Husch Blackwell is proud to be a sponsor of Milwaukee Startup Week 2017. This series of events showcases the entrepreneurial spirit of Southeast Wisconsin and provides opportunities for startups to showcase their ideas, network with fellow innovators, and attend workshops with business, marketing, and legal experts. Husch Blackwell is sponsoring the Startup Showcase by Startup Milwaukee event on November 7, 2017. The showcase will provide local entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their products and services at the City Lights Brewing Company. Additionally, Husch Blackwell will have attorneys present on legal issues that affect startups during the Launch Conference on November 9, 2017, and other events throughout the week.

Startups should think about legal implications of their burgeoning business at the outset of the creation of the new company. Thinking of legal implications will not stunt growth of innovation, but can instead aid in the protection of the startup’s brand, product, or idea and the investment and hard work put into creating the business.

Highlighted below are issues where startups should consider seeking legal advice:

Contract Review

Startups should consider having their contracts reviewed by attorneys to ensure that the startup’s interest are fully considered and that the startup is adequately protected in contracts with vendors, employees or other parties that the startup contracts with.

Intellectual Property

Startups may want to protect not only tangible assets to a business, such as office property, but intangible assets such as ideas (or patents) that are pivotal to the success of the startup. Startups may consult an attorney to find best way to protect its intellectual property. An attorney can also aid a startup and ensure that it does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others.

Employee Concerns

Startups may want to address concerns with current, future, and former employees. Employment contracts could govern employment at the outset and ensure a startup’s trade secrets are preserved during and after employment. Startups should also know whether an employee has a non-compete agreement with a former employer that could impact their employment with the Startup. Additionally, an attorney can guide a startup in creating an employee handbook that governs rules and regulations.

Structure of Company

The structure of a startup in the beginning is important in determining the liability for problems encountered by the startup. Startups should consider the structure of the company to determine how the startup is managed. Attorneys can aid a startup in determining the best structure of the startup for the short and long term.

Compliance with Laws

An attorney may aid startups in complying with various laws including, but not limited to, tax laws, privacy laws in maintaining privacy of its users, and compliance with advertising laws.