Freelancers own their work by default under US law. The client owns nothing without a signed IP assignment. This guide covers the five provisions every freelancer contract must include, the three clients push on hardest, and the state-specific protections in New York, California, Illinois, and Colorado.
A legal operating system is the integrated infrastructure for handling a business's legal needs systematically — not reactively. Most businesses have none. Legal Chain's five-pillar legal operating system covers AI drafting, contract analysis, blockchain verification, attorney access, and a legal workspace. Free during beta.
AI can draft legally binding contracts. US courts evaluate a contract's content and the parties' agreement — not the drafting method. This guide explains the five elements that make any contract enforceable, what AI drafts well, and when attorney review still matters.
A startup cap table is the complete record of who owns what percentage of a company — on a basic and fully diluted basis. This guide covers how the cap table changes from founding through Series A, how SAFEs appear before conversion, and the four mistakes that cause due diligence delays.
A founder vesting agreement makes equity earned over time — not granted immediately. Without one, a co-founder who leaves after three months keeps their full allocation. Legal Chain covers the standard four-year schedule, one-year cliff, good leaver and bad leaver mechanics, and acceleration provisions for every US state.
A SAFE — Simple Agreement for Future Equity — has no maturity date, no interest, and no balance sheet liability. It converts into preferred equity at the next priced round, at terms set by the valuation cap. Legal Chain explains every component before you issue or accept one.
Most startup legal mistakes happen in the first ninety days. A founder agreement signed late costs equity. A missed 83(b) window cannot be recovered. Legal Chain's startup legal checklist covers all six stages — formation through Series A — with every document generated free.
Both instruments raise capital before a priced round. The SAFE has no maturity date, no interest, and no balance sheet liability. The convertible note has all three. The right choice depends on your investor, your timeline, and your cap table math. Legal Chain generates both free.
Without a founder agreement, a co-founder who leaves after three months keeps their full equity. Legal Chain's AI generator covers all eight provisions — equity, vesting, IP assignment, roles, non-compete, departure mechanics, dispute resolution, and governing law — for any US state in under five minutes.
A convertible note has a maturity date, an interest rate, and a usury ceiling — three terms the SAFE eliminates. A $250K note at 6% for 18 months converts $272,500, not $250K. Legal Chain generates state-compliant notes with full interest accrual shown before signing.
