Melbourne
Startup Lawyers Melbourne
Fixed-fee startup legals for Melbourne founders — from incorporation to Series A close.
Envision Legal acts for Melbourne founders from pre-seed through Series B — across SaaS, fintech, health tech, agritech and enterprise software. Fixed fees. Senior lawyers. Startup-fluent.
Startup legal work we handle
- Incorporation and structure — Pty Ltd, holding company, discretionary trust for founder equity.
- Founders' and shareholders' agreements — vesting, drag-along, tag-along, deadlock, exit. See founders' agreement Australia.
- IP assignment — founder and contractor IP deeds. Critical at Series A diligence.
- SAFEs and convertible notes — Australian-style SAFEs with cap / discount / MFN. See SAFE vs Convertible Note.
- ESOPs — Employee Share Option Plans, including ESIC startup concession.
- Priced rounds — Seed and Series A subscription agreements, updated shareholders' agreements, board mechanics.
- Commercial contracts — SaaS terms, MSAs, DPAs, reseller and partner agreements.
- Employment — senior hire contracts, contractor agreements with IP, enforceable restraints under Victorian law.
- Fractional general counsel — senior lawyer inside the business, fixed monthly fee.
Fixed-fee packages
| Package | Typical fee | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Solo founder | $1,500–$2,500 + GST | Company, IP assignment, website terms, privacy policy |
| Founding team | $3,500–$5,500 + GST | Above + shareholders' agreement + vesting |
| Raise-ready | $5,500–$8,500 + GST | Above + SAFE / convertible note + ESOP |
| Series A close | Scoped per round | Term sheet through completion |
Why Melbourne founders switch to us
- Speed — first drafts in days.
- Cost certainty — fixed fees, no WIP surprises.
- Senior attention — the lawyer you meet is the one doing the work.
- Startup fluency — SAFEs, ESOPs, cap tables and priced rounds are our weekly work.
Frequently asked questions
When should a Melbourne startup engage a lawyer?
Before you take money from anyone — investor, co-founder, or paying customer. Fixing structural mistakes at Series A diligence is 10–20× more expensive than getting them right at day one.
What is the Melbourne startup ecosystem like?
Melbourne hosts a strong fintech, health tech, agritech and enterprise SaaS community, anchored by LaunchVic, Startmate and a deep VC ecosystem centred on Cremorne and the CBD. Envision Legal acts for founders across that stack.
Do you charge fixed fees for startup work?
Yes. Solo founder starter from $1,500 + GST. Founding-team package with shareholders' agreement and IP assignment from $3,500 + GST. Raise-ready (adds SAFE and ESOP) from $5,500 + GST.
Can you close a Series A?
Yes. We negotiate term sheets, prepare investor documents, manage due diligence and close alongside investor counsel — for a fraction of tier-1 firm fees.
Related pages
Talk to us
Ready to talk it through?
Send us a note about what you're working on. We'll respond within one business day and, if we're a fit, book a free 15-minute consultation with a senior lawyer.