Legal Services
Through our direct legal services program, we provide individualized legal advice to nonprofits working to protect animals and promote plant-based eating.
We serve organizations focused on direct animal care, education, advocacy, and systemic change. Our clients range from small, grassroots organizations operating locally to large, multi-national nonprofits seeking additional expertise as they work to end animal suffering on a global scale.
As we support organizations at multiple stages of the nonprofit lifecycle and help navigate operational questions, we aim to provide practical, actionable legal guidance that helps entities launch bold new initiatives and further their missions.
To meet the diverse needs of our clients, we offer four core services:
Strategic Advising for Campaigns, Collaborations, & Programming →
Partnership with animal protection organizations—large and small—to provide legal insight during the earliest stages of campaign planning, coalition building, and program development.
Nonprofit Compliance & Audit Readiness →
Support for animal protection organizations seeking to strengthen internal policies, manage risk, and stay audit-ready in a shifting legal climate.
Entity & Advocacy Structure Advising →
Support for animal protection organizations considering a new entity, navigating 501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4), or clarifying the legal limits of lobbying and advocacy work.
Targeted Guidance for Everyday Legal Needs →
Issue-specific legal support to help animal protection organizations navigate the day-to-day legal questions that arise in their work.
Q&A →
Frequently asked questions about how we work.
Strategic Advising for Campaigns & Collaborations
Partner Early, Plan Strategically
We partner with animal protection organizations from the very beginning of campaigns, programs, and initiatives. Whether you're a newly formed grassroots organization or a well-established national nonprofit, by engaging legal counsel early, your team is better equipped to mitigate risk, establish clear frameworks, and align strategy with legal and ethical best practices.
Legal Guidance in Urgent Moments
We offer strategic advising to support organizations responding in real time to unfolding events—whether it’s breaking news, urgent legislative or regulatory developments, or time-sensitive issues affecting animals. When your team needs to move quickly, we can provide rapid legal guidance to help you act with confidence, avoid preventable risks, and ensure your response aligns with your values and legal obligations.
How We Support Campaign Planning
We provide strategic legal advising in areas such as:
Campaign and Initiative Design
We offer guidance on structure, risk exposure, intellectual property, and messaging—before campaigns are launched.
Fundraising and Donor Compliance
We review fundraising approaches to ensure compliance with solicitation laws, donor restrictions, and tax regulations governing nonprofits.
Infrastructure That Supports Growth
Whether launching a pilot initiative, expanding a nationwide program, or building a coalition, we offer the legal and organizational infrastructure to support sustainable impact.
RAPID RESPONSE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
We support organizations taking urgent action in response to unfolding events—offering legal guidance on public messaging, advocacy limits, emergency fundraising, and reputational risk.
Strategic advising typically includes:
One or two strategic advising calls
Review of key documents or proposals
Written recommendations or follow-up notes (as needed)
Ongoing support options (as applicable)
Who it's for:
Organizations planning to launch a campaign or initiative within the next 1–3 months
Organizations responding to current events in real time
Groups forming new coalitions or partnerships
Organizations expanding their programs or operations
Request a strategic advising slot:
To apply for a slot, please complete the appropriate application below.
For organizations who have not worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations who have worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations that have not worked with ADP within the past two years (including those who have never worked with ADP), the application requests specific background information and documentation, including:
Date and state of incorporation
Tax status (501(c)(3), intending to seek 501(c)(3), etc.)
Names of board members
Description of mission
Description of activities
Copies of governing documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws)
Copy of most recent 990 filing
Copy of 1023, 1024 or 1024-A application for tax exemption
Business plan (for organizations operating less than 3 years – see Business Plan Template [insert link])
The information submitted with your request is confidential, but requesting a slot does not create an attorney-client relationship or ensure that ADP can assist with your endeavor.
We prioritize projects based on readiness, urgency, and potential impact. We will review your submission and follow up within two business days to confirm whether we’re able to support the campaign and to outline any next steps.
Entity & Advocacy Structure Advising
Guidance for mission-driven advocacy.
We help animal protection organizations understand the legal implications of their structure—so they can advocate effectively, stay compliant, and grow sustainably.
Whether you’re deciding between forming a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or both, or you need clarity on lobbying limits and permissible advocacy under your current tax status, we can help you make informed choices aligned with your goals.
