Earth Set:Build Webinar series 5. Legal Basics for Climate Startups
Mitesh Jagatia of Eco Ventures Counsel’s presentation. Link to full deck below
Autumn 2025
Legal Basics for Climate Startups
Highlights from Earth Set: Build, Session 5 with Mitesh Jagatia (Eco Ventures Counsel)
“Our planet is in crisis — and lawyers want to help.” Mitesh Jagatia
This is how, Mitesh Jagatia founder of Eco Ventures Counsel, opened up the session, and then continued with upbeat and practical advice, rooted in what founders actually need to do, not legal theory.
Mitesh has built a pro bono programme that pairs top UK and global law firms with early-stage climate ventures for a full year of free legal support. Drawing on that experience, he offered a rapid tour of what every founder should know about structure, contracts, IP, data, people, and fundraising.
1. Start with the right structure
Most startups should incorporate as a private limited company. It’s simple and protects founders’ personal assets - liability sits with the company, not the individual.
Two documents matter most:
Articles of Association – your company’s rulebook, filed publicly. The Model Articles template works at the start, but it doesn’t include founder-specific protections such as leaver provisions or mission clauses some investors (e.g. Bethnal Green Ventures) now require.
Shareholders’ Agreement – a private document setting out how shareholders work together, what happens if people leave, and how disputes are handled. Draft it before there’s any tension.
2. Commercial contracts: know what you’re signing
Contracts define obligations and give both sides evidence of what was agreed. Founders should watch for:
Representations & warranties: statements of fact; if wrong, the other party may terminate or claim damages.
Indemnities: promises to reimburse the other side for losses.
Liability caps: limits on exposure if something goes wrong.
Large corporates often say their T&Cs are “non-negotiable”; Mitesh advised still raising reasonable points as they’re sometimes open to adjustment.
3. Protect your intellectual property early
Your company’s value often sits in its IP.
Ownership: if IP was created before incorporation or by contractors, you need written assignments transferring it to the company.
Confidentiality: never disclose sensitive information without an NDA. The exception: most VCs won’t sign NDAs, so when pitching, describe what your product does, not how it does it.
Registered vs unregistered rights: patents and trademarks require registration; copyright arises automatically.
Government support: the IP Audit Scheme offers grants toward an audit, and the UKIPO Green Channel accelerates patent processing for environmentally beneficial inventions.
4. Data protection and employment
Under the UK GDPR, personal data includes anything that identifies a person, customer or employee. You must:
Collect only what you need, for clear purposes.
Keep it secure and not for longer than necessary.
Provide a privacy notice (e.g. on your website).
Register with the ICO and pay the annual fee.
Hiring triggers further legal duties. Make sure you look into:
Employers’ liability insurance (minimum £5 million).
HMRC PAYE registration.
Right-to-work checks.
Written employment contracts and auto-enrolment into a pension scheme.
5. Fundraising and investor relations
Mitesh mapped the standard flow:
Term sheet → 2. Due diligence → 3. Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement (SSHA) + updated Articles.
Expect investors to seek information and consent rights. You’ll give warranties about your company, so draft carefully.
Watch costs: many VCs require portfolio companies to pay both sides’ legal fees; agree a cap early.
For angels, secure SEIS/EIS advance assurance as soon as possible - investors expect it.
6. Regulation and policy
Founders need to navigate both incentives and obligations:
The UK Climate Change Act (2008) and EU Green Deal underpin most climate-tech policy.
There are some sector-specific regimes, for instance, packaging and waste rules under the EU’s Extended Producer Responsibility.
Be cautious with environmental claims: the Advertising Standards Authority and Competition & Markets Authority are cracking down on greenwashing.
7. Tools and free resources
To stay lean, Mitesh pointed to founder-friendly options:
Company setup: Companies House or an accountant.
Contracts: emerging AI tools (e.g. Genie AI) can help draft or review basic templates.
Employment & data: free guidance from ACAS, ICO, and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Fundraising: platforms like SeedLegals or Founder Catalyst offer low-cost standard documents.
The closing message
Get the essentials right early — structure, IP, contracts, and data. They protect you now and save you from expensive fixes later.
“Establish a solid legal foundation early. Understand your contracts, secure your IP, and take data protection seriously.”
Thanks to Mitesh Jagatia for a crisp, founder-first session that turned “legal” into a set of levers. This was webinar 5 of 6 in the Earth Set: Build series.
