Nikita Veremeev
06.01.2026 | 6 min read
Updated: 06.01.2026
I welcome you as the CEO and founder of COREDO. Since 2016 our team has been helping entrepreneurs from Europe, Asia and the CIS build reliable structures abroad: from registering companies in the EU and Singapore to obtaining crypto-licenses in Dubai. Today I want to explain how a Legal Opinion (legal opinion) addresses real challenges: difficulties with company registration, licensing and AML compliance. Our experience at COREDO confirms: it is not a formality, but a strategic asset that saves time, minimizes risks and speeds up access to financing.
In practice
legal opinion acts as a “translator” between the business and the regulator or the bank. It does not merely describe the company’s legal status, but explains why a specific structure is lawful, resilient and manageable. This is what distinguishes a strong legal opinion from a formal document that does not reduce risks or accelerate processes.
Imagine: you are planning to launch an investment company in the Czech Republic or Estonia. The regulator requires confirmation of corporate status and sources of funds. Without a Legal Opinion the process drags on for months and the chances of refusal increase. The COREDO team recently prepared such an opinion for a client from Singapore opening a branch in the EU. We analyzed the founding documents, ownership structure and AML policies; the result: a license for
payment services was approved in 4 weeks instead of the standard 12.
This case is typical for the EU: without a Legal Opinion the regulator is forced to interpret the documents and the business model on its own, which almost always leads to additional requests and pauses. A well-prepared opinion removes these uncertainties in advance and shortens the regulatory cycle many times over.
When a Legal Opinion Is Required
In 2025, company registration rules in the EU and Asia tightened: mandatory digital identification of founders, enhanced KYC and screening against sanctions lists. A Legal Opinion becomes mandatory when the regulator assesses a high-risk business: investment funds, forex brokers or crypto exchanges.
For high-risk business, a Legal Opinion is not an additional document but a basic element of market access. The absence of an independent legal analysis automatically moves the project into a category of increased regulatory risk, even when capital and licensable activity are present.
For example, a Legal Opinion is required for an investment company in EU countries (
Czechia, Slovakia, Cyprus) when applying for a capital markets license. The regulator checks the business plan, financial model and the enforceability of contracts. COREDO’s practice shows: without an independent legal opinion approval is delayed.
The reason is simple: the regulator and the bank care not only about what you do, but also on what legal basis. A Legal Opinion records the applicable law, the powers of management bodies and the legality of operations — without it decisions often “hang” at the compliance level.
For one client we prepared a Legal Opinion for a license, integrating the standards of LMA (Loan Market Association) and ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association). This confirmed the transparency of funding sources and reduced the risks of transaction disputes.
In cross-border structures, funding sources and the enforceability of contracts become the main areas of risk. A Legal Opinion in such cases protects not only regulatory approval but also future relationships with investors, funds and banks.
In Asia, especially in Singapore and Dubai, a Legal Opinion for forex brokers is mandatory for scaling. The MAS or DFSA regulator requires analysis of
Due Diligence of investments and AML requirements. The solution developed at COREDO helped a fintech startup integrate online verification — the registration was completed remotely in 2 weeks.
In Asian jurisdictions a Legal Opinion often serves to confirm that digital identification and remote governance procedures comply with local law and international AML/CFT standards. Without it, remote models are extremely difficult to scale.
| Scenario |
When a Legal Opinion is mandatory |
Jurisdiction |
Preparation time (COREDO experience) |
| investment fund registration |
When verifying corporate status and beneficial owners |
EU (Estonia, Cyprus) |
7–10 days |
| Obtaining a crypto license |
For AML compliance and ICO risks |
Dubai, Singapore |
5–14 days |
| Payment services license |
Confirmation of authority for cross-border transactions |
Czechia, Slovakia |
10 days |
| Forex broker |
Required by the regulator during due diligence |
United Kingdom, Asia |
7–12 days |
This table reflects real cases: the COREDO team always adapts the opinion to the specific regulatory licenses of capital markets.
