Legal Support Is Crucial But Often Ignored by Climate Startups

From Climate Solutions News by RESET Media

April 20, 2026 · 30 min · Episode 19

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of legal support for climate startups with Mitesh Jagatia, founder of Eco Ventures Counsel.

Most climate tech founders obsess over their technology and their fundraising. Few think hard enough about the law — until it's too late. In this episode, CSN publisher Dominic Shales speaks with Mitesh Jagatia, founder of Eco Ventures Counsel , the UK initiative connecting early-stage climate startups with free, full-service legal support. Confirmed participating firms include  Ashurst ,  BCLP ,  Dentons ,  Gowling WLG ,  Kirkland & Ellis ,    Linklaters , and  Squire Patton Boggs , alongside  Stephenson Harwood  and others, giving startups access to advisers who routinely act for the world’s largest financial institutions and corporations. The IP firms  Appleyard Lees  and  Keltie  are also among the partners. Mitesh spent sixteen years as a senior in-house lawyer at Sky, Bloomberg and Moody's before leaving to build something he believed in more. He explains why legal infrastructure can determine whether a promising climate technology ever reaches the market, how his pro bono model works in practice, and why the value of what his cohort companies receive — often hundreds of thousands of pounds of…

People in this episode

Host: Dominic Shales

Guest: Mitesh Jagatia

Topics covered

climate startups
legal support
technology
fundraising
pro bono model
climate tech ecosystem

Keywords

climate tech
legal advice
startups
fundraising
pro bono
UK
AI
university spinouts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Eco Ventures Counsel, Ashurst, BCLP, Dentons, Gowling WLG, Kirkland & Ellis, Linklaters, Squire Patton Boggs, Stephenson Harwood, Appleyard Lees

Places: UK