General Standards

General Standards is a prominent Melbourne-based law firm that has been providing specialised legal services to early-stage startups since its establishment in 2012. Founded by Kurt Falkenstein, the firm positions itself as 'The Original Startup Lawyers,' having worked with over 1,500 startups and advised more than 3,000 founders. Their expertise extends to facilitating over $100 million in early-stage capital raisings, encompassing seed, angel, and multi-million dollar Series A and B venture capital financings, as well as Crowd Sourced Funding.

The firm's core offerings include comprehensive company setup, modern shareholder documentation, and founder structuring. They differentiate themselves through a commitment to affordable fixed-fees and a focus on efficiency, which is underpinned by a unique online booking system. This system allows clients to schedule work transparently, providing clarity on both pricing and timelines, a pioneering approach in the legal sector.

General Standards operates from Chapel Street in Melbourne, Australia, and notably co-locates with Revolver Lane, a 185-desk co-working space, fostering a close connection to the startup ecosystem. While the firm briefly expanded its physical presence to New York and London in 2014 and co-founded an Australian accounting firm, it strategically divested from these international ventures and the accounting firm in 2019 to concentrate on its core mission.

Their philosophy centres on being genuine lawyers for startups, providing professional guidance rather than do-it-yourself solutions. They offer a tiered service model, including 'Standard' for fixed-fee services, 'Retainer' for higher-volume clients with capped pricing and discounted hourly rates, and 'Private' for their most established and high-growth clients. This flexible structure ensures legal support is accessible and tailored to the evolving needs of burgeoning businesses.

General Standards measures its success not by billable hours but by the number of startups it successfully helps launch and grow. Their long-standing engagement with the startup community, including incorporating numerous Founder Institute startups since 2014, underscores their deep integration and understanding of the challenges and opportunities within this dynamic sector.