Startup Counsel Programme
Startup Counsel Programme — Legal Support Built for Companies That Are Still Building
The documents an early-stage company actually needs, plus ongoing access to counsel, on a structure that does not consume the round you just raised.
- Advocates & Solicitors
- Offices in Kuala Lumpur & Johor Bahru
- Confidential, no obligation
Real lawyers, one team behind every matter
Who this is for
Sound familiar?
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
What's at stake
What is really at stake
- 01Early-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.
- 02Then 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.
- 03The round does not fall over.It just gets repriced, and the founders pay for years of unpapered decisions in dilution.
In plain words
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.
What good looks like
Imagine 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.
What you get
What we deliver
Scope and fee are agreed in writing before any work starts, so you know exactly what you are getting.
- 01
Foundational corporate documents including founder arrangements and vesting
- 02
Intellectual property assignment from founders and contractors
- 03
Reusable customer, contractor and non-disclosure templates
- 04
Investor readiness review before the round opens
- 05
Ongoing access to counsel for questions as they arise
How we work
Clear from the first conversation
- 1
Send a short request
Tell us what the matter is about. It takes under a minute and stays confidential.
- 2
Akmal sets a time with you
We reply within 30 minutes in office hours to arrange your consultation, online or at our KL or JB office.
- 3
Advice, then a written proposal
You get a clear view of the issues and options, then a written scope and fee proposal.
- 4
Work begins on the agreed scope
Akmal leads the matter with a team of our lawyers, working to the scope you approved. You get regular updates at every key step.
Who leads your matter
Led by Akmal Saufi, supported by our team
Akmal leads your matter as Partner. Depending on the work, other lawyers in our team handle parts of it day to day, with Akmal overseeing the matter.
Akmal Saufi
Partner, Messrs Akmal Saufi & Co
- Advocate & Solicitor, Malaysia
- Over 13 years in transactional work: M&A, joint ventures, land and infrastructure
- LLB (Hons), International Islamic University Malaysia
The team behind your matter
Meet the team →Who we have acted for
Organisations we have acted for
Federal government agencies & statutory bodies
Johor state bodies & local authorities
Government-linked companies
Private sector & NGOs
Shown with permission. Government agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies are identified as such. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement by any government, ministry or agency.
Next step
Request a consultation with Akmal
- 1Send a short request. It takes under a minute.
- 2Akmal reviews it and arranges a time with you.
- 3You get clear advice, then a written scope and fee proposal.
We reply within 30 minutes · Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm
Your details stay confidential. Sending a request does not mean you have appointed us.
- Licensed advocates & solicitors
- Professional indemnity insured
- Offices in KL & JB
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Still unsure? Send a short request and Akmal will tell you plainly whether and how we can help.
We have no revenue yet. Is this too early?
What is founder vesting and do we need it?
Our developer built the product as a contractor. Is the IP ours?
How is this different from a full retainer?
Can you help when we actually raise?
What is Legal That Works?
What if I’m not sure what legal service I need?
Who will be helping me?
Before you sign
The cost of waiting
Every unpapered decision an early company makes gets discovered during diligence, at the point where the founders have least leverage to fix it cheaply.
We reply within 30 minutes · Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm
