Educating Business Leaders of the Future

On November 6, 2024, law students from the Faculty of Law’s L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, Ravi Balchan (3L) [B. Comm. (Hons.)/2022], Alli Knox (3L) [B. Comm. (Hons.)/2017], and Jordan Wagner(3L) [B. Comm. (Hons.)/2022], all Asper School of Business graduates, hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship entitled Startup Law 101: Protect Your New Venture.

This webinar was a part of the University of Manitoba’s Entrepreneurship and Innovative Thinking Month and provided entrepreneurs with essential information needed to successfully launch and grow a business venture.  

Slide from the presentation introducing the three law students who gave the seminar: Ravi Balchan (3L) [B. Comm. (Hons.)/2022], Alli Knox (3L) [B. Comm. (Hons.)/2017], and Jordan Wagner (3L) [B. Comm. (Hons.)/2022].

Providing Entrepreneurs with Key Legal Information Needed To Thrive

This webinar explored critical topics such as the differences between various business structures, the steps required to incorporate a business, contracts, and the different forms of intellectual property. Webinar attendees were provided with the foundations needed to protect a new venture and enter into various business agreements confidently. The L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic and the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship provide entrepreneurs with valuable opportunities to deepen their understanding of the essential aspects of successfully running a business.

Although a similar presentation has been given at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship in the past, this year’s presentation focused more heavily on intellectual property and the elements of a contract, ensuring attendees could walk away feeling empowered to enter into various contractual agreements and understand the ins and outs of protecting their work. 

‘Key Takeaways’ slide from Startup Law 101: Protect Your New Venture

“We knew it was essential to feature a substantial intellectual property component in the presentation,” said Wagner. “We felt it was crucial to cover the different types of intellectual property, explore relevant legislation, and clarify the rights and protections these laws offer. This way, entrepreneurs gain a clearer understanding of their rights and can make informed decisions about protecting their work.”

Intellectual property is more critical than ever in today’s business landscape, with entrepreneurs needing to safeguard their innovations and creations.

“A basic understanding of how contracts operate is critical to successfully launching and growing a business venture of any kind,” said Balchan. “While entrepreneurs certainly do not need to become legal scholars, understanding legal concepts such as the requirements for an agreement to become a legally enforceable contract provides entrepreneurs with a confidence to effectively navigate business negotiations.”

Startup Law 101: Protect Your New Venture discussed many aspects of contracts, including why individuals make contracts, and what should be included in a contract. 

Business and Law School – Powerful Collaboration

Debra Jonasson-Young, Executive Director of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship at the Asper School of Business, oversees the Centre’s strategic direction to foster entrepreneurial engagement among University of Manitoba students.

“I would like to thank the students from the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic for collaborating with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship to host the Startup Law 101: Protect Your New Venture webinar in support of our student entrepreneurs,” said Jonasson-Young.

She emphasized the importance of partnerships between faculties in fostering student success. “As always, the strong connection and collaboration between our two faculties serves to support our students by providing them with important information to assist them on their entrepreneurial journeys while showing them the power of sharing knowledge across faculties!”

Debra Jonasson-Young,
I.H. Asper Executive Director of Entrepreneurship
Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship

Ravi Balchan shared his experiences working with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. “When I was in Asper, I briefly tested out a business idea. At that time, I found the process of creating and establishing a business to be incredibly confusing,” said Balchan. “Thankfully, due to guidance from the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, I was able to successfully launch a business. Years later, delivering a webinar for the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship felt like a full-circle moment. It was a pleasure to be involved with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship in providing entrepreneurs with the legal knowledge they need to thrive when launching or growing their business venture.”  

Alli Knox shared her excitement about collaborating with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. “A significant portion of my final year at Robson Hall has been dedicated to the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic working with business clients,” said Knox. “I was delighted to have the opportunity to present with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. Being an Asper graduate, I have seen and encountered the Stu Clark Centre on numerous occasions and greatly appreciate what they do for our community.”            

This webinar was recorded and will be an ongoing free resource available through the Stu Clark Centre Webinar Library. Plans for more community presentations are already in place. 

Submitted jointly by L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic and Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship.