Company: AylinLAW – Boutique law firm for founders and creative
professionals Founder: Aylin Ersoy-Ruhl
Date founded: April 1, 2025
Industry and company: Legal advice specializing in founders, start-ups, and creative professionals

What drives you? What is your motto?
I am driven by the moment when ideas light up in my clients' eyes – that spark of courage, hope, and vision.

What is your start-up about and what makes it special?
AylinLAW is a law firm dedicated to the specific legal issues involved in start-ups and the protection of creative works. I accompany ideas, not just clients. I focus on personal, modern advice—without elitist legal jargon, but with professional depth—for example, in the areas of company formation, trademark protection, e-commerce, contracts, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

What are your first successes?
The successful start with my first clients and positive feedback on the clarity of my contract drafting show me that there is a great need for specialized, understandable, and creative legal advice. I am particularly pleased with the response to my offer of start-up packages and the positive reactions from the start-up scene.  

What is your professional background?
After gaining international experience at the Consulate General in Istanbul and in the trademark law department at Merck, I worked for a long time as a lawyer at a renowned medium-sized law firm. My clients came from the media, publishing, wine, and consumer goods industries. Today, I draw on this experience in my own boutique law firm.

What prompted you to start your own business?
I no longer wanted rigid structures, but wanted to use my legal skills to really make a difference—for people with ideas, for creative, courageous projects. I want to work in a way that reflects my values: human, approachable, flexible, and creative.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?
I prepared myself thoroughly—with the support of the Beratungszentrum Berufswege für Frauen e.V. (Career Advice Center for Women)—through intensive research and business planning, which I carried out myself. My private and professional networks are also a strong source of support.

How did you experience your first days as a founder?
A lot of groundwork, concentration, structure—and at the same time, the joy of being able to shape things myself. It was challenging, but I finally felt professionally free and able to advise clients on topics that I am truly passionate about. 

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Balancing the development of the firm with the many strategic decisions – such as client acquisition, target group definition, and secure digital infrastructure. Fortunately, legal issues were not an obstacle for me. I deliberately reduced my workload and set priorities. Honest feedback from my clients helps me to become even better.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?
I network in a targeted manner—preferably at the Heimathafen start-up center among founders and start-ups—and maintain my contacts in the creative industry. Communication and presence are very important here. I rely on social media posts and cooperate with colleagues who have complementary specialist knowledge.

How did you finance your start-up?
I financed the start-up entirely myself. I deliberately kept the initial investment low – by working from home, working digitally, keeping equipment to a minimum, and foregoing status symbols. 

What dream would you still like to realize?
I dream of building a next-generation law firm with a family-friendly culture that embraces art and social engagement. 

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would... spend
more time on my Western horse, make my art label AylinART a success, do Zumba dancing more often, study psychology, and much more.

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?
Don't see the law as an obstacle, but as a protective space. Those who seek legal protection early on avoid costly mistakes. And: Surround yourself with people who believe in your idea and motivate you.