Sculpture by Kristen Visbal.
Photo by Alex Proimos CC BY-NC.
Assisting Microbusinesses
In 2021, we expanded our representation of entrepreneurs who need free legal counsel to start and grow their businesses. Through our partnerships with Start Small Think Big and Rising Tide Capital - nonprofits that provide business development services primarily to minority- and women-owned small businesses— we helped 35 clients, in California, New Jersey, and New York, with 44 distinct legal matters. Our transactional lawyers applied their business law skills to help these clients choose the right entity structure, negotiate commercial leases, draft policies to protect their online business, review and draft contracts, and more.
◆◆◆
Rising Tide Capital client Towanda McEachern reached out when she needed time-sensitive assistance reviewing and negotiating her first-ever commercial lease for her Newark-based business, A Life Recycled. A Life Recycled offers personal and professional development services for women. The business had grown during the pandemic, and Towanda was ready to move it from online to in person. A Lowenstein volunteer helped her understand the proposed lease and successfully negotiate more favorable lease terms. Another volunteer team is helping her register her business’ service mark so that the intellectual property of her business is protected.
◆◆◆
Another Rising Tide Capital client, Angel Hugs 4 All, sells handcrafted dolls out of Jersey City. In addition to selling her retail product, the company’s founder, Angela Huggins, also teaches doll-making classes in Jersey City. We helped Angela convert her business from a sole proprietorship to an LLC in 2016. After experiencing significant business growth, Angela returned to the firm this year for assistance drafting a template purchase order to be used by customers making custom doll purchases. The firm also prepared a service agreement for Angela to use when providing dollmaking classes to students visiting her shop and at community centers around Jersey City.
◆◆◆
Start Small Think Big client The Jefas Inc. is a monthly subscription beauty box that features beauty products from Latina-owned businesses. The company aims to fill a gap in the beauty and e-commerce industry by elevating Latina founders and brands. California attorneys are assisting The Jefas with drafting a brand partner agreement template to be used with businesses that manufacture and sell the beauty products included in the subscription box.
◆◆◆
Start Small Think Big client Dirty Soles Footwear Group is a footwear manufacturing, design, and retail business located in Newark. The company supports local entrepreneurs, designers, and artists in the community by providing an incubator space and teaching the founders’ self-designed curriculum, the “Art of Shoe Making,” in the Newark public schools. Faced with pandemic-related challenges, Dirty Soles co-founder T. Strong reached out to Lowenstein for help updating the business’ operating agreement to facilitate new investment, drafting consultant and internship agreements, and developing website terms of use and privacy policies. When the business became unable to afford the cost of its retail space due to the effects of the pandemic, our lawyers helped Dirty Soles attempt to renegotiate its commercial lease. When negotiations proved unsuccessful, our lawyers helped the company exit the lease in a manner that minimized significant financial harm to the business.
◆◆◆
This work builds on the firm’s longstanding commitment to ensuring that under-resourced entrepreneurs have the same access to quality legal counsel as do wealthier businesses.