Since its foundation in 2012, the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) has gained a deserved reputation as one of Southeastern Ontario’s drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship. Queen’s Law students, staff and alumni are playing a key role supporting this hub of creative and economic growth from – of course – a legal perspective. Students in the Queen’s Business Law Clinic participate in the DDQIC by providing legal advice to the startups in the DDQIC.

“This is a great opportunity for our students, and of course for DDQIC entrepreneurs,” says Morgan Jarvis, Director of the Queen’s Business Law Clinic. The Business Law Clinic is receiving clients for its program from the DDQIC, with its entrepreneurs working directly with law students, under counsel supervision, on everything from drafting contracts to securing trademarks. 

Coming from a background specializing in intellectual property law, and now running Queen’s pro bono clinic for business clients, Jarvis is enthused about the relationship between the two entities. “Our students get to dig into the real legal issues affecting startups and entrepreneurs, getting hands on experience working directly with entrepreneurs who need a sound legal footing to build their businesses on.” 

Additionally, the DDQIC is receiving support from Queen’s Law alumnus Aaron Bains and Toronto-based business law firm Aird & Berlis LLP. 

“We’re happy to support the creativity and drive that the DDQIC fosters in students,” says Bains, Capital Markets Lawyer at Aird & Berlis. Bains, a Law’14 graduate of Queen’s and former student with the Business Law Clinic, was the instigator of the connection between the DDQIC and Aird & Berlis. Their relationship began with the 2018 edition of the Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative, and will continue through various Centre programs, including QYourVenture, the Foundry and the Regional Pitch Competition series. In addition to providing legal counsel to DDQIC startups, Bains and his colleagues, Fiona Brown and Meghan Cowan, taught a three-part workshop/lecture series this summer on Business Structures and Shareholders’ Agreements, Employment Law Affecting Startups and Business Financing and Term Sheets.

“Our one-on-one work with DDQIC participants over the summer was tremendously rewarding,” Bains says. “It’s been a privilege to connect these keen entrepreneurial minds with our legal resources. We pride ourselves in providing strategic and sensible advice to help these fledgling companies get the support they need. I’m excited to see our relationship continue and grow through the wide range of DDQIC programs that Aird & Berlis is involved in.” 

“We’ve found Aaron to be a great help so far,” says Teodor Lange of EmulGreen, a DDQIC participant startup specializing in environmentally sound emulsifiers. “He’s been connecting us to the right resources at his firm, and we feel that Aird & Berlis is showing a commitment to long-lasting relationships rather than charging us fees startups couldn’t afford at early stages of development. We’re looking forward to continuing our work together in September.”

Greg Bavington, Executive Director of DDQIC, is pleased to see these complementary legal supports for entrepreneurs working with the Centre. “Having these kinds of resources is vital to enable and support the innovation activities of students, professors, entrepreneurs, regional and Canadian companies,” he says. “We’re fortunate to work with the next generation of creative and innovative entrepreneurs, but they may not be bringing legal experience to the table – and this kind of support, from both Aird & Berlis and the Queen’s Business Law Clinic, helps us reduce risk and remove barriers for these entrepreneurs.” 

The relationship between the Business Law Clinic and Aird & Berlis will extend past the DDQIC connection. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Aird & Berlis to the classroom this school year,” Jarvis says. “They’ve been invited to provide insight from the experts on key business law topics that our students need to grasp, both for their clinic work and their coming careers as corporate lawyers.” 

“Through our partnership, Aird & Berlis and I are very excited to have the opportunity to invest in Queen’s students,” Bains says. “Supporting the DDQIC, and working with the Queen’s Business Law Clinic to provide insight and training to tomorrow’s legal experts, is a modest investment of time that will pay dividends to the University, the region, and the future of law and innovation in Ontario.”