Introduction to IP, Legal and Compliance Workshop
Introduction to IP, Legal and Compliance Workshop
Learn how to protect your idea and build a legally sound start-up with confidence.
This session introduces the key legal and regulatory essentials every start-up founder should understand. You’ll explore how to protect your intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets), choose the right legal structure, manage contracts, and stay compliant with data protection laws like GDPR.
The workshop is designed to help you make informed decisions and avoid legal pitfalls — right from the start.
Who is it for?
Whether you’re planning to launch a start-up, go freelance, drive social change, or develop an enterprising mindset to thrive in your career, this workshop is open to all entrepreneurial students and graduates of University of Warwick.
This workshop is also open to Warwick Innovation District businesses — please register in the same way.
What you'll gain?
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- Understand the differences between trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets
- Identify what aspects of your start-up can or should be protected
- Recognise the legal structures available to new businesses and what they involve
- Demonstrate awareness of key data protection and compliance responsibilities
Date: 5 September 2025
Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
Delivered: Hybrid
Speakers
Ben Evans, Partner and Head of Trade Marks at Harper James
Ben is a Partner and the Head of Trade Marks at Harper James. A dual-qualified Solicitor and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, Ben helps businesses protect and grow their brands. His work covers trade mark clearance searches, brand strategy, global trade mark protection, and resolving intellectual property disputes and litigation.
Jill Bainbridge, Partner and Head of Intellectual Property at Harper James
Jill is a Partner and the Head of Intellectual Property at Harper James, with over 20 years’ experience in intellectual property protection, dispute resolution, and brand and reputation management. Jill advises on IP strategy and dispute resolution at both national and international levels, covering the full spectrum of rights, including patents, copyright, trade marks, design rights, trade secrets, confidential information, domain names and patent entitlement.
Delivered by Warwick Enterprise, part of the Start-up Programme scheme, supporting Warwick students and graduates to develop entrepreneurial skills.