Legal Essentials Roundtable
Practical legal guidance for founders building and growing in the UK
Join Rise Her Collective for an intimate, founder-focused legal roundtable bringing together experienced lawyers across corporate structure, immigration, contracts, intellectual property and founder risk. This practical session is designed to help founders understand the legal decisions that can affect their business, investment readiness and long-term growth. You will hear real-world insights, learn what to avoid and have the opportunity to ask questions directly to specialists from different areas of law.
What we’ll cover
- Choosing the right company structure
- Founder equity, shares and shareholder agreements
- Directors’ duties and personal liability
- Innovator Founder and Global Talent visa routes
- Contracts, disputes and compliance risks
- Intellectual property ownership and protection
- Legal considerations for UK expansion and investment
Who is it for?
This event is designed for founders, entrepreneurs and business owners and those who work with entrepreneurs who wants to learn more about practical legal guidance on setting up, protecting and growing a business in the UK.
Places are limited to keep the session interactive and allow time for questions.
Event Programme
2:00–2:30 PM – Arrival & Welcome Drinks
2:45 PM – Welcome & Introduction
Sevcan Akbayrak and Yasemin Olcay (Rise Her Collective)
3:00 PM – Company Structure, Founder Setup & Shareholder Basics
Tülin Kıranoğlu Hamit – Partner & Tax Lawyer, Collyer Bristow
Topics include:
Choosing the right structure: Ltd vs LLPFounder equity, share classes and vesting
Shareholders’ agreements
Directors’ duties and personal liability
IR35 considerations
Early-stage governance risks
3:40 PM – What Endorsing Bodies Look For
Iman El Sherif – Director of Visa Endorsement Programmes, Ashton Ross Law
Topics include:
UK Innovator Founder Visa requirements
What endorsing bodies assess
Business plan essentials
Post-endorsement investment pathways
4:05 PM – Contracts, Liability & Founder Risk Exposure
Siavash Karimitari – Senior Litigation Solicitor, Ashton Ross Law
Topics include:
Common startup contract disputes
When agreements become legal claims
Fraud and compliance risks
Evidencing digital agreements in court
4:30 PM – Intellectual Property Strategy & Ownership
H. Ahu Güneyli-Havelock – IP Lawyer, Right Pro Legal & IP Consultancy
Topics include:
Founder, company and contractor IP ownership
Staff and freelancer IP assignments
Building an IP strategy for growth
International expansion considerations
4:55 PM – Immigration & Founder Visa Pathways
Buket Erdoğan – Senior Immigration Solicitor, Ashton Ross Law
Topics include:
Global Talent vs Innovator Founder Visa
Common application red flags
Settlement pathways
UK expansion routes