office@leolawyers.com.au

02 8201 0051

Startup Lawyers Sydney

Name: Leo Lawyers
Brand: Leo Lawyers
Rating: 5 (330 reviews)

From first idea to funding rounds and beyond, get legal support that actually keeps pace with how fast startups move.

Smart

Experienced

Strategic

Transparent

Startup & Venture Lawyers Sydney

Starting a business is genuinely exciting. It’s also where a lot of people make legal decisions in a rush, or skip them entirely, and end up paying for it later.

Our startup lawyers in Sydney work with founders and growing businesses across industries. The advice is practical and direct.

We help you set up your first company and prepare for a capital raise. We put the right legal foundations in place so they do not create problems later.

Here’s what we help with:

Business structuring and company setup
Shareholder agreements and founder arrangements
Capital raising, SAFE notes, and investor agreements
Employment contracts and ESOPs
Intellectual property protection and licensing
Website terms, privacy policies, and compliance
Commercial contracts and supplier agreements

We’re not just here to draft documents. The goal is to protect your ownership, prevent the disputes that derail early-stage businesses, and get you ready for growth and investment.

Startup Lawyer in Sydney

Meet Damin Murdock

Over 18 Years of Experience in Startup, Commercial & Technology Law

Damin has advised more than 1,000 startups, founders, and growing businesses across Australia. That’s a lot of cap tables, funding rounds, and founder disagreements. He’s seen where things go wrong and, more usefully, how to stop them from getting there.

He regularly works on:

Founder agreements and equity structuring
Startup funding and investor negotiations
SaaS, tech, and digital business models
IP protection and commercialisation
Startup disputes and risk management

Founders who work with Damin tend to say the same thing: he makes the legal side feel manageable without dumbing it down. That matters when you’re trying to move fast.

“Help you stay ahead with innovative, practical and commercial advice.”

17+ Years of Trusted Legal Excellence

Our Startup Legal Services

Launching your first startup or already scaling toward investment? Either way, the legal work looks different at each stage, and we’re across all of it.

1. Business Structure & Setup

Launching your first startup or already scaling toward investment? Either way, the legal work looks different at each stage, and we’re across all of it.

2. Founder & Shareholder Agreements

Founder disputes are one of the most common reasons early-stage startups fall apart. A clear agreement up front deals with most of that before it becomes a problem.

3. Capital Raising & Investment

Raising money is complicated. The structure, the documents, the negotiation. We work with startups through every stage of it.

4. Intellectual Property Protection

Your IP is often the most valuable thing your startup owns. It’s also the thing most founders underprotect until it’s too late.

5. Startup Contracts & Commercial Agreements

Contracts that are vague or one-sided create problems as soon as something goes even slightly sideways. We draft agreements that actually hold up.

6. Employment & Contractor Agreements

Building a team brings a whole new set of legal obligations. We help you do it properly from the start.

7. Privacy & Compliance

Data and privacy obligations often emerge as startups grow. We help you stay ahead of them and remain compliant.

Practical legal support for founders who are serious about building something real. Talk to Damin Murdock today.

Our Expertise in Startup Law

The decisions you make in the first few months tend to follow you for years. We help founders get them right.

Business structuring
Founder agreements
Initial contracts

Capital raises involve more moving parts than most founders expect the first time through. We support the process from term sheet to close.

SAFE and convertible notes
Seed and Series A rounds
Investor protections

Tech businesses come with specific legal considerations that general commercial advice doesn’t always cover well.

SaaS agreements
Software licensing
Data compliance

Protecting your brand, your product, and your innovation isn’t just a legal box to tick. It’s a commercial decision.

IP ownership
Trademark guidance
Licensing

Disputes between founders or with early partners can stop a startup cold. We work to resolve them fast and plan ahead to avoid them where possible.

Founder disputes
Contract breaches
Risk planning

Legal needs change as your business grows. Hiring, contracting, and expanding into new markets. We stay involved through all of it.

Hiring and team structuring
Commercial contracts
Regulatory compliance

Our Process

Three stages. Nothing overcomplicated.

Initial Consultation

We get across your startup, your goals, and the specific challenges you're dealing with right now.

Strategic Advice

You get clear guidance on structure, risk, and what to prioritise legally at your current stage.

Ongoing Legal Support

As the business grows and evolves, we stay in your corner. Scaling, raising, hiring. We're across it.

Build your startup on a legal foundation that actually holds. Speak to a startup lawyer in Sydney today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a startup lawyer do?

A startup lawyer helps founders set up the business correctly. They draft key agreements, guide funding rounds, and manage legal risks before they become costly.

When should I hire a startup lawyer?

You should engage a startup lawyer as early as possible. Early decisions around structure, ownership, and agreements are difficult to change later.

Do I need a shareholder agreement for my startup?

Yes. A shareholder agreement defines ownership, decision-making, and exit scenarios. It prevents disputes from becoming complex and disruptive.

How do startups raise capital legally?

Most early-stage raises use SAFE notes, convertible notes, or direct equity. Each has different implications for ownership and investor rights. We make sure the structure makes sense for your situation.

How do I protect my startup idea?

IP ownership, trademarks, and confidentiality agreements all play a role depending on what you’ve built. We help you work out what protection actually applies and put it in place.

Can you help with startup contracts?

Yes. Customer agreements, partner arrangements, employment contracts, investor documents. We draft these to protect your startup as it grows, not just at the moment of signing.

How much does a startup lawyer cost?

It depends on what you need and where you’re at in the business. We’re upfront about pricing before anything starts, so there are no surprises.