BLF Legal Workshop with F6Labs Abu Dhabi

Barakat Law Firm delivered an in-depth two-hour online legal workshop for startups on 25 August 2023, hosted by Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi and led by Ahmed Barakat, Founder of Barakat Law Firm. The session brought together nearly 25 startups from across the United Arab Emirates, all part of the Flat6Labs cohort delivered in collaboration with the Government of the United Arab Emirates, with a focus on empowering early-stage founders and strengthening the national startup ecosystem.

The workshop addressed the legal foundations critical to building and scaling startups, including offshore structuring considerations, optimal company setups for regional and cross-border expansion, and the key agreements required at early stages of a company’s lifecycle. Significant emphasis was placed on equity incentive planning and ESOP strategy, founder and employee alignment, and preparing for funding rounds through various financing structures such as seed investments, convertible instruments, and equity financings. The interactive online format enabled founders to engage directly on practical legal challenges, reinforcing the importance of early legal planning in driving investor readiness, governance strength, and long-term sustainability.