audit reviewing your company structure, IP ownership, shareholder agreements, employment arrangements, and contracts, then deliver a clear report of issues to resolve before your next pitch or term sheet.
- About Our Practice
We Build Startup Legal Frameworks Investors Actually Expect to See
At PromptLaw, our Sydney startup lawyers understand what investors look for because we have spent eleven years building legal foundations for founders. From incorporation and shareholder agreements through to SAFE notes, IP assignments, and pre-raise legal audits, we prepare the documents investors expect to see before committing capital to any Sydney startup.
Based in Chatswood and serving Sydney founders and startups across NSW since 2014, our startup legal team provides fixed-fee services, so founders know their exact costs before any work begins. You receive a same-day response, plain-language advice from a startup lawyer who understands that founders need clarity and speed at every stage of building. No Chatswood office visit required.
Fixed fees confirmed before any startup legal work begins.
Same-day response to all startup enquiries across Sydney.
100% online service, no Chatswood office visit required.
Plain-language advice Sydney founders can act on immediately.
- Who We Help
The Startup Stages Where Getting Legal Right Matters Most in Sydney
First-Time Founders at Incorporation
You have the idea and the co-founder. We build the legal structure, founder agreements, and IP assignments correctly before anything is built or launched, so investors find nothing to worry about in your Sydney startup.
Co-Founded Startups Structuring Equity
Two or more founders means equity, decision rights, and exit scenarios need clear legal documentation. We draft co-founder agreements for Sydney startups that prevent the disputes and funding roadblocks that destroy co-founder relationships.
Tech and SaaS Startups Protecting IP
Your code, your product, and your brand are the assets investors are paying for. We protect Sydney tech and SaaS startup IP through assignments, trade mark registration, licensing, and employment IP clauses.
Startups Raising Capital or Preparing for Investors
Your first investor meeting leads to a due diligence request. We prepare Sydney startups for capital raises with investor-ready documentation, SAFE note drafting, and a complete startup legal audit before the pitch.
- Before You Commit to the Contract
The Startup Legal Issues Sydney Founders Cannot Afford to Get Wrong
Founder Equity Disputes
Undocumented equity splits between Sydney co-founders create disputes that collapse startups before any investor gets involved.
Unprotected Intellectual Property
IP built before incorporation belongs to the founder personally. Investors find this in due diligence, and it can end the funding round.
Missing Vesting Schedules
A co-founder who leaves after six months retains full equity with no vesting schedule. This is entirely preventable with proper legal documentation.
Undocumented Employment Agreements
Employees who create IP without a properly drafted agreement may own that IP themselves. Our Sydney startup lawyers document every hire correctly from day one.
- Our Process
How Our Startup Lawyers Support Your Sydney Business From Launch to Scale
Initial Startup Consultation
Tell us about your startup and where you are right now. We assess your legal needs, identify any gaps in your existing documentation, and recommend the right structure and documents for your stage.
Legal Structure & Documentation
We incorporate your company, draft your founder and shareholder agreements, prepare IP assignments, and build the core legal framework your Sydney startup needs before approaching its first investor or making its first hire.
Investment & Growth Legal Support
As your Sydney startup grows, we draft and review SAFE notes, convertible notes, and term sheets, advise on investor agreements, and keep your cap table and shareholder documentation up to date through every funding round.
Ongoing Startup Legal Advice
We remain your startup's legal team as you hire, pivot, and raise capital. From employment agreements and contractor NDAs through to compliance reviews and pre-Series A audits, we grow alongside your Sydney startup across NSW.
- WHY CHOOSE A LAWYER
Why Getting Legal Advice Early Is the Best Investment Your Sydney Startup Will Make
The most expensive legal problem a Sydney startup faces is the one that surfaces in an investor’s due diligence report. Undocumented founder equity, IP that belongs to a founder personally rather than the company, employment agreements that do not assign employee-created IP to the startup, or a cap table with no vesting schedules are the four issues that most commonly end funding conversations before they begin. None of them cost much to fix before they are discovered. All of them cost significantly more to fix after an investor has found them.
PromptLaw’s startup lawyers in Sydney provide fixed-fee legal services so founders know exactly what getting investor-ready costs before the work begins. With 11+ years of experience working with Sydney startups at every stage from pre-incorporation conversations through to Series A preparation, we build the legal framework that keeps your startup moving forward rather than backwards through the investment process.
