Maksym Stepanenko
Managing Partner, Crystal Tax
International client projects since 2012: company structures, tax, immigration, DUNS and NCAGE. 50+ jurisdictions.
- Telegram
Legal services for startups and businesses with international clients: we choose the structure and jurisdiction and prepare the shareholders agreement, IP transfer, contracts and investor documents.
Since 2012 · 50+ jurisdictions · partner lawyers abroad · Ukrainian CFC rules handled by the same team
In brief
- Legal services for startups and companies mean ongoing legal work with the business: structure, founder documents, contracts with clients and contractors, rights to the product and preparation for deals.
- They are for startup founders and company owners from Ukraine and other countries who work with clients in the EU and the US, raise investment or enter a new market.
- Turnkey, we handle the choice of jurisdiction, company registration, the shareholders agreement, IP transfer from developers, contracts, trademarks through partners, and legal support on a retainer by agreement.
- Under art. 131-2 of the Constitution of Ukraine, only an advocate represents another person in court, with exceptions allowed by law only for certain categories of cases, such as labour and small-claims disputes. For court disputes we therefore bring in a partner advocate and prepare the contractual and evidence base together.
- Usually, in our experience, the basic founder document package is ready in 1–3 weeks. The timeline depends on the case, the details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.
Your situation
Pick the situation closest to yours: a short note on the route and the first step.
A Ukrainian IT startup has a foreign investor ready to join a round
We check which company the investor would prefer to hold a stake in, build a holding structure if needed, put the rights to the code in order and prepare the round documents. In parallel we work out the consequences for the founders under the Ukrainian CFC (controlled foreign company) rules. Choosing the country, founder equity and IP for investors is covered on our page where to incorporate a startup.
Example. A SaaS team from Kyiv received a term sheet from a European fund; before signing, the rights to the code were transferred from sole proprietor (FOP) developers to the company and the form of investment was agreed with the investor.
Discuss this case →The founders are splitting shares and one partner wants to leave
We record the arrangements in a shareholders agreement: vesting, share buyback, exit procedure, non-compete. For an LLC (TOV) we take into account that a member holding less than 50 percent may leave without the consent of the others under the law.
Example. Three founders of a mobile app signed a shareholders agreement with a buyback at a pre-agreed formula; when one of them left a year later, there was no dispute over the price.
Discuss this case →A SaaS company sells subscriptions to clients in the EU
We prepare the user agreement, privacy policy and data processing agreement for B2B clients, and check which GDPR requirements apply to a company outside the EU.
Example. An analytics service for online shops received a set of terms of use and a DPA before onboarding its first clients from Germany, and the set passed review by the clients' lawyers.
Discuss this case →An outsourcing company works with clients from the US and the EU
We put contracts, acceptance certificates and payment procedures in order so that the bank has fewer questions about payments. If there is a foreign company, we set up the CFC reporting.
Example. A development studio from Dnipro switched to a single contract template with its American clients and stopped receiving bank queries about every incoming payment.
Discuss this case →We need a lawyer on an ongoing basis and have no in-house lawyer
We work on a retainer: contracts, letters, corporate resolutions and advice on day-to-day matters within an agreed scope.
Example. A trading company with suppliers from Poland and Turkey handed us the review of all incoming contracts and the preparation of corporate resolutions.
Discuss this case →We are entering the EU market and need a company in Europe
We choose the country based on clients, taxes and bank requirements, register the company through partners and link it to the Ukrainian part of the business by contracts.
Example. An equipment manufacturer set up a company in Poland for supplies to the EU and signed a supply agreement with its Ukrainian plant with clear pricing.
Discuss this case →What our turnkey legal services for startups and businesses include
Turnkey legal services for startups and businesses cover the whole path of the company: from the choice of structure and founder documents to contracts with clients, an investment round and entry into new markets. You describe the task and make the decisions; we handle the documents and correspondence.
