Philadelphia entrepreneurs got free advice that could save them thousands of dollars in legal bills during a workshop led by law students Nathan Howard and Margaret Theranger on Sept. 27.

The workshop, “Common Legal Mistakes Startups Make,” was co-sponsored by the law school’s newly formed Entrepreneurial Law Clinic and the Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship at the LeBow College of Business.

The students outlined strategies for ensuring that all parties associated with an enterprise have a clear understanding of their respective ownership rights. They also discussed varied options inventors have for safeguarding their intellectual property.

The students were joined by attorney Geoff Weber and Karl Okamoto,
professor of law and director of the law school’s Business and Entrepreneurship Law Program.

Dozens of entrepreneurs and students attended the workshop, which marked the first public venture of the law clinic, created to boost entrepreneurship in Philadelphia.

Mark Loschiavo, executive director of the Baiada Center, said the workshop filled a need.

“Entrepreneurs don’t have much money, but they do need a lot of legal help,” Loschiavo said.