LRL · From 1 to 9
Legal Readiness
Level.
A 9-level scale of legal maturity, built like the TRL used for technology. Each level is a gate: you reach it only when everything below it is in place.
- LRL 1
Idea
No legal existence yet.
- LRL 2
Founders aligned
Ownership and roles agreed in writing; confidentiality protected.
- LRL 3
Incorporated
A company exists in a deliberate jurisdiction, shares issued, money separated.
- LRL 4
Founders protected
Shareholders' agreement, leaver terms and founder IP assignment signed.
- LRL 5
Assets secured
Contributors' IP, the brand, domains and open source under control.
- LRL 6
Operating compliant
Contracts, data protection, people and corporate records in order.
- LRL 7
Investable
Clean cap table, equity plan, documented instruments, no hidden liabilities.
- LRL 8
Diligence-proven
External diligence passed; investor rights, governance and insurance in place.
- LRL 9
Scale & exit-ready
International structure, licences, reviewed accounts and an IP strategy.
About 4 minutes · 5 short checklists · Full report at the end · Answers not stored