Leverest's US Expansion: Cross-Border Legal for Fintech

Leverest built a platform that transforms how companies access debt financing. When they decided to expand from Germany to the US, they needed legal support that could operate seamlessly across both jurisdictions. Here’s how we made it happen.

The Challenge: Two Legal Systems, One Company

Expanding a fintech from Germany to the US isn’t like opening a new office. It’s like building a second company that needs to interoperate perfectly with the first.

Different corporate structures. Different regulatory frameworks. Different employment laws. Different contract conventions. And all of it needs to work together as one coherent business.

Leverest needed lawyers who understood both systems deeply—not a German firm that would hand them off to US counsel, creating gaps and delays at every handoff.

Our Approach: Integrated Cross-Border Support

We assembled a team that could handle both sides of the Atlantic without the typical coordination overhead.

US Entity Structure: We helped Leverest choose the right US entity structure (Delaware C-Corp) and set up proper intercompany agreements with their German parent. Transfer pricing was documented from day one.

Regulatory Navigation: Debt financing platforms face different regulatory requirements in different states. We mapped out which states Leverest could operate in immediately and which required additional licensing, creating a phased expansion plan.

Employment Setup: Hiring in the US means navigating at-will employment, different benefit structures, and state-specific requirements. We built employment templates that worked for their needs while remaining compliant across target states.

M&A Documentation: Built for Future Transactions

Leverest knew they’d eventually raise US capital or pursue strategic transactions. We structured their US operations with that future in mind.

Clean Cap Table: US and German ownership was documented clearly from the start, avoiding the cap table confusion that plagues many cross-border companies.

IP Assignment: All intellectual property was properly assigned and documented, with clear chains of title that would survive due diligence scrutiny.

Intercompany Agreements: Service agreements, licensing arrangements, and cost-sharing were all documented to withstand both German and US regulatory review.

The Platform Layer: Cross-Border Contracts

Leverest’s platform connects companies seeking financing with capital providers. That means contracts flowing in multiple directions across multiple jurisdictions.

We developed:

• Borrower Agreements: Templates that work under German law while remaining familiar to US capital providers
• Platform Terms: User agreements that allocate risk appropriately and comply with both EU and US consumer protection requirements
• Data Flows: GDPR-compliant mechanisms for transferring data between EU and US operations

“Most companies our size would need three or four law firms to do what Aurenius handles for us. One relationship, one point of contact, complete coverage.”

Results

Within 12 months of engagement:

• US subsidiary fully operational with proper corporate governance
• First US customers onboarded with compliant documentation
• Regulatory roadmap executed across priority states
• M&A-ready structure in place for future transactions

The Cross-Border Advantage

Many law firms claim cross-border capability. Few deliver it without friction.

The difference is integration. When your German and US legal work happens in the same system, with the same team, information doesn’t fall through cracks. Advice is consistent. Timelines are predictable.

Leverest got a single legal partner for their entire transatlantic operation. That’s not just convenient—it’s a competitive advantage when speed matters.