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Sustainable Cities and Communities

Please Treat the Information in the Digest as Confidential. Do Not Circulate Outside of the Lex Mundi Network.

If you are interested in a matter, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Isis Bous and Allison Laubach through the “Ask About This Matter” button on the details page or directly (ibous@lexmundiprobono.org; alaubach@lexmundiprobono.org) and let us know which project(s) interests you. We will place matches with Lex Mundi member firms on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can view all matter summaries on the “Digest” page(s). To view matters by legal need, select the category of interest. See details of individual matters via the “Read More” link in a matter. To view all details of all available matters, choose “View All”.

View by Legal Need
Advocacy/Legislation (3) Consultation (10) Corporate Formation (1) Data Privacy (1) Employment/Labor (4) Finance/Fundraising (1) Intellectual Property (5) Nonprofit Formation (2) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (4) Research (3) Risk Management (3) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (12) Webinars/Trainings (1)

Digest |  View All

Off-The-Grid Missions

Trademark for Humanitarian Org Supporting the Deaf Community Globally

Summary:

A global humanitarian aid organization that provides disaster response services tailored for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals is seeking legal support to safeguard its brand to protect its mission and materials from potential misuse or misrepresentation.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S. Federal
About the Organization: Off-The-Grid Missions (OTG) is a global humanitarian aid organization filling the gap in disaster-response by providing Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people with critical life-saving resources in high-risk and disaster-stricken regions around the world.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

A global humanitarian aid organization that provides disaster response services tailored for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals is seeking legal support to safeguard its brand. The organization would first appreciate a consultation to develop a strategy for protecting its intellectual property, including its name, tagline, logo, and mission-related materials. This includes understanding what types of IP protection are available and advisable. If possible, the organization would also welcome assistance with executing the trademark registration process in the U.S. for its name, tagline, and logo.

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Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation

Transition to Digital File Management

Summary:

Support a Pennsylvania nonprofit in securely transitioning to a fully digital file management system and navigating the appropriate response to a recent missing files incident.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is a statewide, non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians acquire the assistive technology devices and services they want. PATF’s mission is to provide financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire the assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that supports individuals in obtaining assistive technology is seeking legal support on two related matters concerning client file management.

Part 1: Digital Transition
The organization is transitioning from a hybrid paper-digital client file system to a fully digital one. They seek legal guidance to ensure this change complies with applicable laws regarding data privacy, consumer protection, and document retention/destruction. Their current digital retention policy was last reviewed approximately six years ago and they would appreciate assisting ensuring it is up to date.

Part 2: Missing Files Incident
Fifteen physical client files were recently misplaced and are presumed to have been accidentally discarded. There is no indication of theft or employee misconduct. The organization has since implemented enhanced security protocols but is unsure whether to notify affected individuals and offer identity theft protection. They are requesting legal advice on whether notification is required or advisable, and if so, how to appropriately draft that communication and manage associated risk.

If an attorney cannot assist with both projects, support on either would be greatly appreciated!

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Institute for Sustained Attention

Board Governance and Diversification Strategy

Summary:

Support a nonprofit with a governance audit and recommendations to grow and diversify its board.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: United States
About the Organization: The Institute for Sustained Attention is a New York City based non-profit that aims to “draw attention to attention” and support the creative and critical engagement with human attentional practices – focusing in particular on the new challenges presented by changing media systems and pushing back against the commodification of human attention by coercive digital technologies.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A nonprofit operating as a small independent school offering workshops, seminars, and cultural events to challenge the attention economy, is seeking legal consultation to strengthen its board governance. The organization is focused on growing and diversifying its board and would appreciate assistance with reviewing current board terms, bylaws, and governance practices. They are particularly interested in a review of existing board structures to ensure alignment with best practices and organizational values.

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Institute for Sustained Attention

Staff Classification Consultation

Summary:

Help a small NY based nonprofit clarify appropriate classification of staff as employees or contractors.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: New York, United States
About the Organization: The Institute for Sustained Attention is a New York City based non-profit that aims to “draw attention to attention” and support the creative and critical engagement with human attentional practices – focusing in particular on the new challenges presented by changing media systems and pushing back against the commodification of human attention by coercive digital technologies.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A NY based nonprofit operating as a small independent school offering workshops, seminars, and cultural events to challenge the attention economy, is seeking legal support and guidance around contractor engagement, including the legal distinctions between employees and independent contractors, to ensure compliance and best practices.

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Buy-In Community Planning

ED Compensation During Budget Shortfall

Summary:

Provide legal advice to a California-based nonprofit on obligations and options related to temporarily reduced compensation for their Executive Director amid financial hardship.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: California, U.S.
About the Organization: The mission of Buy-In Community Planning is to support the well-being of people whose homes and communities are threatened by natural hazards by assisting them in planning for and relocating to safer areas. Using the power of geospatial data and participatory planning, they help communities design voluntary relocation assistance programs that are transparent, equitable, and environmentally restorative to ensure that no household is left in harm’s way.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Good Health and Well Being, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Buy-In Community Planning, a nonprofit organization that supports communities facing climate-driven relocation is seeking advice from an employment/labor lawyer regarding their obligations to fulfill a previously approved salary for their Executive Director (ED). Due to cash flow issues, the ED—who is based in California—is currently receiving only half of their salary. The Board seeks legal counsel on their obligations under California labor law and potential strategies for managing or remedying this shortfall as it pertains to the ED’s compensation, in a way that complies with employment regulations and nonprofit governance best practices.

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Land Use Atlas, Inc.

Research on Zoning Laws

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit democratizing information hidden within zoning codes by conducting research on zoning laws.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: All States Except (CT, GA, HI, ME, NH, PA, RI)
About the Organization: Land Use Atlas is a nonprofit working to digitize, demystify, and democratize information currently hidden within zoning codes. Their flagship project, the National Zoning Atlas (NZA), is a multi-institutional research collaboration centralizing data about zoning – the most important power of American local government, and the little-understood force shaping our lives. Their online interactive map exposes how thousands of communities use zoning – long a tool for racial and economic segregation – to shape housing choices, health outcomes, transportation patterns, environmental degradation, and climate response, among other things.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Land Use Atlas team is seeking volunteers to research/contribute information about whether jurisdictions have zoning. The volunteers will review jurisdictions’ websites and ordinances, contact jurisdictions when needed (including submitting public information requests), identify the existence of zoning codes, and extract zoning codes. The President of Land Use Atlas is an attorney and a professor at Cornell Law School. The Land Use Atlas team will provide detailed written instructions and guidance. They are also available to facilitate webinar trainings for groups of volunteers.

 

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