Startup Legal Counsel
Legal Foundations for Startups
From incorporation through early-stage fundraising, Clearview helps founders build companies on solid legal ground without breaking the bank.
Industry Expertise
Built for startup speed.
Clearview understands that early-stage companies need fast, practical legal support, not billing by the hour for every email.
Formation & Structure
Clearview helps founders choose the right entity, structure equity from day one, and prepare for the corporate diligence that follows fundraising.
Fundraising Support
From SAFE notes to priced rounds, Clearview helps founders navigate fundraising and investor negotiations, with experience in fundraising structures.
IP Protection
Your technology and brand are your most valuable assets. Clearview ensures proper assignment, protection, and documentation from the start.
Commercial Contracts
Customer agreements, vendor contracts, and partnership deals that protect the business and keep early-stage transactions moving toward close.
Startups Clearview can help.
From pre-seed to Series B, Clearview supports founders at every stage of growth.
Pre-Seed
Idea stage and first hires
Seed Stage
Product-market fit phase
Series A
Scaling operations
Series B+
Growth and expansion
Bootstrapped
Self-funded companies
VC-Backed
Venture-funded startups
Technical Founders
Engineers building products
Repeat Founders
Serial entrepreneurs
Legal Matters
Startup legal matters Clearview handles.
Comprehensive legal support for every stage of startup growth.
Incorporation
Setting up your company with the right structure, jurisdiction, and founding documents for growth and investment.
Founder Agreements
Equity splits, vesting schedules, IP assignments, and other founder arrangements that prevent disputes later.
Fundraising Documents
SAFE notes, convertible notes, term sheets, and priced round documents that protect founder interests.
Employee Equity
Equity compensation structures that help attract talent while managing dilution.
Commercial Agreements
Terms of service, customer contracts, and vendor agreements built for startup velocity.
IP Assignment
Ensuring all intellectual property is properly assigned to the company from founders, employees, and contractors.
How Clearview supports startup growth.
Fundraising Support
SAFE notes, term sheet review, and due diligence preparation.
Equity Plans
Stock option plans and equity compensation programs for growing teams.
FAQ
Common questions.
Should I incorporate in Delaware or Canada?
For Canadian startups with Canadian investors, federal or provincial incorporation is often simpler and cheaper. If you're targeting US VC funding and expect most investors to be US-based, Delaware may make sense. The right answer depends on your fundraising plans and investor base, and Clearview helps you evaluate the tradeoffs.
How much equity should I give co-founders?
There's no universal answer, but the key is having the conversation early and documenting it properly. Clearview helps founders think through contribution, commitment, and risk to reach fair arrangements, and implements proper vesting to protect everyone.
When should I start paying for legal help?
At incorporation, if possible. The cost of fixing incorporation mistakes, missing IP assignments, or bad early contracts is always higher than doing it right the first time. Clearview offers startup-friendly pricing to make early legal support accessible.
What's included in a startup legal package?
Clearview's startup packages typically include incorporation, founder agreements, IP assignments, initial equity documentation, and template contracts. These are priced as fixed-fee packages so you know the cost upfront.
Learn More
Knowledge centre.
Ready to build on solid legal foundations?
Let's discuss your startup, your plans, and how Clearview can help you grow.