Scaling safely in the AI era: IP, risk, and what GCs need to know

When AI moves faster than the law, who protects your ideas?

That question kicked off our latest live session with Capsule Insurance, where we explored how scaling businesses can stay creative and covered in the age of AI.

From blurred ownership lines to new categories of risk, in-house lawyers are now being asked to protect assets that didn’t even exist five years ago. The challenge is balancing innovation with protection, without slowing the business down.

Our expert panel:

• Maddi Brown (CFC)
• Helen Goldberg (LegalEdge), and
• Dave Mills (Capsule Insurance)

joined Michael Haynes (Juro) to unpack how AI is reshaping IP, risk, and insurance for scaling teams.

The IP foundations that make scaling possible

Every in-house lawyer knows that IP basics matter, but when you’re scaling fast, they’re often the first things to slip.

The panel explored the importance of mapping ownership early, documenting creative and technical assets properly, and ensuring that growth doesn’t outpace protection. Strong IP hygiene, they agreed, enables growth rather than blocking it.

Getting these foundations right helps avoid disputes later and supports valuation during fundraising or exit conversations.

Insurance as a growth enabler

Once the IP groundwork is in place, the next layer is resilience.

The panel discussed how IP insurance is shifting from being a reactive safety net to a proactive growth strategy. With AI introducing new and untested categories of risk, insurance can provide confidence for businesses to innovate while managing exposure.

Boards and investors increasingly expect companies to demonstrate that they understand their IP risk profile and have the right coverage in place. That expectation is now part of what it means to scale responsibly.

How AI is rewriting the IP rulebook

AI has created new grey areas in ownership and infringement.

From training data that draws on third-party materials to outputs that might infringe someone else’s rights, businesses are discovering risks that traditional IP frameworks weren’t built to handle.

These shifts are driving new conversations between legal, commercial, and technical teams. GCs are having to translate complex AI-driven risk into practical steps the business can take now — all while regulation lags behind.

The role of the GC is evolving from blocker to navigator: helping the business move fast, but safely.

Practical next steps for in-house teams

The session closed with pragmatic steps for legal leaders looking to get ahead of these challenges:

• Map your IP – know what’s owned, created, or licensed.
• Revisit contracts – update clauses to reflect AI-driven risks.
• Talk to insurers early – understand what coverage exists and where the gaps are.
• Stay informed – AI and IP regulation are changing fast, and continuous learning is essential.

Businesses that invest early in IP clarity and insurance resilience will find themselves better equipped to scale with confidence.

Final reflections

AI isn’t just changing how businesses build, it’s changing how they protect and insure what they build.

For GCs, that means taking a proactive role in shaping risk strategy, blending legal expertise with commercial pragmatism, and knowing when to bring in specialist partners like Capsule.

The message from the discussion was clear: protect early, insure smartly, and stay curious. The businesses that do will thrive in the AI era.

🔗 Explore Capsule Insurance – learn how scale-ups can de-risk innovation with tailored IP coverage. Learn more.

💡 Explore Juro – see how in-house teams automate contracts and stay ahead of AI-driven risk. Book a demo.