We provide legal support for international business as one team: setting up the international business legally, legal services for the business after launch, and legal support for international projects in the countries where our partners work. A lawyer for an international business sees the whole structure at once, including taxes and accounting.
Legal services for startups
- Choice of jurisdiction and company form: an LLC (TOV) in Ukraine, a Diia.City resident, a Delaware C-Corporation or LLC in the US, an LTD in the UK, companies in Estonia, Poland and other EU countries.
- A structure of a holding company and an operating company that takes into account the Ukrainian CFC rules, tax residency and bank requirements.
- Shareholders agreement: shares, voting, vesting, buyback of a departing founder's stake, drag-along and tag-along, non-compete.
- Team options in general terms: how to set them up in the chosen jurisdiction and what to provide for in the charter.
- Transfer of rights to code, design and content from developers and contractors to the company.
Investment and deals
- Analysis of the term sheet and round documents: SAFE, convertible loan, share purchase agreement, amendments to the charter.
- Preparing the company for the investor's legal due diligence: corporate resolutions, IP rights, key contracts, registers.
- Support in checking a company you are buying or a partner in a joint project.
Contracts and work with international clients
- Contracts with customers, contractors and suppliers from other countries, choice of governing law and dispute resolution. More on contract drafting.
- Legal specifics of working with international clients: currency and payment terms, acceptance certificates, tax clauses, bank requirements for supporting documents.
- User agreement, privacy policy and data processing agreement for SaaS and online services.
- Non-disclosure and non-compete agreements with key specialists.
Intellectual property
- Checking the name and logo before launch, filing trademark applications in Ukraine and the EU through partners, plus trademark registration in the US.
- Chain of rights to the product: who created it, on what basis the rights passed to the company, which open source licences are used.
Legal support for business in the EU and the US
Entering the EU or US market starts with the question of where the company that signs contracts with clients will be. For sales in the European Union we choose the country by taxes, presence requirements and the position of banks; for the US, the state and company form that suit investors and clients.
- Company registration in the country through partners and a link to the Ukrainian part of the business: development, supply, licence or service agreements with clear pricing.
- Terms of sale for EU clients: contract language, governing law, consumer protection in B2C, data requirements.
- Director, actual management and substance, so that the foreign company does not become a Ukrainian tax resident and withstands bank checks.
Legal support for international companies with banks
- KYC package: charter, registers, ownership chart, business description, contracts and proof of source of funds.
- Replies to compliance queries about payments, counterparties and beneficial owners.
- Aligning contracts with how the bank sees the business: subject matter, amounts, currency and payment terms must match the actual payments.
Legal services on a retainer
For companies that need a lawyer constantly, we work under an agreed monthly scope: review of incoming contracts, corporate resolutions, replies to banks and counterparties, advice on new deals. The scope and priorities are agreed at the start and revised as the business grows.
Courts, notaries and local lawyers
Crystal Tax works as a consulting team of lawyers and accountants and does not practise as advocates. Court representation in Ukraine is reserved for advocates by the Constitution, so for disputes we bring in a partner advocate and prepare the position, contracts and evidence together with them. Abroad, where local law requires a licensed lawyer or notary (court, notarial acts, a local legal opinion), we work through partner firms in the country. A court decision and the outcome of a foreign lawyer's work depend on the court and the circumstances of the case, so the outcome of a dispute cannot be promised in advance. We coordinate the partner advocate and local lawyers, hand them the prepared documents and remain your single point of contact for the whole matter.
Legal services for startups: timelines
Usually, in our experience, the basic founder document package (structure, charter, shareholders agreement, IP transfer) is ready in 1–3 weeks from signing our contract. The timeline depends on the case, the details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.
- Task analysis — 1–2 business days after a short description of the business, the founders and the investment plans.
- Company registration — depends on the country: in some jurisdictions a company is registered in a few days, in others verification, a notary or an apostille on documents is required.
