Expert Legal Support for AI Startups

Whether you’re a two-person project or a growing scale-up, our goal is to help you focus on developing breakthrough technologies – not paperwork.

Through years of guiding clients in fields like machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, we have an in-depth understanding of intellectual property issues unique to AI.

Why AI Startups Choose Atrium

AI Startup Legal Services

Company Formation & Setup

• AI company incorporation and registration
• Articles of Association drafting
• Registered office establishment
• Tax registration and compliance
• Employment contract preparation
• Equity and incentive plan design

Intellectual Property Protection

• Patent Protection: AI algorithms, machine learning innovations, and technical patents
• Trademark Registration: Brand protection and product name registration
• Copyright Protection: Software code, documentation, and original works
• Trade Secrets: Protection of proprietary AI models and algorithms
• IP Licensing: Licensing AI technology and intellectual property
• IP Assignment: Employee IP assignment and contribution agreements

AI-Specific Legal Issues

• AI model ownership and liability
• Algorithmic transparency and explainability requirements
• AI ethics and responsible AI compliance
• Bias and discrimination prevention in AI systems
• AI product liability and insurance
• Regulatory compliance for AI applications

Data Protection & GDPR Compliance

Compliance with Romania’s data protection and privacy rules is a complex hurdle for AI companies. As veterans of GDPR and tech regulations, we ensure your operations adhere to the latest standards – reducing risk as you gather insights to advance your systems.

GDPR Compliance for AI

• Data Processing Agreements (DPA) for AI model training
• Privacy impact assessments for AI systems
• Consent management for data collection and processing
• Data subject rights procedures (access, deletion, portability)
• Data retention policies for training data
• Cross-border data transfer compliance

AI Data Handling

• Training data acquisition and licensing
• Personal data anonymization and pseudonymization
• Third-party data provider agreements
• Data governance and data security policies
• Data breach notification procedures
• Data controller and processor responsibilities

Privacy-by-Design

• Privacy policies for AI applications
• Terms of service and user agreements
• Transparency in AI decision-making
• User consent mechanisms
• Privacy settings and user controls

Fundraising & Investment Support

When fundraising becomes a priority, rely on our venture capital and crowdfunding expertise to expertly draft agreements securing the capital needed to achieve key milestones. Investors have peace of mind that terms are market-competitive and compliant.

Venture Capital & Angel Investment

• Investment term sheet negotiation
• Share purchase agreements (SPA)
• Shareholders’ agreements
• Board composition and governance
• Anti-dilution and liquidation preference provisions
• Due diligence documentation preparation

Equity & Incentives

• Founder equity structures
• Employee stock option plans (ESOP)
• Restricted stock units (RSU)
• Vesting schedules and cliff periods
• IP assignment from employee equity recipients

Crowdfunding & Alternative Funding

• Crowdfunding campaign legal structure
• Securities compliance for equity crowdfunding
• Grant application support
• R&D tax credit optimization
• Government incentive programs

Commercial Agreements & Contracts

AI Service & Product Agreements

• AI service agreements and SaaS contracts
• API and integration agreements
• End-user license agreements (EULA) for AI products
• AI model licensing agreements
• Data annotation and labeling service agreements
• Maintenance and support agreements

Technology Partnerships

• Technology partnership agreements
• Integration partner contracts
• Reseller and distributor agreements
• Joint development agreements
• Co-marketing agreements
• Technology licensing deals

Data & Research Agreements

• Data sharing agreements
• Research collaboration contracts
• Non-disclosure agreements (NDA)
• Data acquisition and licensing
• University or research institute partnerships
• Open-source software compliance

Supplier & Vendor Agreements

• Cloud infrastructure provider agreements
• Computing power and GPU rental contracts
• Software and tool licensing
• Service level agreements (SLA)
• Vendor data protection clauses

AI Regulatory Compliance

EU AI Act Compliance

The EU AI Act introduces regulatory requirements for AI systems. We help ensure your products and services comply with:

• Risk classification of AI systems
• Documentation and transparency requirements
• High-risk AI system provisions
• Prohibited AI practices
• Compliance assessment and certification

