The Legal Food Hub maintains an extensive network of experienced volunteer attorneys pre-screened by CLF. Farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food-related organizations seeking legal assistance contact the Hub through our intake hotline or web form. After assessing each participant’s case for eligibility, CLF reaches out to the attorney network and carefully matches the participant with a skilled lawyer who will provide free legal services.* CLF conducts routine check-ins with attorneys and participants to ensure the representation is going well.
*You may be responsible for associated costs, such as filing fees, photocopying, postage, travel expenses, and consulting experts or third-party professionals whom you previously authorize the firm to hire and who do not agree to work on a pro bono basis.
Participants have used the Legal Food Hub to gain assistance with the following transactional legal matters:
Business Organization
- Assisting a farm or food business with selecting and forming an entity for their business.
- Filing applications to obtain 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Drafting an equity investment or joint venture agreement between a business owner and potential investors for start-up funding needs.
- Completing a successful merger and acquisition transaction between two small food businesses.
Contracts
- Drafting contracts, such as an animal purchase agreement or a membership agreement for a food cooperative.
- Writing liability waivers for on-farm activities.
Employment
- Navigating employment law and fiduciary duties related to responsibilities of a nonprofit Board of Directors.
- Understanding the correct classification of employees.
- Reviewing a nonprofit employee handbook.
- Writing an independent contractor contract.
Intellectual Property
- Applying for a patent for a food recipe.
- Establishing a trademark for a small food business’s name and logo.
Real Estate and Land Use
- Writing or reviewing a commercial real estate lease of farmland.
- Understanding local zoning laws as they apply to building farm infrastructure or use of land for farming.
- Complying with or enrolling in an agricultural conservation program.
- Carrying out a successful real estate transaction to purchase farmland.
Estate Planning
- Establishing a trust to facilitate the transition of farmland ownership to the next generation.