Business often moves ahead of legal affairs, and there isn’t always the capacity to hire an in-house legal counsel. With my years of experience as an in-house legal counsel for a large online media platform and as a legal advisor for SaaS platforms, Web3 projects, and various IT companies, I can assess the legal risks a company faces and, more importantly, where the opportunities lie for safe growth. I am very entrepreneurial in nature and in my work, and I enjoy collaborating with businesses with a clear eye on the future. I have lead negotiations for multi million dollar deals and RFPs, in person, abroad and via online meetings. I am here to help you with managing your deal flow, upgrading your legal documents and processes and reducing your legal exposure so that you, as an entrepreneur, can focus on what you do best – running your business! So if you are in that growth stage, trying to professionalize your legal department or working towards that IPO, let me help you grow safely.
IT/ICT
Outsourcing, return policies, liability of online platforms, and SCRUM. IT/ICT offers many opportunities, but there are also various legal risks, sometimes from unexpected sources.
Intellectual Property
Advertising, domain name registration, and trademark applications. Every (online) business deals with these issues, and I can help ensure that you take the right steps safely.
Privacy
Cookie notifications, data processing agreements, and Privacy by Design. I assist you in creating the right documents to comply with GDPR/AVG requirements.
Blockchain
The rise of blockchain is inevitable. Start-ups, publicly traded companies, and even governments are involved. But what risks does this bring? How do I protect my business?
Web3/NFTs
Web3 is about decentralization and ownership, on the blockchain. There is an NFT for almost anything you can think of. I’ve bought and sold thousands of NFTs and know exactly what needs to be on paper.
Cryptocurrency
No one can ignore cryptocurrency anymore. The use of crypto is still mostly speculative, but digital euros and dollars are on the horizon. How does a company adapt to this? What rules do I need to follow?
In recent years, I have specialized in the above-mentioned areas of law. An intensive Grotius Informatics Law specialization course has enhanced my technical and legal knowledge in the fields of IP, IT/ICT, and Privacy. Additionally, I have gained practical experience by starting multiple online businesses, which has kept me well-informed about the technical and business aspects of (online) entrepreneurship. This knowledge has proven invaluable in providing legal assistance to various (SME) businesses. In addition to these areas of law, I have extensive experience with the employment law aspects of a company and the various contracts that come into play. Startups are, of course, very welcome, and together, we can establish a solid foundation for your company using my Startup Legal Checklist!
In addition, I have focused heavily on providing legal advice to Web3, cryptocurrency, and blockchain companies in recent years. Apart from being a lover of technological developments, I have launched smart contracts, designed NFTs, and assisted blockchain founders. I am more than happy to provide blockchain advice as a legal expert to various cryptocurrency companies and practical Web3 legal advice.
Please contact me for an introductory conversation.
Legal advice for entrepreneurs who want to grow!
Some of the companies I have helped in recent years:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Upgrade Legal for?
Upgrade Legal primarily targets startups and growing businesses. Growth brings change, and standard contracts may no longer suffice. For any business looking to grow safely by mitigating (new) legal risks, Upgrade Legal offers a solution-oriented approach, clear legal advice, and the drafting of the right documents. In short, legal assistance with an eye on the future and seizing new opportunities!
Who is behind Upgrade Legal?
I am Jeroen Laurijssen, and I started Upgrade Legal because I derive great satisfaction from advising startups and growing (SME) businesses. I have gained extensive experience in advising various companies, from a butler app to a VVE platform to a design studio. During this time, I noticed that, even in the early stages, there is a need for tailor-made legal documents, but often, out of necessity, more standard documents found online are chosen. Meanwhile, the company matures, undergoes multiple changes during its growth, and the legal structure does not always grow in the same way. There are also always customers who want to modify the contract or impose their own agreements, and the service has meanwhile changed, which can lead to new legal risks. I am more than happy to help companies upgrade their legal framework so they can safely continue to grow.
Where is Upgrade Legal located?
I am based in Haarlem, but I am happy to come to your location.
Upgrade Legal