Talk through employee share scheme options before choosing a structure

Yes. This service is aimed at the stage where you are still weighing up whether equity is the right incentive and, if so, what form it might take. The consultation is useful if you have heard terms like ESS or ESOP, want to compare shares versus options at a high level, or need to understand what legal work may follow. It is a planning conversation rather than an implementation job, so it suits businesses that want clarity before committing to scheme rules, offer documents or rollout steps.

The discussion usually covers the main employee equity pathways you are considering, who may participate, what legal or compliance issues may arise, and what documents are commonly involved if you move ahead. We can also talk about practical points such as whether the arrangement is intended for retention, remuneration or a specific commercial relationship. If your proposed recipients include a mix of employees, directors, advisers or contractors, that can also be explored because the factual working arrangement can matter as much as the contract wording.

It is commonly booked by founders, directors and growing businesses that want to use equity as part of hiring or retention but have not settled on a structure. It can also suit businesses that have received informal advice from investors, accountants or peers and want legal input before acting on it. If you already know exactly what scheme you want and need the actual plan documents prepared, you will usually need a separate implementation scope rather than this one-off options consult.

Yes, often significantly. The legal analysis is not just about the label used in a contract. The contract needs to fit the actual relationship, including the roles, documents and operational details behind it. For example, an arrangement that may be workable for an employee can raise different issues if the person is really an adviser, consultant or contractor. During the consultation, we can talk through how the person is engaged, what role they play, and whether that affects the structure you are considering or the documents you may need next.

No. This page is for a one-off advice session about options and next steps, not for preparing the implementation documents themselves. We can explain the kinds of materials that are often needed, such as plan rules, offer documents, board resolutions or related employment updates, but those documents are not included in the fixed-fee here. That separation is useful where a business first wants to test whether an employee equity model makes sense before paying for a full rollout.

As an online law firm, we eliminate the headaches of paying us by the hour and finding time to meet with a lawyer in person. We charge a fixed fee, with upfront quotes and transparent pricing, and communicate via phone, email and video chat - whichever suits you! You'll be guided through our process by our expert lawyers, who are Australian-qualified and specialise in technology, intellectual property, contract drafting, corporate and commercial law.

At Sprintlaw, our pricing is transparent and designed for startups and small businesses. Many one-off legal services, including document drafting and reviews, are provided for a fixed fee with an upfront quote before you proceed.

Prices typically range from $250 to $2,500 AUD depending on the complexity and scope of the work. For ongoing support, Sprintlaw Memberships include options such as legal templates, consultations, a legal helpline and credits for services.

If your project is larger or more complex, we will provide a tailored quote after understanding what you need.

Our law firm operates completely online, which means we can help you wherever you are in Australia. We work at The Commons Central - a cool co-working space in Chippendale, Sydney - but our lawyers often work flexibly across various locations.

Our lawyers also work from co-working spaces and home offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, so clients can get help online without needing to meet in person.