Reflecting on Small Business Month: Legal Support for NYC Entrepreneurs

May is Small Business Month, and in honor of this special event, the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) proudly continued its mission to empower NYC-based entrepreneurs by providing critical legal support and guidance.  

NELP assisted 20 entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the month by offering 45-minute consultations at two clinics.  The first, held in partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business and Career Center and Pace University’s Small Business Development Center, was staffed by 17 attorneys from Cleary Gottlieb LLP and Bloomberg LP. The Queens Economic Development Corporation, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and UBS collaborated on the second clinic, where more than 25 volunteers donated their time and expertise.  

 Volunteer attorneys supported entrepreneurs at every stage, including:  

• Assisting the founder of a fashion brand with questions about their operating agreement 

• Reviewing liability waivers and copyright indemnity clauses for an online tech platform  

• Providing guidance to entrepreneurs with legal issues related to offering post-birth services and education to new parents 

• Advising an after-school program on how to wind down its operations responsibly

Additionally, NELP hosted two educational presentations during Small Business Month: 

• Business Entity Formation was presented by Pro Bono Scholar and Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University graduate Angela Qu, in collaboration with the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business & Career Center. This session guided microentrepreneurs through various business structures including Sole Proprietorships, LLCs, and S-Corps—highlighting the key benefits and limitations of each entity type.  

• Contract Basics, offered in partnership with the Washington Heights Business Solution Center and volunteers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, equipped attendees with practical tips for drafting and reviewing business agreements, helping entrepreneurs better understand their rights and obligations under common contractual terms.  

We look forward to providing more opportunities for learning and support to the city’s vibrant community of entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the year! 

Stay connected with us for future events, resources, and legal clinics by checking out our webpage: https://www.citybarjusticecenter.org/projects/neighborhood-entrepreneur-law-project/