legal-checklist

name	legal-checklist
description	Stage-specific legal checklists for startups covering incorporation, shareholder agreements, stock options, privacy compliance, and regulatory requirements. Generates actionable checklists with priority and professional review recommendations.
metadata	{"version":"1.0.0","category":"operations","domain":"legal-compliance"}
triggers	["legal checklist","법인 설립","법률 체크","startup legal","compliance check"]

Legal Checklist - Startup Legal Requirements by Stage

Overview

Provides stage-appropriate legal checklists for startups. Not legal advice — a structured guide to ensure nothing critical is missed, with clear markers for when to engage legal professionals.

Disclaimer: This is a checklist tool, not legal advice. Always consult qualified legal professionals for your specific situation.

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1. When to Apply

Trigger	Behavior
Company formation	Pre-incorporation checklist
First hire / co-founder agreement	Team legal checklist
Product launch	Privacy & terms checklist
Fundraising	Investment legal checklist
"legal checklist" keyword	Interactive stage selection

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2. Stage-Based Checklists

Stage 0: Pre-Incorporation (아이디어 단계)

## Pre-Incorporation Checklist

### Founder Agreement ⚠️ CRITICAL
- [ ] Co-founder roles and responsibilities defined
- [ ] Equity split agreed and documented
- [ ] Vesting schedule agreed (standard: 4-year, 1-year cliff)
- [ ] IP assignment clause included
- [ ] Decision-making process defined
- [ ] Exit/departure terms defined
→ **Professional Review: REQUIRED** (창업 변호사 상담 필수)

### IP Protection
- [ ] Invention assignment agreements signed by all founders
- [ ] Prior IP from employers/universities clarified
- [ ] Trade name / brand name availability checked
- [ ] Domain name secured
- [ ] Key social media handles reserved

### Initial Structure Decision
- [ ] Legal entity type decided (주식회사 / LLC / C-Corp)
  - Korea: 주식회사 (most common for VC funding)
  - US: Delaware C-Corp (standard for US VC)
  - Consider: Tax implications, investor preferences, market
- [ ] Jurisdiction decided

Stage 1: Incorporation (설립 단계)

## Incorporation Checklist

### Company Formation
- [ ] Articles of incorporation filed (정관 작성/등기)
- [ ] Business registration completed (사업자등록)
- [ ] Corporate bank account opened (법인 계좌 개설)
- [ ] Initial capital deposited (자본금 납입)
- [ ] Shareholder registry established (주주명부)
- [ ] Corporate seal created (if required) (법인 인감)

### Founder Documents
- [ ] Shareholder agreement (SHA) signed (주주간 계약서)
- [ ] Stock vesting agreements executed (스톡 베스팅 계약)
- [ ] IP assignment agreements signed (지식재산 양도 계약)
- [ ] Non-compete/NDA agreements (경업금지/비밀유지)
→ **Professional Review: REQUIRED**

### Tax & Accounting
- [ ] Tax ID / EIN obtained (사업자번호)
- [ ] Accounting system set up (회계 시스템)
- [ ] Tax filing calendar established (세금 신고 일정)
- [ ] 부가세 / 법인세 / 원천세 신고 일정 확인

### Insurance
- [ ] Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance (임원배상책임보험) — consider after seed
- [ ] General liability insurance — consider based on product type

Stage 2: Product Launch (서비스 출시)

## Product Launch Legal Checklist

### Privacy & Data Protection ⚠️ CRITICAL
- [ ] Privacy policy drafted and published (개인정보처리방침)
- [ ] Terms of service drafted and published (이용약관)
- [ ] Cookie consent mechanism implemented (EU users)
- [ ] GDPR compliance assessed (if serving EU users)
- [ ] 개인정보보호법 준수 확인 (한국 사용자)
- [ ] Data processing agreements with vendors (DPA)
- [ ] Data retention/deletion policy defined
- [ ] User data export capability (GDPR right to portability)
→ **Professional Review: RECOMMENDED** (개인정보보호 전문가)

### Product-Specific Compliance
- [ ] Industry-specific regulations identified
  - Fintech: 전자금융업 등록, 금융규제 확인
  - Healthcare: 의료법, 개인정보 특별법
  - EdTech: 교육 관련 규제
  - E-commerce: 전자상거래법, 통신판매업 신고
- [ ] Age verification requirements checked (if applicable)
- [ ] Accessibility requirements reviewed (if applicable)

### Intellectual Property
- [ ] Trademark application filed (상표 출원)
- [ ] Open source license compliance verified
- [ ] Content licensing agreements in place (if using third-party content)

Stage 3: Fundraising (투자 유치)

## Fundraising Legal Checklist

### Pre-Fundraising Preparation
- [ ] Cap table clean and up-to-date (지분구조표)
- [ ] All founder agreements executed and filed
- [ ] IP assignments completed
- [ ] No outstanding legal disputes
- [ ] Corporate minutes up-to-date (이사회/주총 의사록)
- [ ] Financial statements audited/reviewed (재무제표)

### Investment Documents
- [ ] Term sheet reviewed (텀시트 검토)
- [ ] Investment agreement drafted (투자계약서)
- [ ] Stock option pool established (스톡옵션 풀)
  - Standard: 10-15% of fully diluted shares
- [ ] Anti-dilution provisions understood
- [ ] Board seat/observer rights negotiated
- [ ] Information rights defined
- [ ] Pro-rata rights clarified
→ **Professional Review: REQUIRED** (스타트업 전문 변호사 필수)

### Due Diligence Readiness (데이터룸)
- [ ] Corporate documents organized
- [ ] Financial records accessible
- [ ] Customer contracts available
- [ ] Employee/contractor agreements filed
- [ ] IP documentation complete
- [ ] Regulatory compliance documentation

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3. Quick Reference: Common Legal Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence	Prevention
No founder agreement	Equity disputes, company death	Sign SHA before anything else
No vesting	Departing founder keeps all equity	4-year vesting with 1-year cliff
No IP assignment	Company doesn't own its product	All contributors sign IP assignment
Missing privacy policy	Regulatory fines, user trust loss	Publish before launch
Handshake deals with vendors	No legal recourse	Written contracts always
Mixing personal/business finances	Tax & liability issues	Separate bank accounts

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4. Tool Coordination

Tool	Purpose
Write	Generate stage-appropriate checklist document
Read	Review existing legal documents for completeness
Glob	Find existing legal documents in project

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5. Boundaries

Will:

• Generate comprehensive legal checklists by startup stage
• Flag items requiring professional legal review
• Provide Korean and US legal context where relevant
• Highlight common legal mistakes and prevention

Will Not:

• Provide legal advice (always recommend professional review)
• Draft legal documents (contracts, terms, policies)
• Guarantee regulatory compliance
• Replace consultation with qualified attorneys