The next generation of top Australian start-ups will have a legal leg up.
Melbourne University's Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) has signed a deal with Corrs Chambers Westgarth, providing a six-figure investment as well as online legal advice to the hub.
![Dr Clare Harding of the Melbourne Accelerator Program.](/web/20160927141802im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/o/t/k/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gros8m.png/1474874501135.jpg)
MAP has produced the likes of furniture e-tailer Brosa and Nura, the headphones that adapt to your hearing profile.
"At every stage of development, young companies need good advice and that's really valuable to us. These are going to be the companies of tomorrow's economy," said Dr Clare Harding, deputy director of MAP.
Harding said the deal came about after a formal introduction by Associate Professor Rufus Black from the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship at Ormond College. Black is also on the board of Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
One of the Corrs partners leading the deal, Jonathan Farrer, said advice for the young companies will span corporate and funding, employment and intellectual property.
"With intellectual property, its about making sure the start-ups hold the IP within the company so if people leave, the idea can't go with them," he said.
While the firm is an Australian one, he said it partners with firms overseas, particular in the US, to give start-ups comprehensive advice.
"We will be offering masterclasses to train staff on these areas of law, as well as spending a lot of one-and-one time with companies," he said.
"We are also in the testing phase of a new online legal platform as we try and find more customer-friendly ways to deal with start-ups and embrace disruption. MAP companies will have free access to that," he said.
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