Advising Small Businesses & Nonprofits

Selecting the appropriate organizational structure is a critical first step to building a strong foundation that will enable an organization to succeed. We are proud to work with small businesses and nonprofits as they take that all-important leap from an idea to a reality. For example, a Gibson Dunn team recently worked with a client who creates vibrant murals and artwork rooted in her Mexican-American heritage. Her business offers both products, such as art prints, canvas paintings, and portraits, and services, such as mural design, custom portraits, and illustrations. We were honored to advise this client in selecting the right legal entity for her business, which was critical to transforming her passion project into a sustainable business that continues to uplift her community through art.

Another team is helping a new nonprofit, the Scooby Foundation, obtain 501(c)(3) status. The Foundation seeks to alleviate the financial burden on pet owners during emergencies by helping them cover the cost of emergency vet care. By creating a sustainable fund, the organization is seeking to foster the bond between pets and owners and make a lasting impact on the community.

We also regularly advise clients on general corporate matters after their businesses are already up and running. For example, a team of Gibson Dunn attorneys is working with two sisters who own a specialized medical wig company that provides customized cranial prostheses for women experiencing medical hair loss from cancer, alopecia, lupus, burns, and other conditions. The company sources ethical human hair, provides textured and curly options that are not always otherwise available, and focuses on offering products that are covered by insurance. Our team is advising the sisters regarding California LLC, California Public Benefit Corporation, and 501(c)(3) compliance, as well as other corporate matters.

As small businesses grow, they often find that doing business online is both imperative to their continued success and full of potential pitfalls. Our attorneys work closely with small businesses trying to navigate these considerations as they expand into doing business online. We have a longstanding partnership with Start Small Think Big, an organization that connects small business owners with pro bono legal and other services, to help small businesses draft and update their privacy policies and terms of use to reflect current best practices. Our clients range from ceramics studios to electrical contracting companies, and everything in between. One recent client, for example, runs a business that brings a carefully curated and individually selected range of authentic African products to U.S. consumers. As the client worked to formalize her business, gain brand visibility, and host in-person sales events, doing business online was a critically important aspect of her business strategy. Our team was proud to help this client pursue her passion of making authentic African textiles, accessories, and home goods available to customers in the United States.

Of course, many small businesses and nonprofits operate not only online, but also in brick-and-mortar locations that are part of the fabric of their communities. Gibson Dunn attorneys regularly advise pro bono clients on a range of real estate matters, from commercial leasing to site selection and land acquisition. Currently, for example, a team of attorneys in San Francisco is assisting the GLBT Historical Society Museum with its negotiations with the City of San Francisco to establish a permanent home for the museum in the city. The GLBT Historical Society Museum, which opened in 2011, is the first standalone museum of LGBTQ+ history and culture in the United States. The museum mounts wide-ranging exhibitions with an emphasis on diversity and social justice, including both long-term exhibitions and temporary shows. We are proud to help the GLBT Historical Society as it seeks to find a more permanent home for its museum.

As with the Firm’s overall pro bono practice, our work with nonprofits transcends borders. We regularly advise charities, NGOs, and international nonprofits on a wide range of matters. Currently, a team based in our Riyadh office is providing legal advice to Alwaleed Philanthropies, a Saudi Arabian NGO with a mission to build the bridges necessary for cultural understanding, community development, female and youth empowerment, and disaster relief in times of crisis. Over the course of four decades, it has donated and spent more than $4.4 billion, launched over 1,000 projects, and reached more than 1 billion beneficiaries in over 190 countries worldwide. Gibson Dunn’s Riyadh office is providing corporate advice to Alwaleed Philanthropies as they navigate a new partnership. Previously, we supported Alwaleed Philanthropies in reviewing contracts associated with grant-funded projects, including assessing key terms and helping streamline the contracting process to align with Alwaleed’s strategic objectives.