Collaboration with IP Academy of Ukraine: Barbashyn Law Firm Lawyers Speak at Startup & IP Bootcamp

About IP Academy of Ukraine and Startup & IP Bootcamp

IP Academy of Ukraine is an educational platform dedicated to intellectual property, established under the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO / IP Office) and a partner of the WIPO Academy of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Academy is committed to raising awareness and improving knowledge of intellectual property among diverse audiences, including school students, university students, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Together with the TISC Main Office and the IP&I Hub platform, the Academy develops educational programs that help Ukrainian inventors, founders, and creators understand and protect their intellectual property rights.

One of these initiatives was the Startup & IP Bootcamp summer school, a five-day online intensive program held from June 29 to July 3, 2026, for students working on their own digital products and startup ideas. The program covered the entire innovation lifecycle, from developing a startup concept and protecting software code to building a brand, securing intellectual property rights, drafting legal agreements, and preparing projects for investment. Throughout the five-day program, participants worked on practical case studies, attended lectures and workshops, and received guidance from experts in intellectual property, IT, and entrepreneurship.

Practical Lectures by Barbashyn Law Firm Lawyers

The summer school program featured legal practitioners who work with startups and digital products on a daily basis. Senior Lawyer Roman Tkan and International Law Lawyer Vladyslav Vasko delivered lectures focused on the key legal aspects of startup development.

Roman Tkan presented the lecture “Brand Protection Lab: Building an Initial Brand Protection Strategy,” where he explained how to develop an effective brand protection strategy, register trademarks, choose the most appropriate intellectual property protection model, and avoid the common mistakes made by early-stage companies. Participants learned why a startup’s name, logo, and domain should be secured before launching a product and how timely brand protection strengthens a company’s position in both negotiations and the marketplace.

Vladyslav Vasko delivered the lecture “Startup Agreements Without Legal Jargon,” explaining which agreements are essential during the early stages of a business, how to properly structure relationships between founders, team members, and business partners, and which legal mechanisms help minimize risks. The session focused on practical, easy-to-understand explanations while highlighting the contractual provisions that genuinely protect both the product and the team.

In addition to the lectures, participants actively engaged in discussions of practical case studies, asked questions, and received tailored recommendations for their own projects. Both topics reflect the firm’s day-to-day legal practice. Barbashyn Law Firm advises clients on trademark registration in Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States, prepares founders’ agreements, contracts with developers and contractors, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and intellectual property assignment documentation. As a result, both lectures were based on real-life cases drawn from the firm’s experience in Intellectual Property and IT & Startups.

Why legal knowledge matters for startup growth

A successful startup is built on more than just innovative technology or a promising business idea. From the earliest stages of development, it is essential to properly secure intellectual property rights, establish clear legal relationships between co-founders, protect the brand, and prepare the business for future growth and scaling.

This is why practical insights from lawyers who advise innovative companies on a daily basis are so valuable. Their experience helps aspiring entrepreneurs better understand legal risks and make informed decisions long before their products enter the market.

What this collaboration with IP Academy of Ukraine means for Barbashyn Law Firm

Our collaboration with IP Academy of Ukraine, the TISC Main Office, IP&I Hub, and the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO / IP Office) represents an important step in strengthening cooperation with institutions that shape Ukraine’s intellectual property ecosystem and promote a strong legal culture in the field of innovation. The invitation for Barbashyn Law Firm lawyers to speak at Startup & IP Bootcamp reflects the team’s practical expertise in Intellectual Property, IT Law, and startup legal support, while also creating new opportunities for future educational projects, workshops, and professional initiatives.

Participation in Startup & IP Bootcamp is a natural extension of Barbashyn Law Firm’s commitment to supporting innovation, technology entrepreneurship, and the development of a strong intellectual property culture in Ukraine. The firm’s team regularly contributes to professional conferences, educational programs, and international initiatives, sharing practical expertise in IP, IT, and AI Law while supporting entrepreneurs and technology teams at various stages of their business development.

We believe that timely legal support is one of the key factors behind successful startup growth, investment readiness, and the international expansion of Ukrainian innovative businesses. For this reason, Barbashyn Law Firm will continue to support educational initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and the effective protection of intellectual property.

We sincerely thank IP Academy of Ukraine for the invitation to participate in the program and for the opportunity to share our practical experience with future entrepreneurs. We wish all participants every success in bringing their ideas to life and launching new innovative projects, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration on future educational initiatives in the field of intellectual property.