079 - Don’t Build a Brand You Can Lose: The Legal Blind Spots Entrepreneurs Miss

Are you aware of the legal blind spots in your business — the ones that could cost you your entire brand? Most entrepreneurs move fast, create fast, and launch fast… but forget the one thing that actually protects what they’re building. In this episode of The Wellthy CEO, Shae Invidiata sits down with global trademark expert Ashlee Froese to reveal the legal traps founders overlook, the mistakes that leave your business exposed, and the exact steps to secure your name, your work, and your worth before someone else claims it.

From trademarks to contracts, Ashlee explains how legal tools can serve as strategic business assets that fuel growth and credibility. She breaks down the most common misconceptions entrepreneurs have about legal advice, trademarks, and intellectual property, revealing how proactive legal planning can help business owners avoid costly mistakes and confidently scale.

Ashlee encourages founders to shift their mindset—seeing legal guidance not as a reactive step after problems arise, but as a proactive framework for long-term success. Because when you treat “the law as a system of business tools,” you’re already well prepared to lead with strength and stability.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurs often underestimate the value of trademarks.
  
  
• Lawyers are strategic partners, not just courtroom advocates.
  
  
• Legal tools can proactively shape business growth.
  
  
• Preparation prevents legal and financial pitfalls.
  
  
• Trademark protection is crucial for brand integrity.
  
  
• Proactive legal strategy saves time, stress, and money.
  
  
• A strong legal foundation builds credibility and resilience.
  
  
• Legal literacy empowers entrepreneurs to lead with confidence.

About Ashlee Froese:
Ashlee Froese is a branding lawyer and trademark agent recognized globally for her leadership in intellectual property law. She’s one of only six female lawyers in Ontario to hold the designation of Certified Specialist in Trademarks Law, and since 2017 has been listed among the Top 1000 Trademark Lawyers in the World by World Trademark Review. A recipient of the Lexpert Zenith Award, WIPR Diversity Award, and Canadian Law Awards Female Trailblazer of the Year, Ashlee founded Froese Law after fast-tracking to partnership on Bay Street within six years.

Her expertise spans trademarks, copyright, contracts, licensing, advertising law, and startup corporate structures. Ashlee also serves on numerous industry boards and advisory panels, including the Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Marketing Association, and City of Toronto’s Fashion Industry Advisory Panel.

 

Listen to this episode of The Wellthy CEO where mindset, money, and mastery will meet to help you as an entrepreneur grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

 

Connect with Ashlee Froese

 

Website: http://www.froeselaw.com/

IG: http://instagram.com/froese_law

IG: http://instagram.com/ashlee_froese

Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@froeselaw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FroeseLaw

 

ABOUT SHAE INVIDIATA

Luxury Realtor. International Investor. Wellth Strategist & Activator. TEDx Speaker. Award-Winning Human Rights Advocate.

Based between Toronto and Costa Rica, Shae Invidiata is an impact-driven entrepreneur dedicated to building wealth with purpose. 

 

With over 15 years in luxury real estate, Shae helped scale The Invidiata Team—one of Canada’s top-performing real estate teams—to over $6 billion in career sales. From managing operations and business development to selling and representing some of the country's most elite listings ranging from $2M to $65M, Shae’s business acumen and leadership have been integral to the brand’s national and global success, achieving the #1 team worldwide two times.

 

In 2010, Shae founded Free-Them, a federally recognized not-for-profit and a national leader in the fight against human trafficki