Legal Services for Startups & Emerging Companies in Canada
Comprehensive legal support for early-stage and high-growth businesses, including incorporation, founder and shareholder arrangements, intellectual property strategy, and early financing. We focus on building legal foundations that scale.
We work with founders at the earliest and most critical stages of company-building. Our focus is on proper structuring, investor readiness, and long-term scalability—so growth is intentional and exits are achievable.
The Startup Legal Bundle
A comprehensive legal foundation designed for early-stage companies—built to reduce founder disputes, protect IP, and make your company investor-ready.
What’s Included
Incorporation & Organization
Federal or Ontario incorporation, initial corporate organization, and minute book setup. Where appropriate, we can incorporate founder equity protection tools such as vesting or reverse vesting arrangements.
Founder Engagement Agreements
Clear definition of founder roles, responsibilities, and vesting mechanics—so expectations are aligned from day one.
Initial Shareholders’ Agreement (foundational)
A core agreement addressing governance, control, decision-making, transfer restrictions, and dispute-prevention basics—designed for early-stage realities.
Employment Agreement (Ontario)
A standard employment agreement template with confidentiality and proprietary rights provisions (customizable based on role and risk).
Contractor & Advisor Agreements
Templates covering confidentiality, IP ownership/assignment, deliverables, and engagement terms for contractors and advisors.
IP Assignment Agreement
Transfer of relevant pre-incorporation intellectual property to the company to clarify ownership and reduce investor diligence risk.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
A standard NDA for early discussions with third parties, partners, and collaborators.
Legal Advisory Time
Up to two (2) hours of legal counsel on startup-related corporate matters, including prioritization and next steps.
Pricing
$4,500 + HST
Founder Perks
- Strategic introductions to incubators, accelerators, investors, and relevant ecosystem partners
- Access to our founder and client network where aligned
How We Support You in Practice
Stage 1 – Incorporation & Structuring
Choosing the right jurisdiction, share structure, and governance model early—so your cap table, control, and investor readiness remain clean.
Stage 2 – Equity, Employment & Incentives
Founder equity planning, option pool readiness, and agreements for employees/contractors that protect the company and support growth.
Stage 3 – Intellectual Property Protection
IP ownership hygiene plus trademark/copyright/patent strategy aligned with how the business creates value.
Stage 4 – Commercial Contracts
Drafting and managing operational agreements—MSAs, SLAs, licensing, terms of service, and key customer/vendor contracts.
Stage 5 – Capital Raising
Structuring and documenting SAFEs, convertible notes, and early-stage financing terms—designed to be investor-credible and founder-protective.
Stage 6 – Exit Preparation
Positioning the company for acquisition, merger, or larger financings by keeping governance, IP, and contracts diligence-ready.
Ready to Build a Legal Foundation That Scales?
If you’re launching or scaling a startup in Canada, we can help you incorporate, align founder equity, protect IP, and prepare for financing—so legal risk doesn’t become a growth bottleneck.
Request a Consultation
Or ask for the Startup Legal Bundle to get your core documents in place.
FAQ
No. The bundle is a practical package of core legal building blocks that most startups need early to reduce risk, clarify ownership, and be ready for investors.
It depends on where you’ll operate, how you plan to expand, and your governance/tax considerations. We help you choose based on growth plans and operational footprint.
Yes. Even with a small founding team, a foundational shareholders’ agreement helps prevent disputes by clarifying decision-making, ownership, transfers, and exit scenarios.
Not documenting equity and roles clearly (or leaving it “informal”). This creates avoidable conflict, messy cap tables, and problems during fundraising or acquisition due diligence.
Investors and buyers want clarity that the company owns its core IP. If IP remains with founders, contractors, or prior entities, it can delay or derail fundraising and exits.
Not always. NDAs are useful in specific contexts (strategic partners, contractors, sensitive disclosures), but many investors won’t sign NDAs. We help you choose the right approach.
Yes. Misclassification can create tax and employment liabilities. The right contract structure also affects IP ownership, confidentiality, and termination risk.
The bundle provides a strong legal foundation. Fundraising instruments (SAFE/convertible note rounds) can be handled as a separate scope depending on your stage, investor terms, and cap table complexity.
Yes. We can review your existing structure, clean up corporate records, address IP gaps, and update founder/shareholder arrangements so you become investor-ready.
Your cap table (even if informal), founder roles, any existing incorporation documents, key contracts (customers/vendors), IP overview (domain, code, brand assets), and your next 3–6 month business plan.
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Shekarian Law PC is a professional corporation licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. We provide strategic legal counsel to founders, investors, and companies building, expanding, and operating in Canada, including cross-border and regulatory matters.
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