Legal Opinion during due diligence
Due diligence of investments is not routine, but a methodology for risk assessment. A Legal Opinion in due diligence analyzes ownership structure, the clean title of assets and the likelihood of litigation. As part of due diligence, a Legal Opinion helps identify risks that are not reflected in financial statements: defects in corporate decisions, restrictions on the transfer of shares, weak provisions in shareholders’ agreements. These risks directly affect deal valuation and investment terms. In Asia, where
venture capital is growing, a Legal Opinion in the due diligence of investments in Asia is critical: we check conflicts in corporate documents and sanctions-related risks to capital.
Our experience at COREDO has shown: for M&A deals involving venture capital in Cyprus, an M&A Legal Opinion reduces risks by 40%. A client from the CIS was consolidating assets in Europe: we confirmed the enforceability of the investment agreement and the protection of intellectual property. Result: the deal closed without delays, investors gained transparency.
For investors, a Legal Opinion is a tool for reducing uncertainty. It confirms that an asset can be safely acquired, financed and scaled without hidden legal consequences, which directly affects the speed of closing the deal.
For venture capital in the EU, a Legal Opinion for venture capital integrates verification of the company register and the tax authority. Ignoring this risks the ROI: practice shows long-term risks when issuing securities without an opinion reach 25% due to challenges to transactions.
Legal opinion on licensing crypto, forex and payment services
obtaining financial licenses: a pain for many. A Legal Opinion for crypto licensing is mandatory when scaling crypto services: the regulator checks AML policies and compliance for crypto exchanges. In crypto and fintech projects, a Legal Opinion additionally records the company’s position on the legal nature of digital assets, the liability of operators, and the applicable AML rules. This is especially important in jurisdictions where regulatory practice is still being formed. In Dubai, VARA requires an AML Legal Opinion to confirm risk assessment methodologies and the jurisdiction’s case law.
The COREDO team implemented a project for a crypto exchange in Estonia: we prepared a Legal Opinion for an ICO and cryptocurrency transactions, including personal data protection. This sped up approval and influenced funding; banks opened accounts after verification.
Banks use a Legal Opinion as confirmation that lawyers have already conducted the risk assessment on their behalf. This reduces the load on bank compliance and increases the likelihood of account opening without EDD delays.
Payment service providers in Slovakia require a Legal Opinion for AML requirements. We integrated ESG criteria and automated reporting, ensuring cross-border transactions without disruptions.
The role of a legal opinion in registering legal entities abroad
Registration of a legal entity in the EU in 2025: digital identification, eIDAS signatures and KYC for high-risk businesses. A Legal Opinion for registering an EU legal entity confirms corporate status and minimizes legal risks. For a client from Asia we prepared a Legal Opinion on corporate status before opening in the Czech Republic; the process is remote, without visas.
In Asia (Singapore, Dubai) a Legal Opinion helps with foreign founders: verification of business immigration through SPV structures. In CIS regions, like Georgia, we combine it with tax incentives.
Legal Opinion: ROI and long-term support
How to calculate the cost of preparing a Legal Opinion for a crypto exchange? At COREDO we focus on profitability: for M&A in Europe costs pay off through risk reduction: ROI up to 5x due to faster financing.
the impact of a Legal Opinion on financing approval is obvious: banks require it for bank financing and transparency of sources.
A Legal Opinion helps manage sanctions risks for investment companies, confirming the cleanliness of assets. For real estate transactions or transfers of intellectual property: a real estate Legal Opinion minimizes disputes.
LMA and ISDA standards in a Legal Opinion help minimize risks in cross-border transactions. When is a Legal Opinion mandatory to confirm corporate status in cross-border transactions? Always, when verifying authority and the enforceability of a contract. Ultimately a Legal Opinion is not an expense, but an investment in business governance. It shortens timelines, reduces regulatory and banking risks, and increases trust from investors and partners. That’s why at COREDO we recommend preparing a legal opinion not “on request”, but in advance — as part of a strategy for entering international markets.
Scale without risks: implement a Legal Opinion at the start. The COREDO team offers a full package: from registration to AML consulting. Get in touch, we’ll turn your plans into reality.
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