Legal advisory for fundraising, acquisitions and exits
Transaction lawyers that think like dealmakers
At dups, legal advisory isn't about compliance checkboxes. It's about structuring deals that work, anticipating risks before they surface, and accelerating closings without compromising protection.
Our M&A legal team is integrated within a transactional structure. We don't just draft documents; we act as strategic partners who understand your business objectives, defend your value, and move deals forward. Our philosophy: deal first, legal second. Law serves the transaction, not the other way around.
Why legal advisory is critical in M&A
In every transaction, the legal dimension determines security and fluidity. Legal terms define real value, guarantees, and post-transaction governance. Without tight legal structuring, deals slow down, risks go unnoticed, and value erodes.
At dups, we structure, negotiate, and document deals with a business-oriented approach. Because our legal team works alongside financial experts, we ensure coherence between strategy, valuation, and legal execution. The result: less friction, faster timelines, and more value at closing.
Our M&A legal advisory framework
1. Legal diagnostic and readiness
We review your legal structure, capital table, key contracts, and governance setup. This diagnostic identifies red flags early and prepares your business for investor or buyer scrutiny.
2. Deal structuring
We design transactional documentation from the ground up: term sheets, letters of intent (LOI), shareholder agreements (SHA), and share purchase agreements (SPA). Each document is tailored to your deal structure and negotiation strategy.
3. Due diligence
We manage and coordinate the entire due diligence process: data room setup, legal audits, and risk flag reporting. Our goal is to surface material issues early and address them before they become deal blockers.
4. Negotiation and execution
We draft, review, and negotiate all deal terms, including representations, warranties, indemnities, and earnout structures. Our team translates legal complexity into clear business language so you understand every clause and its implications.
5. Closing and post-deal
We coordinate all closing steps: notary coordination, signing and closing packs, fund transfers, and post-transaction adjustments. We ensure what's negotiated is exactly what's signed and executed.
dups acts as a complete M&A legal cell, not a siloed law firm.
Areas of expertise
We cover all legal aspects of M&A and fundraising:
- Fundraising and capital structuring: equity, convertibles, SAFEs, governance, cap table design
- Buy-side advisory: term sheets, LOIs, due diligence, acquisition agreements
- Sell-side advisory: vendor due diligence, information memoranda, SPA negotiation
- Corporate governance: board structure, voting rights, post-deal governance
- Employee incentives: stock option plans, management packages, vesting schedules
Our hands-on experience comes from having lived these processes as entrepreneurs and investors, not just advisors.
What makes dups different
Most law firms focus only on legal compliance. At dups, we integrate legal and financial expertise under one roof. That means your valuation drives your deal terms, and your legal structure reflects your financial logic.
This integration eliminates blind spots. No disconnects between what's valued and what's documented. No back-and-forth between investment banks and law firms. One team, one process, one coherent deal.
We've been on both sides of the table. We know what investors expect, what sellers protect, and where deals break. We use that experience to design structures that work and close faster.
Deliverables you can expect
We produce transaction-ready legal documentation tailored to investor and buyer expectations:
- Term sheets and letters of intent (LOI)
- Shareholder agreements (SHA) and stock option plans
- Due diligence reports and red flag assessments
- Share purchase agreements (SPA) and closing checklists
- Legal data room structure and document organization
- Post-closing governance and integration documentation
- Stock option plans and other employee incentives
Every deliverable is designed to move your deal forward, not slow it down.
M&A legal advisory covers all legal aspects of transactions: structuring, due diligence, negotiation, documentation, and closing coordination.
We integrate legal and financial expertise. Our lawyers work alongside financial advisors to align valuation, terms, and documentation seamlessly.
We advise on fundraising (seed to Series B+), acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side), exits, and corporate restructurings across all sectors.
Term sheet, LOI, shareholder agreement (SHA), share purchase agreement (SPA), due diligence reports, and closing documents.
Our teams work together from day one. Valuation informs legal structure. Legal clauses reflect financial logic. Everything moves in sync.
Ideally 1 to 2 months for readiness review and documentation preparation, depending on company maturity and transaction complexity.
Structure deals that close.
Get legal advisory that thinks strategically, moves quickly, and protects your interests from term sheet to signature.
