NDA legal framework

Last updated 8 July 2026

Before a deal room's Information Vault unlocks, both parties sign a mutual non-disclosure agreement generated by the platform and populated with each party's live profile data. The legal framework is fixed and identical for every deal room — no party can weaken it.

The NDA gate

The NDA is not a checkbox. The deal room enforces it structurally: documents in the Information Vault are not served to a counterparty until the room's NDA shows both signatures. The agreement itself is pinned as the first entry in the Vault so it remains inspectable for the life of the deal.

Governing terms

The agreement is governed by the laws of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), United Arab Emirates, without regard to conflict-of-laws provisions. DIFC is a common-law jurisdiction with an independent, English-language court system — the standard choice for cross-border investment agreements in the region.

Arbitration

Disputes not resolved by negotiation go to binding arbitration under the Rules of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), incorporated into the agreement by reference:

One arbitrator for claims below USD 500,000; three arbitrators at or above it.
Seat of arbitration: Dubai, UAE.
Language of arbitration: English.
The award is final and binding, and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

International enforcement

Enforcement of awards is subject to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, to which the UAE is a signatory. In practice this means an award rendered in Dubai under a Hockystick NDA is enforceable in the courts of more than 170 contracting states — including every jurisdiction where GCC/MENA venture deals typically touch.

Signature record

Each signature is recorded with the signer's name, organization, role in the deal, and date, and the signing event is written to the deal room's activity log. Signed NDAs remain accessible to both parties after the deal room closes, regardless of outcome.

The NDA text is generated by the platform, but it is a real legal agreement between the founder and the investor. Hockystick is not a party to it and does not provide legal advice — review it with counsel if you are unsure.