Rise Her Collective Roundtable: Legal Essentials for Founders in the UK

A practical founder roundtable on legal, tax, hiring, fundraising & growth decisions in the UK startup journey.

Rise Her Collective invites a select group of founders to an in-person roundtable designed to bring clarity to the most important legal and structural decisions early-stage businesses face in the UK.

This is not a traditional panel event. It is a practical, honest, founder-focused discussion with leading legal specialists covering the real issues that can become costly if ignored from company setup and shareholder agreements to contracts, hiring, IP, fundraising and founder visas.

With a small group of 20 selected founders, the session is designed to encourage open conversation, direct questions and meaningful networking with peers and experts.

Whether you are launching, scaling, hiring, fundraising or entering the UK market, this session will help you avoid common mistakes and make smarter decisions with confidence.Event Agenda

2:30 PM – 3:00 PMFounder Networking & Welcome Reception

Arrival, refreshments, introductions and informal networking with founders, panelists and the Rise Her Collective community.

3:00 PM – 3:10 PMOpening Remarks

3:10 PM – 3:35 PMSession 1: Company Structure, Tax & Founder SetupTülin Kıranoğlu HamitCorporate Tax Venture Law

Topics include:

Ltd vs LLP in the UKFounder equity splitsVesting and founder protectionDirector responsibilitiesEarly-stage tax mistakes to avoid

3:35 PM – 3:50 PMSession 2: Investment Readiness & Term SheetsIman El SherifInvestment & Startup Law Specialist

Topics include:

Understanding term sheetsLiquidation preferences explainedHidden investor termsEIS / SEIS essentialsWhen to negotiate or walk away

3:50 PM – 4:15 PM - Coffee Break & Networking

4:15 PM – 4:40 PMSession 3: Contracts, Commercial Risk & LiabilityShivani K.Solicitor, Ashtons Legal

Topics include:

Essential startup contractsNDAs: when they work and when they don’tLiability caps explainedBreach of contract risksCommercial protections for founders

4:40 PM – 5:05 PMSession 4: Hiring, Equity & Employment LawTBCEmployment Law Specialist

Topics include:

Hiring your first employee correctlyEmployee vs contractor risksIR35 explainedEMI share optionsTermination pitfalls in UK law

5:05 PM – 5:30 PMSession 5: IP Protection & Founder VisasAhu Güneyli – IP & Technology Law SpecialistBuket Erdoğan – Immigration Lawyer

Topics include:

Protecting company IP from day oneFreelancers and developer agreementsTrademark prioritiesInnovator Founder VisaSelf-sponsorship & UK immigration strategy

5:30 PM – 6:00 PMClosing Founder Takeaways & Final Q&A