- Shareholders agreement and IP transfer — usually, in our experience, 1–2 weeks including agreement between the founders.
- Investment round documents — depend on the investor: its lawyers send their own changes, and the number of rounds of negotiation is unknown in advance.
- Trademark — filing takes days, while examination by the office takes months, and the office itself sets that timeline.
An authority's official deadline covers only the review of the filed document. Preparation, negotiations between founders and bank checks run separately, so key dates such as the closing of a round are best planned with a margin.
Timelines get longer in predictable cases: the founders live in different countries and documents need an apostille, the company already has an investor with a right to approve changes, the rights to the code are spread across several contractors, or the bank requests additional information about the structure. We name such points at the start.
Cost of legal support for business
We price legal support for business individually: it depends on the number of countries and documents and on whether it is a one-off task or ongoing work.
- How many jurisdictions the structure involves and whether partner lawyers are needed in those countries.
- Number of documents: charter, shareholders agreement, IP transfer, contracts, website and product policies.
- A one-off task or a retainer with a monthly scope.
- Whether there is an investor, its due diligence and negotiations on the round documents.
- Document languages and the need for translations, notarised copies and apostilles.
- Third-party costs: government fees, notary, partner advocate or patent attorney services, agreed in advance.
Describe the task in a few sentences and we will estimate the work within one business day. If you need a detailed analysis of the structure, a 30-minute consultation costs 100 euros; the introduction and a first answer come on a free 10-minute call.
Why clients trust us with legal support for international business
Five reasons founders and company owners trust us with legal support for their international business.
In business since 2012
We work in 50+ jurisdictions; we know the requirements of registrars, banks and tax authorities from our own cases, including the changes in Ukraine in 2025–2026.
We deal with authorities, registrars and banks
Correspondence with registrars, banks, counterparties and the investor's lawyers is our job. From you we need documents and decisions.
We see the job through to the result
If a registrar, the tax authority or a bank sends remarks, we address them at no extra charge.
One team for the whole structure
Company, contracts, account, accounting, taxes and Ukrainian CFC rules — without searching for separate contractors.
Contract and confidentiality
We work under a contract, and the confidentiality terms are written into it.
Legal services for startups: how we work
The work runs in six steps, and at each one you know what is needed from you.
- Task and questions. You describe the business, founders, clients and investment plans; we ask clarifying questions.
- Plan and contract. We propose a structure and a list of documents, agree the scope and timeline, and sign a contract.
- Structure and company. We register the company or put the existing one in order, taking into account CFC rules and bank requirements.
- Founder documents. We prepare the charter, shareholders agreement, IP transfer and agreements with the team.
- Contracts and investor. We prepare contracts with clients and contractors and support due diligence and the round documents.
- Ongoing support. We move to a retainer or close the task with a calendar of next steps.
Documents for legal support of a startup
To start, we need information about the founders, the company's current documents if it already exists, and key contracts; we collect and prepare the rest ourselves.
From the founders
- Passports and tax identification numbers, home addresses and the tax residency of each founder.
- Arrangements on shares, roles and contributions: money, code, time, clients.
- Information on foreign companies and stakes the founders already own.
About the company
- Charter, register extract, members' resolutions, if the company is already registered.
- Contracts with developers, designers and sole proprietor (FOP) contractors, employment contracts and gig contracts.
- Contracts with key clients, the public offer and the terms on the website.
For an investment round
- Term sheet or the investor's letter with the terms.
- Cap table and promised options.
- Financial statements and tax documents for the investor's due diligence.
For some countries the founders' documents must be notarised and apostilled; we provide the list for the specific jurisdiction at the start.
Document language
The shareholders agreement and contracts with foreign parties are usually prepared in English or in two languages with a clause on which version prevails. Ukrainian authorities and banks need a Ukrainian text; EU registrars need the country's language or a certified translation. We plan translations and their certification together with the documents so that they do not delay registration or the closing of a deal.
