Legal mechanics for startups: From start to exit

Understanding the legal foundations of your business is critical to protecting your interests and supporting long-term growth. This session will provide practical legal insights tailored for startup founders and small business owners, helping you navigate common legal challenges with confidence.

• Entity Formation and Founders’ Agreements: Learn how to choose the right legal structure for your business and develop agreements that clarify roles, responsibilities, and equity ownership from the outset.
• Fundraising and Investor Agreements: Understand the key legal considerations when raising capital, including term sheets, shareholder agreements, and investor rights.
• Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Data Protection: Discover how to protect your brand, manage customer data responsibly, and comply with privacy regulations.

Led by legal professionals familiar with the startup landscape, this session will equip you with the knowledge needed to avoid costly missteps and build a legally sound foundation for your business. Register now to strengthen your legal readiness and protect your business’s future.

Meet our panelists:

Lisa Asbreuk – Partner, Cunningham Swan Law

Lisa Asbreuk is a Partner in the Business Law group at Cunningham Swan, advising clients on corporate-commercial transactions and energy sector matters in Ontario and Alberta. With over a decade of experience in private practice and in-house roles, Lisa supports businesses and entrepreneurs through share and asset deals, corporate structuring, financing, and governance. She also has deep expertise in energy law, particularly renewable energy, carbon markets, and project development. Lisa holds an LL.B. and Certificate in Energy and Environmental Law from Dalhousie University. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor adventures and is passionate about environmental protection and clean technology.

Doug Wilton – President, PDS Investments & Former CEO and President, TECTA-PDS

Doug is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in building and managing technical businesses across diverse industrial sectors. His journey with TECTA-PDS began in 2005 when he joined as the second employee and Vice President of Operations. He played a pivotal role in developing the company’s breakthrough microbiological water monitoring technology, leading to its acquisition and rebranding as ENDETEC under Veolia Water. Following this success, Doug spearheaded a management buyout of TECTA-PDS from Veolia in 2016, becoming President and CEO and re-establishing the company as an independent leader in automated water testing.