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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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Advocacy/Legislation (4) Consultation (13) Contracts (6) Corporate Formation (3) Corporate Governance (3) Data Privacy (2) Employment/Labor (5) Finance/Fundraising (3) Intellectual Property (5) Nonprofit Formation (1) Nonprofit Governance (4) Regulatory (5) Research (3) Risk Management (4) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (14) Visa/Immigration (1) Webinars/Trainings (1)

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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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Trust Cloak

Incorporation for Homeland Security Tech Startup

Summary:

Assist a Homeland Security Startup Studio team with incorporating a mission-driven tech company, ensuring ethical considerations are embedded.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Trust Cloak is to be a newly formed entity emerging from the current cohort of the Homeland Security Startup Studio, a Tech Transfer program. They are committed to using the to-be-acquired licensed technology, a video obfuscation software, for humane and ethical purposes
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
  • Visit Trust Cloak
SDG(s):Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A startup emerging from the Homeland Security Startup Studio is seeking counsel to assist with incorporation as well as confirming that their chosen name is legally available. The co-founders are considering incorporation in either New York or Delaware but are open to advice. They want to ensure their mission and ethical values, centered around privacy, human rights, and data protection, are properly reflected in the founding documents and preserved for longevity. The organization is built around a government-created and licensed video obfuscation software intended for use in Smart Cities, Home Security, Retail Surveillance, and Law Enforcement.

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Peer Defense Project

c3 Risk Mitigation Consultation

Summary:

Advise a youth-led nonprofit on mitigating risk to their 501(c)(3) status due to shifting legislative landscapes and explore alternative entity structure options if necessary.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Peer Defense Project is a youth-led, worker self-directed nonprofit which builds legal education, tools, and networks. Their website offers access to the Freedom Law School, the Help Desk, and the Power Legal Course.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):
Peer Defense Project, a youth-led, worker self-directed nonprofit that builds legal education, tools, and networks is seeking a consultation with a tax-exempt attorney in light of recent legislative threats—specifically targeting organizations that support student protesters, migrant workers, and wage theft issues. The organization is concerned about the potential risks to their 501(c)(3) status and is seeking guidance on how to mitigate risk and ensure compliance and sustainability of their work. They would also like to explore whether forming an alternate entity structure (such as a B Corp) would be a viable strategy and, if so, would appreciate advice on incorporation options and best practices for structuring their organization to continue their mission-driven activities.
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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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Consultation Corral

Draft Template MOU for Volunteers

Summary:

Assist a team that has developed an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time by drafting a template MOU for use with volunteers.

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
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 Consultation Corral team works with volunteers and advisors to develop the Corral platform. They are seeking assistance drafting a template MOU to use with future volunteers that set forth the terms of the relationship. Importantly, they’d like the agreement to address IP/data ownership and privacy concerns (e.g., certain information the volunteers access is confidential).

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SXD Inc.

Consultation on Fundraising Round

Summary:

Assist a social impact organization reducing waste in the fashion industry by providing a consultation on their next fundraising round.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: SXD is a New York design-tech startup charting a radical new standard: eliminate material waste with great design and bleeding-edge technology. The fashion and apparel industry wastes 92 million tons of fabric material every year. SXD’s mission is to bring such material waste down to zero while reducing CO2 emissions, preserving water, reducing material consumption, and empowering workers.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The SXD team plans to engage in a fundraising round for the first time since 2022. They are seeking a comprehensive consultation with an attorney to discuss what steps they need to take/what documentation they need to have in place before engaging in this fundraising round.

They still have the contracts/documentation from the last fundraising round (including the SAFE agreement) and plan to pull the information together themselves. Afterwards, they would greatly appreciate assistance reviewing the contracts/documentation to ensure that it complies with applicable law and covers their needs. 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. 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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