The advantage of this is that it keeps our costs down – which in turn keeps our fees down. Moreover, it means that we can direct our full attention to offering only those legal services which creative businesses and startups need. In this way, Legalese is no different to any other creative business. We are trained lawyers who noticed a way to innovate legal services by making them accessible, creative and cheaper. So while we don’t have the word ‘incorporated’ on our company name, we do have competent legal minds with experience in the creative industry and running start-ups. Just as you do your business differently, so do we.

The correct entity needs to be registered. You may need a license to operate. The rights and responsibilities of shareholders or partners need to be agreed upon and put into writing to avoid conflict. If you make music, take photographs or create content, you need to ensure your ownership is protected. Similarly, if your business is to promote and sell other people’s art or talent, you need to make sure you have the right to do so and are protected. You may offer a great service with genuine intentions, but what happens if things go wrong? Cape Town’s creative sector has taken a step up. The projects are international, the money is significant and the consequences are real. Formalizing your legal affairs is an investment in your business which separates the hipsters from the professionals. Much the same as investing in marketing can yield significant returns, so can investing in legal services.

Legal services need not cost more than any other business service. Spending money on legal services should be seen as an investment in your business. A service agreement designed specifically for you may be sent out hundreds of times each year – if you think in the long-term, legal fees start to become affordable. For the same price as a dinner and a music festival ticket, you can ensure your business is protected for years to come.

Lawyers do not have the reputation of being approachable. You, as a business owner in the creative or tech industry, probably aren’t too keen to approach the first attorney you happened to Google, for an unknown amount of money, to draw up contracts that you don’t even know you want or need. Legalese is different from traditional law firms. We are not a law firm, we a creative legal agency. Our approach to law comes from years of experience in the South African creative sector and a background in operating start-ups. You will not have to explain how a tech rider works or why it is important to keep overheads lean during the winter seasons. We speak the language of creativity as well as the legalese of the law.

As an example, a contract is a record of the agreement between two parties, protected by law. Your business model is different from your competitors which makes your legal requirements different too. Every single term of a contract is binding on you and thus your contracts need to reflect exactly what you are doing and not just more or less what you are doing. Legal services are not one size fits all and cannot be cookie cut. Online services do not understand your business, your realistic concerns and your industry. Legalese does.