- Key reasons Sydney homeowners and builders get legal advice before signing:
- Incorporate your Sydney startup correctly and document founder equity splits before any dispute can arise
- Draft shareholder agreements and vesting schedules that protect all co-founders and build investor confidence
- Assign intellectual property from founders and employees to the company before investors check ownership
- Prepare SAFE notes and term sheets that protect your cap table and your control through every funding round
- Conduct a startup legal audit to identify and fix legal gaps before your next Sydney investor pitch begins
Fixed-fee startup legal services. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices for Sydney founders.
Enquire today and receive a response from our Sydney startup lawyers the same business day. We build investor-ready legal foundations for startups across NSW from incorporation to capital raising. Book a Consultation.
- Why PromptLaw
Why Sydney Founders and Startups Choose Our Legal Team
Startup Law Focus
Our Sydney startup lawyers focus on founder agreements, equity structures, SAFE notes, IP protection, and investor readiness, not general commercial law. We understand the startup lifecycle and what investors actually look for at each stage.
Fixed-Fee Pricing
Startup founders do not have budget for legal surprises. Every startup legal service is quoted at a fixed fee before we begin. Sydney founders know their exact legal costs before committing to any agreement, audit, or capital raise preparation.
Responsive Service
Startups move fast, and legal delays cost real momentum. Enquire today and receive a response the same business day. Our Sydney startup lawyers operate 100% online, so you access legal advice without visiting our Chatswood office
11+ Years Experience
Since 2014, PromptLaw powered by CMI Legal has advised Sydney founders, startups, and early-stage companies on incorporation, equity structuring, IP protection, SAFE notes, investor agreements, and capital raising across every sector in NSW.
- What Our Clients Say
Client Testimonials and Reviews
Read more reviews on Google →
- Our Team
Meet Our Sydney Legal Team
Mathew Wu
Director
John Zhang
Principal
Tina Tang
Lawyer
Rita Lam
Lawyer
- FAQs
Startup Law FAQs Answered by Our Sydney Lawyers
Do I need a lawyer to set up my startup in Sydney?
Yes. Getting your structure, founder agreement, equity, and IP assignment right at incorporation is far cheaper than fixing problems investors find in due diligence. Our Sydney startup lawyers ensure your legal foundation is investor-ready from the first day of trading.
What is a founder agreement and why does my startup need one?
A founder agreement documents co-founder equity, roles, vesting schedules, decision rights, and exit scenarios. Without one, a Sydney co-founder dispute becomes a legal and funding crisis. It is the single most important document your startup will ever sign before launching.
What is a SAFE note and how does it work in Australia?
A SAFE converts an investor’s money into equity at your next priced funding round. It is the most common early-stage investment instrument used by Sydney angel investors and avoids the cost and complexity of a full priced equity round at seed stage.
How do I protect my startup's intellectual property in NSW?
Assign any pre-incorporation IP from founders to the company immediately. Register your trade mark with IP Australia. Include IP ownership clauses in all employment and contractor agreements. Our Sydney startup lawyers implement all three as part of your standard legal foundation.
What is a vesting schedule and why does it matter for startup equity?
A vesting schedule means equity is earned over time, typically four years with a one-year cliff. It prevents a departing co-founder from keeping full equity after only a few months. Most Sydney investors require founder vesting before they will commit to investing.
When should a Sydney startup hire its first employee?
Before the first day. Every hire needs a compliant employment agreement with an IP assignment clause, confidentiality obligations, and correct superannuation setup in place. Undocumented early employees are one of the most common issues investors find in Sydney startup due diligence reviews.
How much does startup legal advice cost in Sydney?
PromptLaw charges a fixed fee for all startup legal services, confirmed before any work begins. A standard incorporation and founder agreement package is quoted upfront at a flat fee. Contact our Sydney startup lawyers today for a transparent quote with no hourly billing.
What is a startup legal audit and when should my company get one?
A startup legal audit reviews your structure, IP ownership, shareholder agreements, employment contracts, and compliance, then delivers a clear report. Sydney startups should complete one before every funding round so investors find nothing concerning in their legal due diligence review.
- Get Expert Advice
Get Your Startup Legal Foundation Reviewed Before Your Next Pitch
Speak with our Sydney startup lawyers today. Book a 15-minute quick advice call or a full 45-minute in-depth review. Same-day response, fixed fees, 100% online. No office visit required.
Quick Advice
In-Depth Review
Need a Startup Lawyer in Sydney? Let’s Talk.
Talk to our Sydney startup lawyers today. Fixed fees, same-day response, 100% online. We build investor-ready legal foundations for startups and founders across NSW from the first idea to your first funding round and beyond.