From founder to first legal hire: the early days of a critical partnership

Speakers

Joshua Blake (Managing Director, Montresor Legal), Kate Luton (Head of Legal, Yapily), and Roei Samuel (CEO & Founder, Connectd)

The role of legal in high-growth companies – How founders currently manage legal issues, the challenges of relying on external counsel, and the risks of bringing in legal too late.
When and why to hire an in-house lawyer – Identifying the right moment to transition from external legal support, and the key criteria for selecting a GC who aligns with the company’s growth and strategy.
The evolving role of legal in a scaling business – How an in-house lawyer is the founder of legal and can proactively support fundraising, risk management, and business strategy, compared to the traditional reactive model of external counsel.

Legal issues become more complex as a company scales, making early legal involvement critical. While external lawyers are useful for specialist advice, relying solely on them can be inefficient and costly. Founders often spend too much time managing legal matters that would be better handled by a dedicated in-house legal professional.
An in-house lawyer can provide strategic value beyond risk management. The right legal hire isn’t just about compliance, they should be a business enabler. Having a lawyer embedded within the executive team offers strategic insights, improves decision-making, and helps reduce external legal costs.
Timing and hiring the right legal leader is key. Companies should consider bringing in a legal hire when legal needs become too complex for external counsel alone. The ideal candidate should be proactive, commercially aware, and comfortable operating in both regulated and unregulated environments.