In recent years, Staad has undergone significant development. Whilst the company was originally best known as a dealer in Develon earth-moving machinery, it has since grown to become a specialist in the electrification of earth-moving machinery, smart energy solutions for zero-emission construction sites, and the development of its own electric earth-moving machinery.
The first step in this development was the conversion of Develon diesel machines to electric versions. Staad now develops its own fully electric earth-moving machinery and innovative energy solutions under the STAAD brand name, including interchangeable Powerbox battery packs and a unique battery-swapping concept. This enables electric machinery, site huts, cars and other facilities at sites without a mains power supply to be flexibly powered.
These innovations require not only technical development but also effective legal protection. Staad has been granted a patent for the Powerbox concept, a significant step in the protection of its intellectual property. BG.legal played a central role in preparing and managing this process. Even when legal questions arose just before the launch at the Bauma trade fair, clarity was provided swiftly. This allowed Staad to focus entirely on presenting its innovations.
The move from being a dealer to also becoming a manufacturer marks a significant transition that offers new opportunities, but also raises new legal issues. These include international contracting, intellectual property, liability and the formalisation of processes within an increasingly complex business environment.
As a dealer, the legal relationships are relatively straightforward: the manufacturer bears most of the responsibility for the product and the warranty. As a manufacturer, this changes completely. Staad is now responsible for product safety, CE marking, warranty and liability arrangements with customers, and the protection of its own intellectual property.
The transition to becoming a manufacturer requires well-structured legal processes. These include delivery terms and warranty conditions that are aligned with the new role, procurement terms to manage risks in the supply chain, international cooperation agreements and distribution contracts.
The handling of confidential information, such as technical specifications and innovation plans, also requires robust confidentiality agreements. In addition, internal issues relating to employment law and HR documentation increase as the organisation grows.
To address this, Staad makes use of BG.legal’s Legal Department. This form of partnership makes legal expertise an integral part of the organisation. Rather than providing advice from a distance, there is direct involvement in day-to-day operations.
“What really makes the difference for us is that legal expertise is not something external, but an integral part of our daily operations. This contributes to the further professionalisation of our contract management.”
Jelle Dijkstra
Finance Director Staad
For Staad, this means that laywer Irene de Mol is present on site every week. As a result, the distance between legal issues and the right support is minimised. Questions are discussed more quickly, cases are built up more efficiently, and legal considerations are identified sooner. By being present on a regular basis, insight is gained into processes, projects and the people behind the company. This makes it possible to respond more quickly and provide more tailored advice. Over time, knowledge of the organisation as a whole is built up.
This direct involvement delivers tangible benefits. In the event of legal proceedings, Irene can independently gather the necessary information from within the organisation. Colleagues are directly involved and relevant documentation is collected more quickly. This saves time and ensures more complete case files.
Having a legal specialist within the organisation creates an accessible way of working together, not only for the board, but also for staff who deal with contracts, agreements or other legal issues in their day-to-day work. A key difference compared to a remote lawyer is that advice can be provided not only on legal substance, but also on processes. A good contract that is used incorrectly, or legal information that gets stuck somewhere within the organisation, is a waste. Because Irene has an insight into internal processes, the organisation can be made more legally professional. The result: fewer legal problems and fewer (hidden) risks.
At the same time, Staad benefits from the broad expertise of the entire BG.legal firm. Having just one in-house lawyer provides direct access to the expertise of 25 lawyers. Where necessary, specialists in various areas of law can be brought in and can quickly coordinate with one another.
This approach has also proved to be valuable in the context of international agreements. Thanks to the knowledge of both the organisation and international contracting, advice can be provided promptly on applicable law, liabilities and contractual risks. This results in pragmatic agreements that are suited to the realities of doing business internationally.
"Because you know the organisation, you advise at the outset instead of afterwards. If you know where a company is heading, you can plan ahead from a legal perspective: ensuring that the structure is already in place when the next step is taken.”
Irene de Mol-van Schijndel
Laywer BG.legal
This collaboration fits in well with the stage Staad is currently at. Its continued development as a manufacturer and its international ambitions mean that professionalising contract management is a key priority. By bringing legal expertise to the table at an early stage, risks can be better managed and this creates scope to continue building for the future with confidence.
In addition, BG.legal invites Staad to relevant networking events. This generates new contacts and makes the collaboration more personal.
"All in all, a pleasant, personal and constructive collaboration.” — Jelle Dijkstra
Information about the Legal Department? Download the flyer here