Sector-Specific AI Regulations

• Employment: AI in hiring, performance evaluation, and HR
• Healthcare: Medical AI and diagnostic systems compliance
• Finance: AI in credit decisions and financial services
• Consumer Protection: Algorithmic recommendations and disclosures
• Public Sector: AI in government services and decision-making

Algorithmic Transparency

• Explainability requirements for AI decisions
• Bias auditing and fairness assessment
• Algorithmic transparency documentation
• User notification of AI decision-making
• Right to explanation and appeal procedures

Employment & Team Building

Employment Contracts

• Employment agreements for developers and researchers
• Independent contractor agreements
• Confidentiality and non-compete agreements
• IP assignment agreements from employees
• Remote work and flexible arrangement contracts

Equity & Incentives

• Stock option plans for team members
• Equity agreements with vesting schedules
• Performance-based incentives
• Founder agreements and equity splits

HR & Compliance

• Romanian labor law compliance
• Employee handbook preparation
• Workplace policies and procedures
• Visa and work permit support for international team
• Social security and payroll compliance

Our AI Startup Legal Approach

Proactive Legal Strategy

We tackle challenges proactively, identifying potential legal issues before they become problems. Our approach focuses on protecting your innovation while enabling rapid growth.

Transparent Communication

We explain complex legal concepts in plain language, ensuring your team understands their legal position and obligations without unnecessary jargon.

Budget-Conscious Solutions

We understand startup budgets are tight. We provide cost-effective legal solutions that prioritize critical protections while deferring less urgent matters until scaling.

Scalable Legal Support

Our services grow with your company. From initial incorporation through Series A funding and beyond, we provide the legal support you need at each stage.

Technical Understanding

With deep knowledge of AI technology, we speak your language. We understand your technical challenges and translate them into practical legal solutions.

AI Specializations

Machine Learning & Deep Learning

Legal protection for neural networks, deep learning models, and ML algorithms with IP protection and model ownership strategies.

Computer Vision

Image and video analysis AI systems with specialized legal guidance for visual data processing and model training.

Natural Language Processing

Language AI systems including chatbots, translation, and NLP models with content and text data handling compliance.

Generative AI

Large language models and generative systems with specialized guidance on training data rights and output liability.

AI for Business

Enterprise AI solutions, predictive analytics, and business intelligence systems with commercial and compliance frameworks.

AI Infrastructure & DevOps

AI platforms, MLOps tools, and AI infrastructure services with SaaS and cloud service legal structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need legal counsel for my AI startup?

Yes, absolutely. AI startups face unique legal challenges including intellectual property protection, data protection compliance, regulatory requirements, and liability considerations. Early legal guidance prevents costly mistakes and protects your innovations.

How can I protect my AI algorithms and models?

AI innovations can be protected through patents (for novel algorithms), trade secrets (for proprietary models), and copyright (for software code). We advise on the best protection strategy for your specific innovations.

What is the EU AI Act and how does it affect my company?

The EU AI Act is new legislation regulating AI systems based on risk levels. Depending on your AI system’s classification, you may need to implement documentation, transparency, and compliance measures. We help assess your compliance obligations.

How do I ensure GDPR compliance for AI model training?

GDPR compliance requires data processing agreements, consent management, data subject rights procedures, and proper data handling. We help implement these requirements throughout your data pipeline.

Can I use public data for AI training?

Possibly, but it depends on the data’s source and license. Public data may still contain personal data requiring GDPR compliance. Open-source data has specific license requirements. We help navigate these complexities.

What should be in my AI service agreements?

Key provisions include limitations of liability, IP ownership, data handling and protection, service levels, indemnification, and compliance warranties. We draft comprehensive agreements protecting both you and your customers.

How do I structure equity for my AI startup team?

We help design founder equity splits, employee stock option plans, vesting schedules, and IP assignment agreements aligned with investor expectations and motivating your team.

What about AI product liability and insurance?

AI systems can create unique liability risks. We advise on limiting liability through contractual terms and help identify appropriate insurance coverage for your AI products.

Supporting AI Startups at Every Stage