Advice to startups

As a startup, your primary focus will (and should) be on spreading your business idea and building a solid business model. We know that, as a founder, you have many priorities and roles, and that your focus is on driving and developing your business. We are ready to help you prioritise and address the challenges that can cause the biggest headaches.

Our experience and expertise

We combine deep legal insight with our detailed knowledge of the Danish ecosystem for startups and growth companies. It means that we can offer high-quality advice that will help you overcome your challenges as a startup and allow you to focus on growing your business.

Our extensive experience and industry knowledge also means that we can offer you and your business a trusted advisor to engage with who will prepare you for day-to-day operations, negotiations and disputes. We offer transparent prices and proven document packages at a fixed price, so that you can keep track of your legal expenses.

• Incorporation of companies and partnerships

When setting up a company or partnership, we can help you choose the right corporate form and holding structure, draw up the constitutional documents, and apply for registration of your company or partnership.

• Shareholders' agreements

If you are setting up a business with one or more founders, the shareholders' agreement will be one of the most important agreements, regulating the relationship between the owners. We help you draw up a shareholders’ agreement that meets your needs, not only in the start-up phase, but also in the long term. We do our best to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the owners and deliver high-quality documentation at a fixed price.

• IP rights

As a startup, it is crucial that you protect your IP rights, particularly where intangible assets are the backbone of your business. If, for example, you use open source code to build your software, you should make sure that your own code is adequately protected. We will guide you through these and many other issues from the start.

• Warrants and other incentive programme

Warrant programmes are used by many startups to attract and retain talent. However, implementation of a warrant programme should be carefully considered to ensure that it provides the intended incentives. Furthermore, a large number of documents have to be drawn up to comply with the quite complex employment, tax and company law rules. Our highly specialised lawyers are ready to help you in relation to both warrant and incentive programmes.

• Executive service and employment contracts

Employment contracts must meet a vast number of requirements under Danish law, but having a good template from the start will help. For many startups, detailed regulation of intellectual property rights and a high degree of flexibility for the company are necessary. We are happy to assist you and have also considerable experience in drafting executive service contracts.

• Strategic alliances and partnership agreements

Partnerships can be crucial for a startup. We can assist you with the commercial set-up and legal terms and identify any pitfalls, including the competition law aspects of strategic alliances and partnership agreements. We draw on our years of experience to protect your commercial and legal interests from the very start, as you enter into or consolidate important partnerships.

• Non-disclosure agreements

Non-disclosure agreements are widely used, and we have extensive experience in dealing with the potential disputes and issues that may arise in relation to the conclusion and enforcement of NDAs. We advise on the timing and necessity of NDAs and assist in the drafting of standard agreements that can be customised by you and in any subsequent negotiations.

• Data protection, personal data, and compliance

The regulation of personal data is extensive and difficult to navigate. As a commercial enterprise, you will have to handle personal data from employees, customers and suppliers, and you will need to comply with data protection requirements. We can assist you in prioritising the work and creating value through your data protection. As an example, we organise workshops to help you design your product to ensure the best possible protection of your customers’ data without compromising your business.

• General meetings and other company law advice

Companies must hold general meetings, update their register of shareholders, and adjust their articles of association to comply with the numerous requirements in the Danish Companies Act. For this purpose, there are a number of formalities that must be followed. Sometimes, for instance in connection with reorganisation and founder shuffle, more difficult questions arise that call for creative solutions but still with an eye to your business and finances. As experts in the field, we assist with all company law assignments.

• Funding

Raising capital can be a time-consuming process that involves an analysis of your capital need, preparation, and assessment of your strategic options, as well as drafting and negotiation of contract terms. We have assisted in all types of funding, including in relation to investments, classic and convertible loans, SAFEs, and venture debt, from all types of investors - from new business angels to large venture funds. We have acted as adviser to both sides in a venture investment and therefore know how to position your business to investors and banks in order to obtain the best possible terms.

We adopt a holistic perspective, so that you do not end up giving up too much control as founder already in the pre-seed round, because you are eager to close your first investment round. At the same time, we understand the importance of ensuring a smooth process with the investors that hopefully end up as your partners.

• Exit

An exit is a spectacular event for any founder and must be carefully planned and executed. We have considerable experience with exits: from the initial exit strategy considerations to execution, and we can therefore provide high-level assistance in any type of exit.

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