Our Articles & Publications
Regulatory Blind Spots - When Innovation Outpaces the Law
Many startups typically innovate outside the scope of existing regulations, and in some cases, grow way beyond the confines of the licenses they hold. This creates a risk that can adversely impact the business model. While this risk cannot be entirely prevented, however, it can be managed by innovative product structuring, engagement with regulators and labeling under the Startups Act (where applicable).
Preliminaries Part II - Intellectual property
Intellectual property rights confer two key advantages to startups: first, it is a competitive advantage as it effectively raises the barrier to market entry. Second, it is considered as an intangible asset that could potentially bump up a company’s valuation. Founders should proceed with caution as a third party may have a strong claim to your Intellectual Property rights under certain circumstances.
Preliminaries Part 1: Founders Equity and Legal Structure
Three key preliminary considerations for a startup founding team are: founder’s equity, legal structure and intellectual property. If you consider offshoring your local startups to the US (Delaware) or other tax neutral jurisdictions, the cautious approach is to consider key factors identified below and seek proper advice.
Unique Value Proposition of a Lawyer for your Startup
Engaging a lawyer does not guarantee a startup’s success, just as marketing, technical\r\nrecruitment, or fundraising does not. The lawyer’s value lies in reducing transactional costs by applying cumulative deal experience to identify key legal (and commercial) risks and advise on what is industry standard, what is not, and where it makes commercial sense to push or concede. This is knowledge founders typically do not have, which makes early engagement imperative.
Business Visas and Expatriate Permits in Nigeria
Unique Value Proposition of a Lawyer for your Startup Immigration in Nigeria is primarily governed by two (2) key legislations: Immigration Act of 2015 and Immigration Regulations of 2017. The Nigeria Visa Policy also plays an important role as it outlines the various visa categories available to foreign nationals intending to travel to Nigeria, and the immigration policy imperative of the government.
