LAW FIRMS
If you decide to raise funds from VCs, you should definitely consider hiring a lawyer to help you navigate the legal negotiations and understand the papers and terms that you are signing. Unfortunately there are not much lawyers that have dealt with fund raising scopes with venture capitalists, offshore restructuring, or other startup related.
LEGAL CHECKLIST
Hammad & Al-Mehdar was kindly enough to supply us with a general legal checklist for startups to prepare their documents as part of any expected investment process & offshore restructuring
Corporate
Certificate of incorporation, articles of association, register of members and directors, corporate organizational chart, resolutions passed. (For all corporate entities)
Regulatory
All licenses, authorizations, permits, and registrations necessary to operate in each jurisdiction.
Management
Business organization chart, list of officers and managers, resolutions regarding appointment and authority.
Material Contracts
List of top customers and suppliers, copies of all contracts of significant material value, agreements entered with any shareholder or affiliates/family relatives.
Assets
List of all moveable assets (computers, servers, IT equipment, etc.) and immoveable assets (real properties owned or leased).
Intellectual Property
All licenses, trademarks, patents, copyrights, and other IP, lists of all web domains and social media accounts, agreements related to the IP owned or licensed.
Products and Technology
List of tech products owned or operated, any complaints or conflicts, list of noted defects.
Employees
List of personnel of the Company, copies of employment contracts, employee handbook and policies.
Litigation and Investigations
All documents relating to disputes, litigation, investigations, internal reports or summaries.
Financial Matters
Audited financial statements, periodic reports, copies of all agreements of financing arrangements/indebtedness.
WANT TO BE ADDED?
- Must have an office based in MENA.
- Must have at least one startup as a client already.
- Has dealt with investments, off-shore restructure, and other startup needs.
RECOMMENDATION
This book gives you useful insights to help you better understand term sheets