Mizzou Law welcomes Donald Seitz as the new Director of the Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic (ELC), part of the Center for Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship (CIPE). The ELC provides free transactional legal assistance to creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors. As the director, Seitz will directly supervise students participating in the transactional legal clinic, build partnerships with legal and related services firms committed to supporting start-ups positively impacting the university and community, and expand the ELC’s outreach.
“This is an opportunity for me to give back to the law school,” Seitz said of his new role. “Throughout my career, I have gained a wealth of knowledge in the business community and now have an opportunity to pass that on to future MU Law alumni.”
A Mizzou Law graduate, Class of 2003, Seitz was the founder and CEO of Modern Property Groups, seeing the start-up grow to the largest property management company in Columbia. He has also served as the COO of Missouri Vein Care, and most recently, as General Counsel for Callaway Bank.
“During my career, I have had the opportunity to work with many small businesses,” he said. “I have helped them with all aspects of business growth, including legal and financial. I have additionally been fortunate enough to personally build and sell numerous successful start-up companies in the community.”
One of his primary responsibilities with the ELC will be to provide guidance and feedback as they participate in the clinic. Seitz says the opportunity for real-world training that the ELC provides for students will be invaluable for those with a desire to work with business during their legal careers. By learning about the complexities of starting and maintaining a business, students will be able to understand the issues that business owners face daily.
Seitz has high hopes for the future of the ELC, aiming to facilitate massive growth in his new position. He envisions it having a state-wide reputation as a resource for start-up companies and becoming a major draw for prospective students across the country.
“The ELC will become a well-run clinic that will illustrate to students and clients the benefit of a business model based on systematic and repeatable processes creating efficiency and top-notch work product,” Seitz said. “I would like to create an atmosphere of learning that will provide students the opportunity to apply real-world issues to entrepreneurs and their business visions.”