Legals 101: Building Your Team with Duncan Cotterill

Legals 101: Building your Team

Who owns what, who does what, and what happens if things change?

From co-founder relationships and equity discussions to the different obligations when working with contractors, employees and interns, this workshop explores the practical legal issues that arise when building a team and growing a venture.

About Duncan Cotterill

Duncan Cotterill is a national law firm with broad legal expertise and a novel approach to providing practical legal guidance to businesses at every stage of their journey.  Its dedicated Startup Hub framework helps early-stage entrepreneurs manage risk, avoid costly disputes, and correctly structure agreements when building their core team. Whether you want to learn the basics yourself, workshop ideas with an expert, or let our team handle the details, we offer flexible support to suit your needs.

Presenters:

About Nick Meates (Associate)

Nick specialises in corporate and commercial law with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, capital raising, joint ventures, securities and other complex commercial arrangements.

He advises clients across a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, with a strong interest in working with high‑growth companies, founders and investors across the full business lifecycle, from establishment and capital raising through to growth, governance and exit.

Before re-joining Duncan Cotterill, Nick worked in the UK at McLaren as in-house counsel where he advised on key strategic M&A, joint venture and commercial transactions across McLaren’s automotive, racing and technology businesses. His in‑house experience gives him a strong understanding of commercial drivers and board‑level decision‑making, enabling him to deliver strategic advice that balances commercial objectives with legal risk in fast‑moving transactions.

About Jonny Sanders (Senior Associate)

Jonny is a specialist employment lawyer with broad ranging experience and expertise.

He assists clients with all aspects of employment and health and safety law, including personal grievances, redundancy and disciplinary processes, performance management, medical incapacity, restraints of trade, bullying and harassment, holidays and leave, and privacy.

Jonny has extensive experience in negotiation and mediation, and represents clients in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and Human Rights Review Tribunal. Jonny is also regularly engaged to conduct independent investigations into workplace complaints.