Entrepreneurship Law

3 Credit Hours

This course is designed to acquaint students with the many legal problems associated with starting up and operating an entrepreneurial venture. These include choice of entity, selection of a company name and trademark, special issues of management, governance and succession which arise in the context of a closely held and growing business, venture capital and debt financing arrangements, protecting the intellectual property of the new company, employment and executive compensation issues, risk management, and ethical issues facing attorneys who represent entrepreneurs. Some time will also be devoted to social entrepreneurs, including those who seek to establish and operate a not-for-profit organization. The objective is to give participants an introduction to the legal problems they are likely to encounter in an entrepreneurial setting either as lawyers for the enterprise or as owners of an equity position in the enterprise. The course focus is practical and, in addition to relevant doctrine, highlights the skills lawyers need when advising entrepreneurial ventures. The course will be of particular interest to students pursuing joint JD/MBA degrees or having prior business experience. PRE- or CO-REQUISITES: Required: BUSCOM 602L Corporations or BUSCOM 601S Business Associations. Recommended: PPTYORT 650 Intellectual Property, BUSCOM 690 Basic Federal Income Tax, TAXLAW 620 Partnership Taxation, BUSCOM 656 Corporate Finance, and TAXLAW 601 Entity Taxation.