We work with groups of all sizes and at all stages—from grassroots start-ups to national nonprofits reevaluating their advocacy infrastructure.
We will review your submission and follow up within two business days to confirm whether we’re able to support your needs and to outline any next steps.
What we offer:
We provide free, one-on-one advising to help organizations:
Evaluate the benefits and tradeoffs of 501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4) status
Understand how to structure affiliated entities or transition from fiscal sponsorship
Navigate IRS rules around lobbying, ballot initiatives, and public communications
Avoid common compliance pitfalls in advocacy and fundraising
Align legal structure with program goals, target audiences, and strategic vision
Who It’s For
New or emerging organizations deciding what entity to form
501(c)(3)s looking to expand into lobbying, policy, or electoral work
Projects currently housed under fiscal sponsors
Organizations exploring whether to launch a 501(c)(4) alongside their 501(c)(3)
Request an entity & advocacy structure advising slot:
To apply for a slot, please complete the appropriate application below.
For organizations who have not worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations who have worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations that have not worked with ADP within the past two years (including those who have never worked with ADP), the application requests specific background information and documentation, including:
Date and state of incorporation
Tax status (501(c)(3), intending to seek 501(c)(3), etc.)
Names of board members
Description of mission
Description of activities
Copies of governing documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws)
Copy of most recent 990 filing
Copy of 1023, 1024 or 1024-A application for tax exemption
Business plan (for organizations operating less than 3 years – see Business Plan Template [insert link])
The information submitted with your request is confidential, but requesting a slot does not create an attorney-client relationship or ensure that ADP can assist with your endeavor.
We prioritize projects based on readiness, urgency, and potential impact. We will review your submission and follow up within two business days to confirm whether we’re able to support the campaign and to outline any next steps.
Nonprofit Compliance & Audit Readiness
Strategic legal guidance to help your organization stay prepared, resilient, and audit-ready.
We work with organizations to assess risk, strengthen policies, and prepare for the heightened scrutiny nonprofits are facing in an evolving legal climate. Whether you’re seeking funding, engaging in advocacy, or expanding internationally, we can help ensure your legal house is in order before challenges arise.
We provide legal support and resources in areas such as:
Expense reimbursement and financial oversight policies
Document retention and destruction practices
Foreign granting, international donations, and cross-border operations
Program descriptions and web content that minimize red flags or mischaracterization
We also offer strategic advising to help you plan proactively–whether you’re considering incorporating in the US, structuring new initiatives, or managing overseas grantmaking. We are here to help you stay grounded, compliant, and well-positioned to continue your vital work for animals and food systems change.
Request a nonprofit compliance & audit readiness slot:
To apply for a slot, please complete the appropriate application below.
For organizations who have not worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations who have worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations that have not worked with ADP within the past two years (including those who have never worked with ADP), the application requests specific background information and documentation, including:
Date and state of incorporation
Tax status (501(c)(3), intending to seek 501(c)(3), etc.)
Names of board members
Description of mission
Description of activities
Copies of governing documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws)
Copy of most recent 990 filing
Copy of 1023, 1024 or 1024-A application for tax exemption
Business plan (for organizations operating less than 3 years – see Business Plan Template [insert link])
The information submitted with your request is confidential, but requesting a slot does not create an attorney-client relationship or ensure that ADP can assist with your endeavor.
We prioritize projects based on readiness, urgency, and potential impact. We will review your submission and follow up within two business days to confirm whether we’re able to support the campaign and to outline any next steps.
Targeted guidance for everyday legal needs.
Our general areas of practice, and some representative topics:
Corporate matters
Name and other corporate changes
Registering to do business in another state
Nonprofit compliance
Understanding the public support test
Managing conflicts of interest
Reporting requirements
Corporate governance
Bylaws
Required and recommended policies
Best practices for boards
Obtaining tax-exempt status
Guidance in preparation of Form 1023, 1024, or 1024-A
Employment best practices and human resources
Guidance on worker classification
Employment-related agreements and policies
Contract drafting, review, and negotiation
Grants and other funding agreements
Agreements with contractors, vendors, service providers, and other organizations
Fundraising compliance and legal issues
Donor acknowledgment and privacy rules
Gift acceptance policies and issues
Intellectual property
Developing and protecting your intellectual property
Avoiding possible claims of infringement
Please note that ADP does not provide legal counsel for matters involving:
civil or criminal litigation, including veterinary malpractice and animal cruelty claims
complex real estate transactions
local land use or zoning issues
drafting proposed state or federal legislation
Request an everyday legal needs slot:
To apply for a slot, please complete the appropriate application below.
