Tonkon Torp attorneys Clay Creps, Tyler Harkness, and Parna Mehrbani were instructors at the April 13 session of the TIE XL Boot Camp. The Boot Camp program connects a cohort of entrepreneurs to experts in the startup community to discuss topics relevant to successful launch and growth efforts.
Clay Creps offered an introduction to the tenets of Oregon employment law. He stressed the importance of startups correctly classifying employees and independent contractors, and the risks involved in not getting it right. He also reviewed anti-discrimination issues, wage and hour rules, at-will employment, and termination.
Moving through the typical stages of the startup lifecycle, Tyler Harkness shared the legal fundamentals of corporate formation, governance, and finance. He also looked at the particular issues a startup company must consider when planning to raise money through equity-based financing.
Parna Mehrbani explored how trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets work to protect a company’s intellectual property. She provided insight into the differences between each IP tool, and the benefits of registration to protect and enforce intellectual property rights.
TiE Oregon is the local chapter of a global entrepreneurial organization that seeks to further the success of innovation driven enterprise.
