Founder's Legal Essentials: Building a Solid Legal Foundation

​Most founders only start thinking about legal structure when incorporation becomes urgent, or when an investor asks a cap table question nobody has a clean answer to. By then, questions around the right legal entity, shareholder structure, founder holdings, or the notary appointment can quickly turn into roadblocks.

​The right legal setup isn't paperwork to defer. It's the foundation for fundraising, governance, and every stage of growth that follows, whether you're incorporating for the first time or already running your GmbH.

​This masterclass gives you that foundation before you need it, from three lawyers who build it for founders, investors, and venture-backed startups every day.

​Your Hosts

​Hosted by LawYeah, the platform that matches clients with the right specialized lawyers based on expertise, not networks, free for clients.

​Led by Dr. Sophie-Charlotte von Bierbrauer zu Brennstein, Associate Corporate Law at Gleiss Lutz, together with Jules Michels and Marie Hillebrand, Associates Corporate Law at V14, who advise founders, investors, and venture-backed startups on incorporations, financing rounds, governance, and exits every day.

​Dr. Sophie-Charlotte is a fully qualified German lawyer since 2024 who studied in Berlin, Wiesbaden, and Melbourne.

​Jules Michels, LL.M. (USC), has been an Attorney at Law in the State of New York since 2018 and a fully qualified German lawyer since 2020, having studied in Berlin and Los Angeles and previously worked at Morrison Foerster.

​Marie Hillebrand, LL.M. (UCT), is a fully qualified German lawyer since 2025 who studied in Berlin, Lisbon, and Cape Town, and previously worked on V14's IP/IT team and at Hengeler Mueller.

​Together, we'll walk through the entire incorporation process in Germany and what comes after, helping you understand the key legal decisions to make before and after signing at the notary. The session closes with an interactive Q&A: bring your questions and get practical, market-tested advice, not legal theory, from lawyers who work in the startup ecosystem every day.

​What We'll Cover

• ​Choosing the legal entity that best fits your business model, goals, and fundraising plans

• ​Structuring founder ownership, shareholder roles, and founder holding companies

• ​Understanding your articles of association and other key incorporation documents

• ​Navigating the incorporation process, from preparing for the notary appointment to Commercial Register registration

• ​Already incorporated? Common structural issues that surface later: cap table hygiene, shareholder agreement gaps, vesting clocks, and how to get investor-ready before your next round

​Interactive Q&A: Ask Startup Legal Experts Anything

​Bring your questions and receive practical, market-tested advice, not legal theory, from professionals who work in the startup ecosystem. Learn about common legal pitfalls, current market standards, and how to avoid costly mistakes early on (or fix them before they become expensive later).

​What You'll Walk Away With

​✅ A clear understanding of the legal structure that fits your venture

​✅ A practical roadmap for incorporating a company in Germany

​✅ Confidence in structuring founder ownership and holding companies

​✅ Clarity on the key legal documents you'll sign during incorporation

​✅ Practical insight into investor expectations and common founder mistakes

​Who It's For

​✅ Founders preparing to incorporate a company in Germany

​✅ Early-stage founders thinking about legal structure, governance, and fundraising

​✅ Founders who have already incorporated and want to check whether their setup holds up to investor scrutiny

​Partners

​This workshop is powered by LawYeah, the platform that matches clients with the right specialized lawyers based on expertise, not networks, free for clients. It is organized in cooperation with Legal Starter Pack, Dr. Sophie-Charlotte, Jules Michels and Marie Hillebrand (V14).