In the fast-paced world of startups, legal issues can feel like distant “one-day” problems—until they hit. Waiting for a lawsuit before engaging counsel is a risky gamble. Here’s why your startup should partner with a lawyer before the courtroom doors swing open.

Protecting your startup’s intellectual property is critical to maintaining your competitive edge and avoiding costly disputes down the road. By building strong contractual guardrails and conflict-prevention strategies into every relationship—from employees and contractors to vendors and partners—you’ll ensure your innovations stay yours. Here’s how.

In the evolving world of finance, decentralized lending (DeFi) protocols and traditional banks offer distinct pathways to mobilize capital—but they live under very different legal regimes. For founders building platforms, products, or services that straddle one or both models, understanding the legal fault lines is critical. Below is a roadmap to the key legal considerations that differentiate DeFi lending from traditional banking—and what your startup needs to navigate each safely.

In today’s innovation-driven economy, your intellectual property (IP)—from prototypes and designs to software code and marketing materials—is your startup’s most valuable asset. Yet without proper legal safeguards, you risk losing control over your creations. Two of the most effective tools in your contract toolbox are the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and the Work-for-Hire Agreement. Here’s how—and when—to use each to ensure your ideas stay yours.