# DAO Legal Structure

Operate With Confidence

Your DAO still needs someone to hold assets, sign contracts and pay contributors. Map those roles alongside token voting, treasury control and the entities involved.

At a glance

## Is this the right service?

DAOs and protocol teams deciding how their legal and operating structure should work.

What it can cover

- Structure options
- Assets and contracts
- Governance and contributors

[Get Expert Advice](https://ape.law/#contact)

[Check if this fits](https://ape.law/services/dao-legal-structure#service-fit)

01 · Check the fit

## When this service fits

### The community is forming a DAO

You need to decide which roles sit with an entity, council, team or token holders.

### The DAO controls valuable assets

Treasury, IP and contracts need an ownership and authority map.

### Contributors are doing the work

Payments, IP, accountability and the authority to act need clear arrangements.

02 · What we can help with

## What the work covers

### Structure options

Assess possible entity and operating arrangements against the DAO's purpose and activities.

### Assets and contracts

Map who owns treasury and IP, enters agreements and deals with service providers.

### Governance and contributors

Connect voting, execution, compensation and contributor roles to the proposed legal structure.

03 · How to get started

## What to bring

Start with what you have. These details help frame the first discussion.

Send the basics

- The DAO's purpose, current entities and members' roles
- Treasury, IP and service-provider arrangements
- Governance proposals, voting rules and contributor terms

Then define the scope

### Focus the first conversation on the decision you need to make.

An entity label or governance token does not settle every responsibility question. The structure needs to be assessed against how the DAO actually operates.

[Get Expert Advice](https://ape.law/#contact)

04 · See related matters

## How Ape Law approached similar questions

These published matters show the decision process. Another project's facts, rules and outcome may differ.

![Video thumbnail for A Token Cannot Create Rights That Do Not Exist](https://ape.law/assets/legacy-pages/0f59928b7bbc73c77ae0bbb4196888dfcb0bd386e1581389e3c7b2435864597b.png)

LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE

### [The token story needed legal foundations.](https://ape.law/case-studies/web3-dao-token-legal-infrastructure)

IP, data and licence rights were unclear

Watch or read the case study

05 · Common questions

## Common questions

How is this different from DAO governance?

Structure work examines the entities, assets and legal responsibilities. Governance work focuses on how decisions are proposed, approved and carried out.

Can you assess a foundation or company option?

The scope can compare relevant options against the DAO's activities, people and assets, with jurisdiction-specific advice identified where needed.

Does this include contributor agreements?

Contributor roles, compensation, IP and authority can be included in the document plan. The agreed scope defines which documents are prepared.

## Who can act for your DAO?

Describe its purpose, assets and the decisions you need the structure to support.

[Get Expert Advice](https://ape.law/#contact)

Canonical page: https://ape.law/services/dao-legal-structure