Legal due diligence
Also called: legal DD
ELI5
Lawyers check the company's legal position.
Used in conversation
“Legal due diligence identified an IP assignment gap.”
Definition
Review of corporate records, contracts, disputes, compliance and legal rights or obligations.
Here “Legal due diligence” means: Review of corporate records, contracts, disputes, compliance and legal rights or obligations.
Pitch context
You will see “Legal due diligence” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches investor diligence & data rooms.
Why it matters: In investor diligence & data rooms, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Sources & evidence · 7
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16