Legal and risk for founder led lower-middle market companies
This page is for founder led lower-middle market companies with 5 to 50 million in annual revenue. The goal is to protect value with simple, standard documents and steady reviews that the team can run.
Questions and short answers
What contracts must be standard across all customers
Use one approved set. Master service agreement or terms and conditions. Order form or statement of work. Service level agreement when you deliver ongoing service. Data protection addendum. Change order template. Include clear IP ownership, confidentiality, limitation of liability, indemnity, governing law, and payment terms. Keep redlines to a short playbook.
Standard customer contracts
How do I manage intellectual property during growth
Make ownership unambiguous. Use invention assignment and confidentiality for employees and contractors. State IP terms in every customer and supplier contract. Keep a simple IP register for patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and licences. Limit access on a need to know basis and review rights after staff changes.
Manage intellectual property
What insurance coverages are table stakes at our size
Common needs include commercial general liability, property and business interruption, professional liability if you deliver services, product liability if you ship goods, cyber, directors and officers, and employment practices liability. Set limits by contract requirements and risk. Review with a broker each year and after major changes.
Insurance coverages that matter
How do I set a clear policy for compliance and privacy
Publish a short, plain policy set. Code of conduct, privacy policy, data handling and retention, access control, incident response, vendor risk, and request handling for data subjects. Name a privacy officer, train staff each year, and keep a log of incidents and corrections. Use a standard data protection addendum with vendors.
Compliance and privacy policy
Related links
/governance-and-boards
/systems-and-data
/finance-and-profitability
Last updated: August 27, 2025
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