CFA062 E Rachel Delaney: From Startup to Sale-The Hidden Legal Traps That Can Derail A Business Exit

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Are you protecting your business, or leaving value exposed every day?
Could a single contract clause undo years of hard work?
Would investors discover something you never knew you didn’t own?

If you want to protect value and avoid costly legal surprises, this episode is for you.

John Downes speaks with Rachel Delaney, Founder and Fractional General Counsel at Resident Legal. Rachel shows how early legal action saves money, builds confidence, and makes a business exit-ready.

What You’ll Learn:
== Why early legal involvement creates confidence, not cost
== How to lock down your intellectual property before investors ask
== Ways to empower teams through Contract Playbooks
== The rise of wage-compliance risk and how to avoid it
== Why exit readiness starts with strong legal foundations

Highlights
00:00 Rachel’s legal journey and career path
02:17 Why startups need early legal support
04:13 Case study: IP issues that cost founders
06:37 Legal essentials every startup should know
08:07 How Contract Playbooks protect and empower
10:49 Understanding wage theft and compliance risks
14:01 Legal challenges during growth and major deals
16:51 Fractional legal counsel for scaling businesses
23:55 How to prepare for exits and mergers
38:40 #CriticalFewActions™ for Senior Leaders

The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today
When I work with successful business leaders, I often see them delay legal steps until problems become urgent. Waiting too long is always costly.
The first Insight is about locking down intellectual property early.
If you don’t own it, you can’t sell it.
• Audit all IP ownership with founders and contractors.
• Include written IP assignment clauses before work begins.
The second Insight is about being contract-ready.
Teams lose deals—or accept risk—without a playbook.
• Build a Contract Playbook listing red flags and escalation rules.
• Train staff to use it and call for help early.
The third Insight is about preparing for exit long before sale.
Messy records erode confidence and reduce value.
• Treat legal housekeeping as part of value creation.
• Build your data room now so due diligence confirms success.
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Final Thought
Every CEO wants growth, but protecting what you’ve built defines long-term success. Legal foresight isn’t paperwork—it’s smart business. Audit your contracts this week.


#CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass #Leadership #LegalStrategy #BusinessGrowth #ExitReady #FractionalCounsel #Entrepreneurship #Governance #RiskManagement