Legal experts run Dare Academy workshop

The next generation of computer games designers benefited from top level business acumen and legal advice from one of Scotland leading law firms.

Douglas Roberts, Kate Wyatt and Iain Penman, partners at Lindsays solicitors, were at Abertay University in Dundee to host a workshop for students taking part in the inaugural Dare Academy games design competition this summer.

As part of a sponsorship package that includes a cash investment of £1,000, the business law experts taught the young teams about business structure, shareholders’ agreements and the all-important protection of intellectual property.

The teams also gained valuable insights around clarity on status in business and how to prepare for an exit.

Following his presentation in the University’s Dare Academy zone, Mr Roberts said Lindsays was delighted to be supporting the competition, which gives students an intensive hot-housing experience as they seek to build new games from scratch in just a few weeks.

He added: “It is brilliant for our firm to be involved in Dare Academy and we really enjoyed speaking with the students about their ideas and passing on our legal experience of helping our clients in the games industry. ”

Lindsays is a full service award-winning Scottish law firm providing advice for businesses, families and individuals, with offices in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Having helped many start-ups, gaming businesses and entrepreneurs with the specific issues they face, Lindsays understands the challenges and can help them achieve their ambitions.

Dare Academy comes as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first university in the world to offer computer games degrees.

Six teams have until August 4 to hone their games, with a working budget of £1,000 to develop prototypes.

A judging panel will select the three top teams to showcase their finished products at the UK’s biggest games conference, EGX, which attracts more than 75,000 people over four days to the NEC in Birmingham every year.

Those teams will also scoop trip of a lifetime placements to international games studios in China, India and the US.

The overall winner of Dare Academy will be unveiled at the end of EGX on September 24.