Founder agreement
Record founder roles, equity, vesting, time commitments, decision rights and leaver provisions while the relationship is still constructive.
Startup contracts UK
Build on a solid legal foundation.
Most start-up failures aren't product failures. They are people failures. A clear founder agreement sets expectations around ownership, responsibility and decisions before pressure exposes the gaps.
Regent Legal prepares plain-English founder and shareholder agreements for UK start-ups, growing companies and early-stage investment discussions.
Put the working relationship in writing.
Clear terms help founders keep building.
- Set equity splits, vesting and decision rights.
- Keep intellectual property with the company.
- Give investors a clearer route through due diligence.
- Agree what happens when a founder leaves.
Start-up legal documents
Key documents for start-ups
The right agreement depends on your ownership structure, funding plans and day-to-day working arrangements. We focus on the terms that affect your company in practice.
Shareholder agreement
Set voting, dividends, share transfers, board composition and drag-along or tag-along terms for the company ahead.
Investor agreement
Cover subscription terms, warrants, information rights and anti-dilution points in a document that matches the agreed investment.
Confidentiality agreement
Protect sensitive figures, product plans and commercial discussions with investors, suppliers and potential partners.
IP assignment
Make sure code, designs, inventions and other work created by founders or early contractors belong to the company.
Related commercial terms
Add the practical documents your business needs as it hires, sells, partners and prepares for investment.
Before the difficult conversation
Why put these terms in place now?
Good intentions do not settle an ownership dispute. Written shareholder terms give everyone a reference point when the business changes.
Protect company IP
Avoid uncertainty about code, designs and customer materials when someone moves on.
Prevent deadlock
Define voting thresholds and reserved matters before two equal voices reach an impasse.
Prepare for investors
Show that ownership, founder responsibilities and company records have been considered.
Plan an exit
Set a route for transfers, leavers, sale events and insolvency without leaving the answer to chance.
A practical drafting process
How we work with start-ups
You bring the business context. Regent Legal turns the agreed position into clear, execution-ready documents.
Talk through your structure01
Start with a focused call
We discuss your ownership structure, roles, funding plans and the decisions that need a firm answer.
02
Draft around your business
The first draft reflects your company, rather than relying on terms that founders cannot apply day to day.
03
Work through founder feedback
We address comments from each founder and explain the effect of important provisions in plain English.
04
Prepare for signing
You receive final documents with the agreed terms ready for execution and company records.
Clear answers for founders
Start-up FAQs
What is the difference between a founder agreement and a shareholder agreement?
A founder agreement focuses on the people starting the business, including roles, contributions, vesting and responsibilities. A shareholder agreement governs the rights attached to shares, voting, transfers and company decisions.
When should we sign a founder agreement?
Ideally before substantial work, funding or intellectual property is created. Early agreement gives founders a shared position while ownership and responsibilities are still being shaped.
How do we handle a founder leaving?
The agreement can distinguish between different types of departure and set out vesting, share transfers, valuation and access to company information. The wording should match the risks in your particular structure.
Can you help with investor term sheets?
We can review the legal wording and explain how proposed investment terms affect ownership, control, information rights and future funding. A separate investor agreement can then record the agreed position.
Do we need IP assignments from contractors?
Usually, a clear written assignment is sensible where a contractor creates code, designs, content or other material for the company. It helps establish ownership before the work becomes central to the business.
Protect the work ahead
Secure your start-up's future.
Get your founder agreement sorted before it becomes urgent. Regent Legal can discuss your structure, recommend the documents you need and offer fixed-fee options for defined drafting work.
Call +44 7457 029779 or email [email protected].