Basic Resources

Here you will find general guides to assist you in your start-up journey.

Title: Queen’s Business Law Clinic Playbooks

Source: Queen’s Business Law Clinic (QBLC)

Details: Created by the QBLC, this series of Playbooks provides general information on legal concepts for consideration by early-stage entrepreneurs starting out on their venture. These Playbooks are for people with little or no previous business or entrepreneurial experience and will help you to understand the relationship between the law and business.  

Link: Queen's Business Law Clinic Playbooks 

Title: Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative Intellectual Property Research Guide

Source: Michael White, Acting Head Engineering and Science Librarian

Details: This guide was put together by Queen's University librarian, Michael White. It was created for use during the QICSI Intellectual Property Day sessions. The guide will walk you through the basics of trademark and patentability searching.

Link: QICSI IP Research Guide 

There are some avenues available to you for free legal advice. These resources can help you with routine activities such as patent searching and partnership agreements. You should begin by thoroughly researching and educating yourself on these matters; these resources can help with this process.

Title: Advice and mentorship on patents and trademarks

Source: Angela Lyon, Queen’s Patent Agent

Details: Angela Lyon, a Queen’s Patent Agent through Queen’s Partnerships and Innovation will meet with ventures who wish to speak with a patent agent. 

Note: Women founders can also be supported by Angela through the WE-CAN project.  

Link: angela.lyon@queensu.ca

Source: Pro Bono Ontario 

Details: Pro Bono Ontario provides free legal help via a toll free 1-800 number to Ontarians with essential legal needs who cannot afford a lawyer. There are also free webinars and resources to access on their website for more information on key topics. 

Link: Pro Bono Ontario 

Source: Queen’s Business Law Clinic (QBLC)

Details: The QBLC will provide free legal advice to ventures. This is ideal for more routine and early stage legal advice. For example, drafting shareholder and partnership agreements. 

Note: Any women-founded team who wants legal advice can be fast-tracked to work with QBLC through the WE-CAN project. 

Link: Business Law Clinic

Tomilola Adebiyi, Director, QBLC

613-533-2102

tomilola.adebiyi@queensu.ca

Name: Ownr

Details: This is a digital service offered by RBC. It is a one-stop shop for business incorporation, business bank accounts, and doing annual taxes/books as a new corporation. It is a good alternative to getting an expensive startup package at a law firm, and one step above DIY.

This service is ideal for ventures who have non-complex share structures at present who want to register their business, complete the articles of incorporation, and open a business bank account. DDQIC ventures get a 20% discount automatically. 

How to get started: Ownr Partnership 

Title: Business Law and Ethics Canadian Edition

Source: eCampus Ontario Open Library

Details: An open education legal text that has been carefully contextualized for Canada, with integration of critical Indigenous legal perspectives that are sorely lacking in existing texts. 

Link: eCampus Ontario

There are several legal templates that you can access to help you with more routine legal activities. 

Title: Partnership Agreement Template

Source: Queen’s Business Law Clinic

Details: This template is for any team that does not wish to be in an implicit partnership or would like to access DDQIC seed funding.

Link: QBLC Partnership Agreement Template_2018.docx

Title: Shareholder Agreement Template

Source: Vetted by Aird&Berlis

Details: Teams can use this sample shareholders' agreement template as a guide when crafting their own.   

Link: Sample Shareholder Agreement - Template.docx

Source: Rocket Lawyer

Details: This website provides access to many free legal document templates. 

Link: Rocket Lawyer 

DDQIC has amassed a large number of videos recorded during QICSI sessions and other workshops. Explore these videos to learn about a variety of topics related to the legal questions you may have.

Title: Introduction to Business Vehicles

Source: QICSI 2021 Session by Queen’s Business Law Clinic (QBLC)

Details: In the summer months when DDQIC runs their QICSI session, the QBLC typically provides a workshop on Business Vehicles. You can find a link to the recorded session below, which is available all year round. As well, QICSI participants will attend a similar session in the  summer months as part of the QICSI Bootcamp or Speakers Sessions.

Link: Introduction to Business Vehicles Recording 

Title: Business Financing Essentials and Letters of Intent

Source: DDQIC session with Aaron Bains of Aird&Berlis

Details: This session provides an introduction to the types of financing available to start-ups and the implications of each type. Similar sessions will be held in-person with Aird&Berlis representatives throughout the year as a part of different DDQIC programs. It is made available year-round as a recorded session. 

Link: Business Financing Essentials 

Title: Shareholder Agreements 

Source: DDQIC session with Aaron Bains of Aird&Berlis

Details: This video provides an overview of business structures, the incorporation process, internal and external corporate governance, and the key considerations at play when starting a new business. Similar sessions will be held in-person with Aird&Berlis representatives throughout the year as a part of different DDQIC programs. It is made available year-round as a recorded session. 

Link: Shareholder Agreements

QICSI Session 

Title: Financing a Successful Start-Up

Source: DDQIC session with Aaron Bains of Aird&Berlis

Details:  In this session, Aaron Bains from Aird&Berlis discusses the fundamentals of financing options for start-ups, with a focus on the vocabulary used in the field. Similar sessions will be held in-person with Aird&Berlis representatives throughout the year as a part of different DDQIC programs. It is made available year-round as a recorded session. 

Link: Financing a Successful Start-Up 

Title: Legal Tips for Start-Ups

Source: DDQIC session with Jake Vogl

Details: In this session you will learn the 11 critical start-up mistakes from a legal perspective and how your team can avoid making these mistakes. Similar sessions will be held in-person with Jake Vogl throughout the year as a part of different DDQIC programs. It is made available year-round as a recorded session.

Link: Legal Tips for Start-Ups 

Title: Intro to Intellectual Property

Source: DDQIC session with Angela Lyon

Details: In this two part session, Patent Agent Angela Lyon, walks participants through the basics of Intellectual Property. Similar sessions will be held in-person with Angela Lyon throughout the year as a part of different DDQIC programs. It is made available year-round as a recorded session.

Link: Intro to Intellectual Property Part 1; Intro to Intellectual Property Part 2  

Title: Digital Privacy and Data

Source: DDQIC session with Jake Vogl

Details: This session will give you with an overview of digital privacy laws from around the world and how to develop a digital privacy strategy for your venture. Similar sessions will be held in-person with Jake Vogl throughout the year as a part of different DDQIC programs. It is made available year-round as a recorded session.

Link: Digital Privacy and Data