We don’t have an in-house legal team, but with General Counsel, we don’t feel the gap. It covers most of our needs and gives us actionable advice so we can keep our pace.
Sanjar Samiev
Co-founder, CEO, Comfi.ai
UAE-Based
The startup law firm for founders building tomorrow
Seed & Scale provides founders with practical, business-minded legal support at every stage — from incorporation to Series B — so you can grow with confidence
Trusted by founders
and ecosystem partners
How We Help
From launch to growth, we cover the legal work that matters
Set up your company, agree terms with co-founders, protect your IP and prepare for investment
Set up the company
Choose the right structure, align founder equity and put the core agreements in place from day one
Raise capital
Prepare fundraising documents, manage investor requests and enter due diligence with confidence
Build the team and operate
Put the right employment, contractor and commercial agreements in place as the business grows
Protect and grow the business
Protect your IP, structure partnerships and navigate expansion, transactions and exits
Flat-Fee Services
Clear, focused legal support for a specific document, transaction or project — with an agreed scope and fixed fee
LLC incorporation
Founder agreement
SAFE
ESOP
Contract review
NDA
and more services
Fractional General Counsel
A dedicated legal team that knows your business and supports the day-to-day decisions behind growth — for a predictable monthly fee
100-day promise
In your first 100 days, we address urgent issues, close critical gaps and put the core legal foundations in place.
Our Solutions
Choose the legal support that fits your startup
Get an ongoing legal partner or focused support for a specific matter
Startup-native support
We understand fast-moving teams, evolving priorities and what it takes to build a venture-backed company
Practical judgment
We do not just flag risks. We explain the trade-offs, focus on what matters and help you move forward
Predictable pricing
Fixed fees and straightforward monthly plans give you clarity over legal costs from the start
Investor-ready by design
We build documents, structures and processes with fundraising, due diligence and future growth in mind
UAE and MENA perspective
Local market knowledge and cross-border experience help founders build in or enter the region
Why Seed & Scale
Built around the way startups actually work
We combine startup legal experience with the commercial judgment, speed and clarity founders need
Client Stories
What founders say about working with Seed & Scale
It makes a huge difference having a lawyer I can message any time without thinking, ‘Is this worth the fee?’ GC advice is thoughtful, quick, and always on point.
Alexander P. Liakos
Co-founder and CEO, Mifta
What I value most about working with Seed&Scale is that they take the time to understand the business behind the legal question. That context makes the advice more practical and much easier to act on.
Sergio Hicke
Co-founder and CEO, Servana
Our Team
The people behind Seed & Scale
A lean legal team combining startup law experience, commercial judgment and practical knowledge of the UAE market
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.
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
Launching in the UAE? Start smart
The UAE is a fast-growing hub for startups, but getting the setup right matters.
Download our practical guide to the key legal steps, common pitfalls and early decisions founders should understand before launching
Start with a conversation
Tell us where your startup is today and what you’re working through. We’ll help you identify the right kind of legal support
Let’s Talk
Get clear on your next legal step
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