If some documents have already been prepared by other lawyers or taken from templates, send them to us: we will check what can stay and what conflicts with the structure, the charter or the investor's requirements.
Reference: how to choose a jurisdiction for a startup
The jurisdiction is chosen to suit the investor, the clients and the team; for a startup from Ukraine four options are usually compared.
| Option | When it fits | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| LLC (TOV) in Ukraine | Team in Ukraine, first clients, grants, small investments | Foreign funds often ask for a holding company abroad; a member holding less than 50 percent may leave without the consent of the others |
| LLC (TOV), Diia.City resident | An IT company registered in Ukraine with nine or more employees and gig specialists | It has to meet the requirements of the Diia.City law; gig contracts, a loan convertible into equity and an option on a stake are available |
| Delaware C-Corporation in the US | A round with US venture funds | In market practice, US venture investors are used to this form; US taxes and reporting, plus Ukrainian CFC rules for the founders |
| Company in the EU or the UK | Clients and investors in Europe, requirements for presence in the EU | Actual management and substance, bank requirements, reporting under local rules |
A holding structure adds flexibility for the investor and at the same time brings CFC reporting for founders who are Ukrainian residents. More on the options on the page company registration abroad.
Reference: shareholders agreement, Diia.City and IP rights in Ukraine
The 2018 Law of Ukraine on Limited and Additional Liability Companies, No. 2275-VIII, expressly regulates the shareholders agreement of LLC (TOV) members, and for Diia.City residents the law added venture instruments.
- Shareholders agreement — art. 7 of the Law on Limited and Additional Liability Companies: written form, otherwise the agreement is void; the company itself and third parties may be additional parties; the parties may choose the governing law subject to the Law on Private International Law; the content is confidential unless the law or the agreement requires otherwise. An irrevocable power of attorney for performance of the shareholders agreement is notarised under art. 8 of the same law.
- Member exit — art. 24 of the same law: a member holding less than 50 percent may leave at any time without the consent of the others, so the terms of buyback and settlement with a departing founder are worth fixing in advance.
- Diia.City resident — a legal entity registered in Ukraine with qualifying activities; art. 5 of Law No. 1667-IX requires average monthly remuneration of employees and gig specialists of at least the equivalent of 1200 euros, an average headcount of at least nine employees and gig specialists, and at least 90 percent of qualifying income in total income.
- Diia.City instruments — gig contract, non-disclosure agreement, paid non-compete agreement, loan with an alternative obligation (conversion into equity), acquisition of a stake under a condition precedent or subsequent (option).
- IP rights — for code and other works created to order, economic rights pass to the customer in full from the moment of creation unless the contract or the law provides otherwise: part 4 of art. 440 of the Civil Code of Ukraine and art. 15 of Copyright Law No. 2811-IX. For other objects created to order, the general rule of art. 430 of the Civil Code is joint rights of the creator and the customer, unless the contract or the law provides otherwise. That is why in a contract with a contractor we state the transfer of rights to the company expressly, with a list of rights and the author's remuneration. The exception is works of fine art (a logo, illustrations): under art. 15 of Law No. 2811-IX the rights stay with the author unless the contract says otherwise, so we document the transfer of design rights separately. Under a gig contract, economic rights belong by law to the Diia.City resident unless the contract says otherwise.
- The Commercial Code of Ukraine ceased to be in force on 28 August 2025 under Law No. 4196-IX, so references to it in old contracts and charters are worth updating.
