Early-stage companies get legal advice in the worst possible order. Nothing at incorporation because money is tight. Nothing when the second founder joins because everyone trusts each other. Nothing when the first big customer contract arrives because the customer supplied the template.
Then an investor runs diligence. No shareholders agreement. Intellectual property sitting with a contractor who was never asked to assign it. A co-founder holding equity with no vesting and no obligation to stay.
The round does not fall over. It just gets repriced, and the founders pay for years of unpapered decisions in dilution.
Startup Counsel Programme
A programme built for early-stage companies — the foundational documents, the intellectual property position, the founder arrangements and the contracts you sign with customers and contractors, together with ongoing access to counsel as questions arise.
Your Vision, Backed by the Right Legal Support
You build the business. We help you protect it.
Picture opening a data room and having everything an investor asks for. Founders on documented terms with vesting. IP assigned and held by the company. Customer contracts on your paper. Diligence becomes a formality rather than a renegotiation.
Who this service is for
This Is For You If…
Founders at or near incorporation
Startups preparing for a first or second funding round
Companies whose intellectual property was built by contractors or co-founders
Teams signing customer or supplier contracts drafted by the other side
Founders who need counsel available without a full retainer commitment
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What we will do for you
This is what we will do for you
Put the foundational corporate documents in place, including founder arrangements
Secure intellectual property into the company from founders and contractors
Provide the customer, contractor and non-disclosure templates your team will reuse
Prepare the company for investor diligence before the round starts
Stay available for questions as they arise rather than only at crisis points
What’s Included
What’s Included in our service for you
Foundational corporate documents including founder arrangements and vesting
Intellectual property assignment from founders and contractors
Reusable customer, contractor and non-disclosure templates
Investor readiness review before the round opens
Ongoing access to counsel for questions as they arise
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Why Choose Legal That Works?
Why Choose Us To Assist You?
Digital-first
No office visit required—review and sign online
Transparent fees
Fixed price, no billing surprises
Deep experience
Various contracts across industries
Accessible
Our client portal keeps you informed
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We've Helped
You Need To Act Now
Important: Limited Slots
Every unpapered decision an early company makes gets discovered during diligence, at the point where the founders have least leverage to fix it cheaply.
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Nothing to Lose. Everything to Protect.
No Surprises. No Guesswork. Just Legal That Works.
Before anything starts, we speak with you to understand your business and make sure the service is the right fit. If it is not, we will say so upfront. No pressure. No wasted time. We only take on matters we are confident we can deliver with quality. That is why business owners trust us to get it right.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Legal That Works?
Legal That Works is a business and organisation oriented legal service designed by Messrs Akmal Saufi & Co (the firm that has brought the widely known legal consumer services brand ASCOLAW). We specifically help business owners and organisation leadership to navigate Malaysia’s legal terrain to achieve their commercial goal.
What if I’m not sure what legal service I need?
No problem. Most business owners aren’t legal experts! Just reach out. Our team will guide you to the right service or help you understand your options—without jargon or upselling.
We have no revenue yet. Is this too early?
Usually the opposite. The cheapest time to fix the structure is before there is anything at stake in it.
What is founder vesting and do we need it?
It means equity is earned over time rather than held outright from day one. Most investors expect it, and it protects the founders who stay.
Our developer built the product as a contractor. Is the IP ours?
Not automatically. Without a written assignment it may well sit with the contractor. This is among the most common and most damaging findings in startup diligence.
How is this different from a full retainer?
It is scoped to what an early-stage company actually needs, at a level appropriate to that stage. As the company grows, a full retainer usually becomes the better fit.
Can you help when we actually raise?
Yes — term sheet review, subscription and investment documentation and the shareholders agreement are all work we handle.
Who will be helping me?
All our services are delivered by our licensed lawyers under the Malaysian Bar with proven experience across industries. You’ll work with a real legal team, not chatbots or generic customer support.
