Miami’s tech startup scene is beginning to take off, and Dade Legal Aid, a nonprofit law firm based in the heart of downtown Miami, today announced the Venture Law Project to keep it strong. Supported by $75,000 from the Knight Foundation, the Venture Law Project will fuel growth in the entrepreneurial community by offering legal counsel to early-stage startups.
To that end, the Venture Law Project has brought attorney Ashley Juchawski to provide free legal assistance in the areas of business formation, filing requirements, drafting legal contracts, negotiating lease agreements, copyrights, trademarks, and tax planning. She is set to begin contributing immediately.
“The Venture Law Project fills a glaring need in the community while building on the mission of Dade Legal Aid,” says Juchawski. “It’s a true community partnership, where private attorneys can offer their services pro bono to those in need, working alongside other law firms and co-working campuses that are hubs for local tech.”
The project will also offer regularly scheduled workshops from partner law firms and local incubators to provide a greater understanding of the legal issues in the Miami startup community. And, regardless of the organizations involved, everybody is in it for the same reasons: to attract talent and to create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups in Miami.
“This project is a draw for both existing startups and new talent, which form the foundation of Miami’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and are key players driving its success,” says Matt Haggman, Miami program director at the Knight Foundation.