Reference: one-off task or retainer
The work format is chosen by how often legal questions arise: a one-off task suits a launch or a deal, and legal services on a retainer suit a company with a constant flow of contracts.
| Criterion | One-off task | Retainer |
|---|---|---|
| When it fits | Registration, shareholders agreement, a round, entry into a new market | Regular contracts with clients and contractors, a growing team |
| Scope | A fixed list of documents | An agreed monthly scope and priorities |
| Response speed | According to the task schedule | Day-to-day questions are handled in the normal course of work |
| Knowledge of the business | Immersion for the duration of the task | The lawyers know the structure, contracts and history of the company |
| Result | A ready document package and a calendar of next steps | Documents kept ready for checks by a bank, investor or buyer |
Work often starts with a one-off task, such as the structure and founder documents, and moves to a retainer after launch.
Reference: CFC, GDPR and courts
Three legal regimes most often affect legal support for international companies with founders from Ukraine.
- CFC — art. 39-2 of the Tax Code of Ukraine: a Ukrainian resident controls a foreign company if they own more than 50 percent, or more than 10 percent where Ukrainian residents together own 50 percent or more, or exercise actual control over it. The CFC report is filed together with the annual return on property and income or the corporate income tax return. More on Ukrainian CFC rules.
- GDPR — under art. 3, paragraph 2 of Regulation 2016/679, it applies to a company outside the EU if it offers goods or services to people in the EU or monitors their behaviour in the EU. Under art. 27 such a company appoints a representative in the EU, except for occasional low-risk processing that does not include large-scale processing of special categories of data, and for public authorities.
- Courts in Ukraine — under art. 131-2 of the Constitution, only an advocate represents another person in court, with exceptions allowed by law only for certain categories of cases, such as labour and small-claims disputes. A company may take part in a case through its director, a member of its executive body or another person authorised by law, the charter or an employment contract (self-representation, part 3 of art. 56 of the Commercial Procedure Code and part 3 of art. 58 of the Civil Procedure Code).
How to start
Describe the task in a few sentences: what the company does, who the founders are, where the clients are and whether there is an investor. We reply within one business day, and on a free 10-minute call we will name the first step right away.
Other services
Sources
Constitution of Ukraine, art. 131-2; Law of Ukraine on Limited and Additional Liability Companies, No. 2275-VIII, arts. 7, 8, 24; Law of Ukraine on Stimulating the Development of the Digital Economy in Ukraine, No. 1667-IX (Diia.City); Tax Code of Ukraine, art. 39-2 (CFC); Civil Code of Ukraine, arts. 430 and 440; Commercial Procedure Code of Ukraine, art. 56; Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine, art. 58; Law of Ukraine on Copyright and Related Rights, No. 2811-IX, art. 15; Commercial Code of Ukraine: repealed from 28.08.2025 (Law No. 4196-IX); Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), arts. 3 and 27. Checked: 27.09.2026.
Page rating5 / 5
Frequently asked questions
What do legal services for startups and businesses include?
When do I need a startup lawyer?
What startup legal services do you provide?
Does a shareholders agreement have to be notarised in Ukraine?
Which should a startup choose: an LLC (TOV) in Ukraine or a company in Delaware?
What is a SAFE?
Who owns the rights to code written by a sole proprietor (FOP) developer?
Does GDPR apply to a Ukrainian company?
Do you represent clients in court?
What are legal services on a retainer?
Do you provide legal support for international business in the EU?
How much do legal services for startups cost?
If you find an error or inaccuracy in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter
- Telegram
What clients say
5.0
Client reviews on Google Maps
-
“Crystal Tax provided invaluable assistance in setting up our company in the United Arab Emirates…”
Yevelina K.2 years ago · Google Maps
-
“Opening a bank account abroad sounded scary at first, but Crystal Tax made it super easy. They knew exactly which banks to approach, what paperwork was needed…”
Sergei M.a year ago · Google Maps
-
“As a fast-growing startup, we needed clear, actionable tax advice — and Crystal Tax delivered exactly that. No jargon, no fluff.”
Inna M.a year ago · Google Maps
Order a service
Briefly describe your task: the country, the business activity and the timing. That is enough for us to propose a solution and the order of work.
We reply within one business day.
Or message us
Telegram
WhatsApp