Lawyering in a Startup: What, why and how

Lawyering in a Startup: What, why and how Public workshop Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a lawyer in a startup? Picture it. You’ve just walked in the door. There’s a swag bag on your desk with a block of Whittaker’s, a book, and some green shoes. There’s a MacBook with Slack, Gmail, Notion and HubSpot. You’re the first lawyer the company has ever had. Everyone from the founders down is thrilled you’re here, and they already have a list. By lunchtime your inbox is full. Startups and Food Trucks is an in-person legal CPD series that drops you into the role of a startup lawyer and moves forward in time each episode. In Episode 1, we’re starting where everyone starts: Week 1. Think of it as your first look around. We’ll open up each of the big themes of startup legal life, and later episodes will dig deeper as your time in the role grows. Join the GCs and heads of legal from New Zealand’s fastest-growing startups, and hear what the job is really like (the good, the chaotic and the brilliant). Most importantly, find out how to make the move into a startup career if it’s something you’re curious about. What we’ll cover • Welcome: swag bags and green shoes • The first lawyer through the door (what’s in the drawer, and what isn’t) • A day in the inbox (live triage) • Runway, raises and pivots (learning the business fast) • Decisions on imperfect information • Q&A Learning objectives By the end of the session, you’ll have: • An initial understanding of what a startup lawyer does and how the role differs from other legal roles • An awareness of what to look for when you’re the first lawyer in a startup • A first look at the types of requests a startup lawyer handles, and how they’re prioritised • An introduction to how a startup’s runway, funding and direction shape legal work • An appreciation of what it means to advise when information is incomplete • A sense of whether a startup career might suit you, and the possible pathways in Who it’s for? Any in-house lawyer who is startup-curious. Event Details: • Date: Thursday 12 November 2026 • Time: 12:30am - 1:30pm | 1 hour CPD • Location: Tracksuit, 34/38 Drake Street, Auckland 1010 • Event Type: In person Free for KiwiSaaS members, non-members and invited guests. Presented by Startup Lawyers NZ and KiwiSaaS