Legal Aspect of Entrepreneurship

Catalog description

This practically oriented course examines the critical legal issues confronting start-ups with a focus on innovation and disruption. Cutting edge topics include blockchain, fintech, AI, digital and mobile based issues. Students will learn to use the law to manage risk, deploy resources and maximize value. The course covers the entire lifecycle of a business, including confidentiality, non-competition and invention assignment clauses, intellectual property (IP) including patent, trade secrets, copyrights and trademarks, tax advantages of limited liability companies (LLC) vs. corporations or partnerships, securities law strategy for raising angel financing, convertible debt and venture capital (covering SAFEs and KISSes), independent contractor vs. employee concerns, discrimination laws, merger and acquisition exit plans, as well as restructuring and bankruptcy. Students will emerge from the course with the skills and tools to draft term sheets and contracts, negotiate deals tailored to their business models, as well as mitigate liability via risk-protective policies, insurance and management of litigation.