The 18 Docs

THE SALT LEGAL — STARTUP LEGAL FOUNDATION

Investors don't just fund ideas.
They fund Structure, Clarity, and Control.

BEYOND PRODUCT & VISION

What Makes a Startup "Investor-Ready"

A strong product and vision are not enough. Investors look for:

Clear ownership
Clean documentation
Protected intellectual property
Defined founder relationships
Compliance readiness
THE FOUNDATION

The 18 Documents That Define a Serious Business

We’ve structured these into six core areas every business must get right.

Legal Foundation

These documents define who owns what and how decisions are made.

  • 1 Founder Agreement — ownership, roles, and decision-making
  • 2 Incorporation Documents — your company legally exists
  • 3 Co-Founder Exit Clause — what happens when someone leaves
  • 4 Shareholders Agreement — rules between shareholders

Without these, internal disputes can derail even strong businesses.

Equity & Ownership

Investors expect clarity in ownership.

  • 5 Cap Table — every share tracked and accounted for
  • 6 ESOP Agreement — structured equity for your team
  • 7 IP Assignment Agreement — ensures all IP belongs to the company

Unclear ownership is one of the biggest deal-breakers in funding.

Protection

Your business must protect its core assets.

  • 8NDA — protects confidential information
  • 9 Trademark / IP Documents — secures your brand and identity

Unprotected businesses are seen as high-risk.

IV

People

A growing team requires structured documentation.

  • 10 Employee Contracts — define expectations and obligations
  • 11 Offer Letters — formalize hiring professionally
  • 12 HR Policies — ensure consistency and compliance

Strong teams are built on clear legal frameworks.

V

Compliance

Legal compliance builds trust and credibility.

  • 13 Terms of Service — governs product or service usage
  • 14 Privacy Policy — defines how user data is handled
  • 15 Legal Compliance Documents — ensures regulatory alignment

Non-compliance can delay or block growth.

VI

Fundraising

When raising capital, documentation becomes critical.

  • 16 Pitch Deck — communicates your business clearly
  • 17 Financial Model — demonstrates scalability
  • 18 Term Sheet — formalizes investment terms

This is where conversations turn into commitments.

Order 18 Docs

One package. 18 documents. Complete legal clarity. From co-founder exits to cap tables to compliance — everything your startup needs before its next funding conversation.

TSL PACKAGES

Legal Solutions Structured for
Every Stage of Your Business

Whether you are starting up, scaling, protecting your brand, or dealing with disputes — TSL offers structured legal packages designed around real business needs.

IP & BRAND PROTECTION

Protect Your Brand, Innovation & Intellectual Property

STARTER

Brand Naming & Trademark Protection

Build a brand you can legally own

  • 3–5 brand name options
  • Trademark clearance search
  • Risk assessment
  • 1 trademark filing
  • Filing strategy and class selection
  • Post-filing guidance

✓ Legally protectable brand

✓ Reduced rejection risk

✓ Early IP protection

ENQUIRE NOW
GROWTH

Patent Filing & Innovation Protection

Protect what you’ve built before it’s copied

  • Patentability assessment
  • Invention structuring
  • Patent drafting coordination
  • Filing support
  • Strategy guidance

✓ Protected innovation

✓ Stronger valuation narrative

✓ Defensible technology

ENQUIRE NOW
OUR CORE FOCUS

Three Areas. One Objective.

We help companies secure their intellectual property, defend management decisions, and enforce commercial rights through structured legal strategy.

01

Intellectual Property Protection

Protecting intellectual property is critical for businesses building brands, products, and creative assets.

  • Trademark filing and registration
  • Trademark opposition and rectification
  • Copyright registration
  • Design protection filings
  • Brand enforcement and infringement actions
  • IP dispute resolution
EXPLORE IP SERVICES →
02

Employer-Side Workplace Disputes

Workplace disputes can affect management decisions, operational stability, and organizational reputation.

  • Employee termination disputes
  • Executive and senior employee exits
  • Domestic inquiries and misconduct investigations
  • POSH advisory and workplace investigations
  • Employment contracts and HR policy review
  • Labour court and tribunal representation
EXPLORE EMPLOYER SERVICES →
03

Commercial Recovery & Business Disputes

Delayed payments and contract disputes can create serious pressure for businesses.

  • Recovery legal notices
  • Invoice recovery strategy
  • Contract breach disputes
  • Vendor and partner conflicts
  • Arbitration proceedings
  • Commercial litigation
EXPLORE RECOVERY SERVICES →
TSL Logo
WHY FOUNDERS CHOOSE TSL

Legally Structured to Scale

At The SALT Legal (TSL) we focus on building businesses that are legally structured to scale. Our approach is practical, structured, and business-focused.

Avoid internal disputes

Establish clean ownership structures

Protect intellectual property

Build investor confidence

Prepare for funding conversations

Get the Investor Readiness Checklist

A practical checklist of the 18 legal documents every startup
needs before raising funds.

GET IN TOUCH

Speak With TSL

If you are building or scaling a business, the right legal structure is not optional — it is essential. TSL helps you build a foundation that investors trust and businesses can scale on.

Book a consultation
Get your legal setup reviewed
Find the right package for your stage
DISCUSS YOUR MATTER
Results

Case Studies

Real matters illustrating The SALT Legal's ability to navigate diverse legal challenges and deliver practical outcomes for businesses.

View All Case Study
Knowledge

Recent Insights

View All Insights
Get In Touch

Speak With
The SALT Legal

If your business is facing an intellectual property issue, workplace dispute, or commercial conflict, our team would be happy to review your matter.

Request a consultation
Submit your matter for review
Seek guidance on a developing dispute
Discuss Your Matter

User acknowledgment

As per the rules of the Bar Council of India, lawyers and law firms are prohibited from soliciting work or advertising in any manner. By clicking "I Agree" below, users acknowledge the following: Read More

  • There has been no advertisement, personal communication, solicitation, invitation, or inducement of any sort whatsoever from The Salt Legal (TSL) or any of its members to solicit work through this website.
  • Users wish to gain more information about TSL, its practice areas, and its attorneys for their own information and use.
  • The information provided on this website is made available solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as solicitation or advertising.
  • The content on this website does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between TSL and the user.
  • TSL is not liable for any consequence of any action taken by the user relying on material or information provided on this website.