Law Garden Services Tending to Your Legal Needs

We offer tailored advice for nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and Tribal entities, from sprouting roots to well-earned fruits, on everything from entity formation, compliance, contract and employment matters, and strategic growth. Familiar with the legal landscape, Law Garden is your trusted partner in cultivating a flourishing future. We tend to a full range of legal needs.

New Entity Formation

We can help you form your new company or incorporate your new nonprofit in Oregon or California (or Tribal jurisdiction) and obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS, including:

Advise on the selection of the appropriate legal structure and jurisdiction.
Draft and file necessary documents for incorporation.
Work with you to develop Bylaws and governance policies.
Assist in obtaining 501(c)(3) (and other 501(c)) tax-exempt status with the IRS.
Navigate the tax-exempt application process with the IRS, including seeking expedited review when appropriate.

Governance Reviews

We provide “governance refresher” services by reviewing your Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and other key documents, and training up your Board and executive team, including:

Review (and refresh/revise as needed) organizational Bylaws and Operating Agreements.
Review (and amend, as needed) Articles of Incorporation and other formation documents.
Assist with corporate formalities (share proper voting, agenda, notice, resolution, and minutes best practices).
Create compliance checklists for different sectors (employment, working with youth, medical records, data privacy, etc.) to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
Advise on filing required annual reports with regulatory bodies. Provide guidance on Board and voting member responsibilities and structure.
Conduct legal compliance and tailored training sessions for staff and Board members.

Operations

Once your organization is up and running, we can help with drafting and negotiating contracts and leases, drafting employee and other policies, liability waivers, real estate transactions, and more, including:

Draft and review contracts (employment, licensing, service contracts and other independent contractor agreements) MOUs, and MOAs.
Draft and review leases and real estate purchase and sale agreements and deeds.
Draft and review liability waivers.
Draft and review Fiscal Sponsorship Agreements.
Ensure legal compliance in agreements.
Provide counsel on employment policies and contracts.
Draft and review employee handbooks.
Address legal matters related to staff and volunteers.
Identify and mitigate legal risks associated with nonprofit operations.
Develop strategies for liability protection.
Provide legal guidance and coaching on conflict resolution strategies.
Navigate lobbying rules and reporting.
Assist nonprofit organizations with responding to Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations.
Assist the organization with consolidating (or merging with or acquiring) another nonprofit organization.
Guide the organization through the legal process if dissolution becomes necessary.

Tribal Consulting

We consult with Tribal governments, courts, entities, and Tribally-chartered nonprofit organizations on all matters, from acorns to oaks, including:

Entity formation.
Ordinance and code drafting.
Tribal court support (including drafting orders, forms, and processes).
Sovereignty and jurisdictional consultation, including draft MOUs and other agreements and contracts with other entities, organizations, and jurisdictions.
Consultation, training, and practical support on governance, pesticide regulation, and food sovereignty and other Rights of Mother Earth i nitiatives.
Land Back consultation.

If you are facing an issue not listed above, please contact us. We understand the laws, regulations, governance and operational challenges nonprofits, small businesses, and Tribal entities face, and have the experience, practical knowledge and skills to navigate them (or coach you through it!) as you grow.