​The Legal Decisions That Become Expensive as Your Startup Gains Traction

​Wednesday, August 19 | 10:00–11:00 AM CDT
Virtual | Founders Only

​Designed for: Stage 3: First Traction • Stage 4: Readiness for Scale

​Your first customers don't just validate your business—they change your legal exposure.

​Many founders wait until they're hiring, raising capital, or signing larger customers to think seriously about legal strategy. By then, decisions made months earlier can become expensive, time-consuming, or difficult to unwind.

​This session is designed for founders who are building real momentum and want to strengthen the legal foundation behind their growth—not bury themselves in legal theory.

​Led by Christopher J. Werner, Founder & Managing Partner of Vidar Law, this practical working session will help founders understand which legal decisions matter as traction builds, what can reasonably wait, and how to avoid costly issues before they slow the business down.

​You'll Learn

• ​How your legal priorities change as your company gains traction

• ​Which legal decisions deserve immediate attention—and which can wait

• ​The most common legal gaps uncovered before fundraising, hiring, and enterprise sales

• ​How to protect your intellectual property without overspending

• ​What investors, enterprise customers, and future hires expect to see

• ​A practical framework for building legal readiness as your company grows

​Chris will also share a practical legal readiness self-assessment that founders can use to evaluate and strengthen their company's legal foundation over time. The session is intentionally designed around practical prioritization, real startup examples, and actionable next steps rather than legal theory.

​Who Should Attend

​This session is designed for founders who are beginning to build meaningful traction, including those who are:

• ​Landing paying customers

• ​Growing recurring revenue

• ​Hiring contractors or employees

• ​Preparing to raise capital

• ​Signing larger customer agreements

• ​Building AI, SaaS, fintech, healthtech, marketplace, hardtech, or other high-growth startups

​While founders at earlier operating stages are welcome, the discussion is intentionally geared toward companies in Stage 3: First Traction and Stage 4: Readiness for Scale, where legal decisions begin to compound alongside company growth.

​What to Expect

• ​Interactive discussion

• ​Live founder Q&A

• ​Real startup examples

• ​Practical prioritization framework

• ​Founder legal readiness worksheet

• ​Actionable next steps you can apply immediately

​Hosted by

​Krystal Rogers
Founder, Chicago Startup Events (CSE)

​Guest Speaker

​Christopher J. Werner
Founder & Managing Partner, Vidar Law LLC

​Christopher J. Werner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Vidar Law LLC, where he advises startups and growth-stage companies on legal strategy, commercial transactions, AI and emerging technology, fractional general counsel services, mergers and acquisitions, and complex commercial matters. Before founding Vidar Law, Chris began his legal career at Foley & Lardner LLP, served in boutique law firms, and later held executive leadership roles as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer through a private equity transaction. Drawing on experience as both an attorney and business operator, Chris helps founders make practical legal decisions that support long-term growth while avoiding costly mistakes.

​About the CSE Learning Series

​The CSE Learning Series is designed to help founders make better operating decisions through practical, stage-aligned education. Every session is built around real startup challenges, interactive discussion, and immediately actionable takeaways—not theory.

​Legal Disclaimer

​This session is educational and does not provide legal advice. Attending does not create an attorney-client relationship with Vidar Law LLC or any attorney. Please do not submit confidential information about your company or any legal dispute through registration, the pre-session survey, chat, or Q&A. Consult a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction regarding your specific situation.