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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”.

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Consultation (4) Contracts (4) Corporate Formation (1) Data Privacy (1) Employment/Labor (1) Finance/Fundraising (1) Intellectual Property (4) Nonprofit Formation (2) Nonprofit Governance (1) Regulatory (2) Research (1) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (3)

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Buy-In Community Planning

Determine Trademark Availability/Register Trademarks

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit helping to relocate people threatened by natural hazards by running a trademark search and registering either one or two trademarks.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: 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, we 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):

The Buy-In Community Planning Team is seeking assistance determining whether certain portions of their name and related phrases are available to trademark. Once the trademark searches are run (and if available), they would appreciate assistance with one or two related trademark registrations.

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Consultation Corral

Answer Three Discrete Questions Around Tribal Consultations

Summary:

Assist a team creating an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time by answering three discrete questions around Tribal Consultations.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Corral is an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time. Their process automates the work of tribal governments and Native-led advocacy organizations to pull together tribal consultation opportunities. Corral is an open-government project geared at making Tribal Consultation communication and existing data work for tribal communities. Corral is available to staff and elected officials of Tribal Nations at no cost.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
  • Visit Consultation Corral
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 Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

The team at Corral would love to have a conversation with a lawyer working with Tribal Nation clients to learn how they prepare clients for responding to and participating in Tribal Consultations. They have three discrete questions:

  1. How do your clients typically learn about Tribal Consultation opportunities? Is it through ‘Dear Tribal Leader’ letters, professional networks, or something else?
  2. If you identify these opportunities, how do you search the Federal Register and agency websites for this information?
  3. What general advice do you have for tribes without legal representation for approaching Tribal Consultation opportunities with the federal government? With states?
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Catalyst 2030/Catalyst NOW

Provide Consultation on Strategy to Register Trademarks Internationally

Summary:

Assist a global movement working to achieve the UN SDGs by 2030 by providing a consultation to discuss a strategy for registering trademarks in the U.S. and internationally.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Catalyst 2030 is a global movement of people and organizations committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 through impactful social innovation initiatives. It was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2020 and was co-founded by members of Ashoka, Echoing Green, the Schwab Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation.
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 Below Water (conservation and sustainability), 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):

Catalyst 2030 is currently rebranding and renaming the organization “Catalyst NOW.” As such, they need to register trademarks for their new name and logo. They would like to start in the U.S., and then register their trademarks internationally. The key regions include the Americas (in particular the United States and Latin America), the Asia-Pacific and MENA region (APAC), the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

They are seeking a consultation with an IP attorney to discuss a strategy for registering internationally. The Catalyst team is currently working with a firm to incorporate and file for 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. Once the entity is established, they will also need help registering the U.S. trademark. However, this is a secondary request.

 

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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. This 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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