Ivan Chugunov
Founding Partner
Advises founders on company structuring, governance, fundraising and commercial agreements. Has 10+ years of experience across law firms and venture-focused family offices in CIS, France and the UAE.
About Seed & Scale
A legal partner that moves at your speed
Seed & Scale is a UAE-based legal consultancy built for tech founders and growing companies
Trusted by founders
and ecosystem partners
Our Story
Why Seed & Scale was built
After working across legal consulting and venture-focused family offices in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Ivan Chugunov saw how traditional law firms often struggled to meet the needs of early-stage companies.
High hourly rates, slow response times, risk-averse advice and processes designed for large corporations could stand in the way of progress — particularly for companies moving quickly in industries such as fintech, AI and Web3.
In 2024, Ivan founded Seed & Scale to address those problems. Seed & Scale was designed for early-stage startups, combining transparent fixed-fee pricing, responsive support and clear legal guidance shaped around founders' needs
High hourly rates, slow response times, risk-averse advice and processes designed for large corporations could stand in the way of progress — particularly for companies moving quickly in industries such as fintech, AI and Web3.
In 2024, Ivan founded Seed & Scale to address those problems. Seed & Scale was designed for early-stage startups, combining transparent fixed-fee pricing, responsive support and clear legal guidance shaped around founders' needs
“Traditional law firms were not built for startups. High hourly rates, a risk-averse approach and slow responses stood in the way of real progress. We founded Seed & Scale so founders can move faster, stay investor-ready and keep costs predictable.”
Ivan Chugunov
Founding Partner
Understand the business
We take the time to understand your business model, stage, priorities and commercial context — not just the legal question in front of us
Make legal clear and practical
We explain what matters, outline the trade-offs and give you practical next steps without unnecessary legal complexity
Keep the work moving
Responsive communication and digital-first workflows help us keep legal work moving alongside your business
How We Work
Legal advice that works in the real world
Three principles guide how we work with founders
Our Team
Meet the people behind Seed & Scale
Christina Saad
Associate
Helps founders with employment matters, commercial contracts and preparation for investment and due diligence. Has 5+ years of legal experience across Europe and the Middle East.
Anna Lora Trukhanova-Lyutova
Operations Manager
Manages client onboarding, project coordination and day-to-day operations at Seed&Scale. Keeps clients and the legal team aligned on timelines, documents and next steps.
Christopher Abou Harb
Associate
Works on cross-border corporate, banking and finance matters, drawing on experience at Stephenson Harwood in Paris. A member of the Beirut Bar Association, he speaks English, French and Arabic.
Free Guide
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Start with a conversation
Tell us where your company is today and what you are working towards. We will help you identify the legal support that fits your next stage
Let’s Talk
Let’s build what comes next
Ivan Chugunov
Founding Partner
Ivan is the founder of Seed&Scale, advising founders and growing businesses on company structuring, corporate governance, fundraising and commercial agreements. He works with clients as fractional general counsel, supporting both strategic decisions and day-to-day legal matters.
He has more than ten years of experience across law firms and venture-focused family offices in CIS, France and the UAE. His background includes advising on venture capital and private equity investments, debt financing and fund investments, as well as restructuring work in France. This experience gives him insight into how both founders and investors approach a transaction.
Ivan is also a legal mentor at SANDBOX by Oraseya Capital, where he supports early-stage technology founders through legal reviews, workshops and individual consultations. Alongside his legal practice, he has passed Level I of the CFA Program.
He has more than ten years of experience across law firms and venture-focused family offices in CIS, France and the UAE. His background includes advising on venture capital and private equity investments, debt financing and fund investments, as well as restructuring work in France. This experience gives him insight into how both founders and investors approach a transaction.
Ivan is also a legal mentor at SANDBOX by Oraseya Capital, where he supports early-stage technology founders through legal reviews, workshops and individual consultations. Alongside his legal practice, he has passed Level I of the CFA Program.
Christina Saad
Associate
Christina is an Associate at Seed&Scale, supporting startups and growing companies with employment matters, commercial contracts, corporate documentation and preparation for investment and due diligence. She works closely with founders on the legal questions that arise as they hire, build products and grow their businesses.
She has more than five years of legal experience across Europe and the Middle East, including in-house roles with technology and proptech businesses. Her experience covers corporate and commercial matters, intellectual property, data protection and regulatory compliance, with work for companies including Oreyeon and Local Host.
Christina studied law at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, with a focus on banking, corporate and finance law. She also mentors early-stage founders through SANDBOX by Oraseya Capital and has contributed articles to the Lebanon Law Review, including on blockchain dispute resolution.
She has more than five years of legal experience across Europe and the Middle East, including in-house roles with technology and proptech businesses. Her experience covers corporate and commercial matters, intellectual property, data protection and regulatory compliance, with work for companies including Oreyeon and Local Host.
Christina studied law at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, with a focus on banking, corporate and finance law. She also mentors early-stage founders through SANDBOX by Oraseya Capital and has contributed articles to the Lebanon Law Review, including on blockchain dispute resolution.
Christopher Abou Harb
Associate
Christopher is an Associate at Seed&Scale with experience in cross-border corporate, banking and finance matters. His work has involved transactions across Europe, Asia and the MENA region, including matters involving English, French and Lebanese law.
Before joining Seed&Scale, he worked at Stephenson Harwood in Paris, advising international lenders, financial institutions and private clients on financing transactions. His experience includes asset-backed lending, shipping finance and Shari’ah-compliant financing structures.
Christopher holds law degrees from Saint Joseph University of Beirut and a master’s in International Business Law and Management from ESCP Business School. He also holds a university diploma in Restructuring and Insolvency Law from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
He is a member of the Beirut Bar Association and a certified mediator. He speaks English, French and Arabic.
Before joining Seed&Scale, he worked at Stephenson Harwood in Paris, advising international lenders, financial institutions and private clients on financing transactions. His experience includes asset-backed lending, shipping finance and Shari’ah-compliant financing structures.
Christopher holds law degrees from Saint Joseph University of Beirut and a master’s in International Business Law and Management from ESCP Business School. He also holds a university diploma in Restructuring and Insolvency Law from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
He is a member of the Beirut Bar Association and a certified mediator. He speaks English, French and Arabic.
Anna Lora Trukhanova-Lyutova
Operations Manager
Anna manages operations at Seed&Scale, coordinating client onboarding, ongoing projects and the team’s day-to-day work. She is a point of contact for clients on organisational matters, helping keep documents, timelines and next steps clear throughout an engagement.
Her background spans project management, public relations and communications in the technology sector, including work with iMe Labs. At Seed&Scale, she also coordinates partnerships, marketing projects and internal processes, working closely with the legal team to keep client work moving.
Anna speaks English and Russian
Her background spans project management, public relations and communications in the technology sector, including work with iMe Labs. At Seed&Scale, she also coordinates partnerships, marketing projects and internal processes, working closely with the legal team to keep client work moving.
Anna speaks English and Russian