Start-Up Law Talk www.startuplawtalk.com 1 Corporate Law Carter Mackley Mackley & Mackley, PLLC (206) 249-9678 [email protected]www.mackleylaw.com/ Tax Deniz Kiral Turquoise Tax Advisory (425) 945-6300 [email protected]www.turquoisefinancialadvisor y.com Immigration Law Tahmina Watson Watson Immigration Law Seattle, WA, 98154 (206) 292-5237 tahmina@watsonimmigrationlaw. com www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com Intellectual Property Law Ashley K. Long Ember Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC (617) 513-8222 [email protected]www.emberip.com
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Start-Up Law Talk 0 Corporate Law Carter Mackley Mackley & Mackley, PLLC (206) 249-9678 [email protected]
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Ashley K. LongEmber Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC(617) [email protected]
START-UP DOCUMENTS OVERVIEWWhat are the minimum legal documents necessary for the well-organized startup company?
(What documents will a sophisticated investor or acquirer expect to see?)
Big Picture Categories
• Corporate Formation Documents• Founder Stock Purchase and Contribution• Equity Compensation• Other Employee Documents• Technology Protection• Financings• Commercial Contracts
Corporate Formation Documents• Articles of Incorporation (or LLC Operating Agreement)• Bylaws• Stock Purchase Agreements (see slide on founders)• Stock Ledger and Cap Table• Stock Certificates• Minute Book (organizational resolutions)• EIN Application• State Business License• Local Business License• Shareholder Agreement• S Election – Consent to S Election (If so electing)
Articles of Incorporation
• Filed with Secretary of State• Authorized Shares• Terms of Stock• Board of Directors• Voting Rules and Thresholds• Special Voting Protections• Director Indemnification/Liability Limitations
Bylaws
•Shareholder Voting Procedures•Board of Directors Procedures•Officer Duties•Indemnification (can also be separate document)
Shareholder Agreement
• Voting Agreement for Board of Directors• Right of First Refusal• Co-Sale• Drag-along Clause• Break-up• Death/Disability/Bankruptcy/Divorce
Founder Agreements
• Restricted Stock Agreement• Vesting Schedule• 83b Election• Employment Agreement?• IP Assignments and Invention Assignment Agreements
Executive Employment Agreement• Base Comp• Bonuses• Severance• Termination
Other Employee Documents• Offer Letters• Inventions Assignment and Confidentiality• Stock Option Grants• Tax Forms• Employee Handbook• Benefits disclosures
Inventions Assignment and Confidentiality Agreement
• All employees/all contractors should sign• Assignment of Inventions• Confidentiality• Non-compete• Non-solicitation• Recites company ownership of emails, etc.
(employees and contractors)• Non-Disclosure Agreements (mutual and unilateral)• Trademark Registrations• Patent Applications(?)• Website Terms of Use
Commercial Contracts (Examples)
• Independent Contractor Agreement• Website Terms of Use/Privacy Policy• SAAS Agreement• Distribution Agreement• Supply Contract• Engineering (Design) Services Agreement• Service Provider Agreements (e.g., hosting agreement)
Financings - Series A Documents• Business Plan/Private Placement Memorandum• Term Sheet• Cap Table• Purchase Agreement• Certificate of Designation• Shareholder/Voting Agreement• ROFR/CoSale Agreement• Investor/Registration Rights Agreement• SEC Form Ds – Blue Sky
Certificate of Designation• Terms of Preferred Stock• Liquidation Preference• Dividends• Conversion Terms• Redemption• Protective Voting Provisions