Five founder-favourable templates you'll reach for first.

Founder-favourable LOI for an acquisition discussion. Non-binding apart from exclusivity, confidentiality and costs.

• Non-binding offer with binding exclusivity, NDA and costs clauses
• Cash + deferred + earn-out + rollover structure
• English law, Companies House compatible

Bilateral NDA for serious M&A or commercial discussions where information flows both ways. Cleaner than a one-way NDA.

• Bilateral confidentiality – protects both sides equally
• 3-year confidentiality tail post-termination
• Required-disclosure carve-out and remedies clauses

Reverse-vesting schedule for founder equity. Aligns long-term commitment and gives buyers/investors confidence.

• 4-year vest, 1-year cliff, monthly thereafter
• Single + double trigger change-of-control acceleration
• Good-leaver / bad-leaver buy-back mechanic

Equity-for-services deal for the right strategic advisor. 0.25–1% over a 24-month vest is the market norm.

• 24-month vest, monthly with optional cliff
• Change-of-control acceleration
• Confidentiality, non-solicit, IP assignment built in

10-folder structure and 80+ document checklist – exactly what buyers will ask for in due diligence.

• Corporate, financial, tax, commercial, HR, legal, IP, property, ops, strategy
• Standard naming convention and pre-launch checklist
• Used in real deal processes by Adam