For organizations who have not worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations who have worked with ADP within the past two years:
For organizations that have not worked with ADP within the past two years (including those who have never worked with ADP), the application requests specific background information and documentation, including:
Date and state of incorporation
Tax status (501(c)(3), intending to seek 501(c)(3), etc.)
Names of board members
Description of mission
Description of activities
Copies of governing documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws)
Copy of most recent 990 filing
Copy of 1023, 1024 or 1024-A application for tax exemption
Business plan (for organizations operating less than 3 years – see Business Plan Template [insert link])
The information submitted with your request is confidential, but requesting a slot does not create an attorney-client relationship or ensure that ADP can assist with your endeavor.
We prioritize projects based on readiness, urgency, and potential impact. We will review your submission and follow up within two business days to confirm whether we’re able to support the campaign and to outline any next steps.
Our Intake Process
Direct legal services are provided on a project-by-project basis.
The Review Process:
In evaluating project requests we consider a variety of factors, including how an organization’s mission and activities fit within our mission, the organization’s ability to utilize our services to advance its mission, and the nature and requirements of the project requested.
For non-urgent requests, we will review your submission and follow up within two business days to confirm whether we’re able to support your project and to outline any next steps.
Timing for Accepted Projects:
Projects we accept are generally handled in the order received, so the timing of your project is dependent on 1) your needs, 2) the complexity and natural timeline of the project, and 3) other projects we have pending at the time. The attorney working with you will reach out to confirm details and provide an estimate of when they expect to start on your project and, if possible, an anticipated timeframe for completion.
Q&A
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We provide legal services to nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, and mission-aligned initiatives working to protect animals and/or promote plant-based eating. While most of our clients are U.S.-based, we welcome inquiries from groups working internationally if they are navigating U.S. legal issues.
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There is no “typical” client. We serve a wide range of organizations—large and small, local and national—engaged in many different approaches to animal protection and plant-based advocacy.
Our clients include grassroots volunteer-led groups, national nonprofits with complex program portfolios, fiscally sponsored projects, and newly forming organizations seeking their first legal structure. Some work directly with animals—such as companion animal rescue, TNR efforts, or farmed animal sanctuary—while others focus on public education, corporate or legislative advocacy, food systems reform, or academic research.
What our clients share is a commitment to advancing protections for animals and/or promoting plant-based diet change—and a need for thoughtful legal support to help them do it effectively.
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No. Our legal services are offered free of charge thanks to generous philanthropic support. We strive to make high-quality legal counsel accessible to organizations advancing animal protection and plant-based diet change, regardless of size or budget.
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The diversity of our client base means that there is no “typical” project. Some examples of past projects include:
Reviewing materials for a social media campaign targeting a fast-food chain restaurant for possible copyright, defamation, and other legal concerns.
Providing guidance on the legal considerations involved in international grant-making and preparing template grant agreements.
Reviewing and commenting on the proposed contract for an undercover investigation and advising on the legal risks involved and possible mitigation tactics.
Strategic advice on nonprofit compliance issues, with practical and actionable steps to increase legal resilience.
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No. We do not provide litigation services or represent clients in administrative proceedings. Our focus is on transactional legal work and strategic advising to help organizations prevent legal issues, structure their work effectively, and stay in compliance.
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We aim to respond to new inquiries within 2–3 business days. If your request is time-sensitive, please indicate that in your intake form and we will do our best to prioritize accordingly.
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You can expect thoughtful, practical legal guidance delivered with professionalism and care. We prioritize proactive communication, clear timelines, and advice that’s tailored to your organization’s mission, scale, and goals.
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We ask that clients engage in organized and responsive communication, including:
Replying promptly to emails and requests for information
Sharing relevant documents and background materials early in the process
Clearly communicating goals, deadlines, and any concerns
Thoughtful collaboration allows us to provide accurate, effective legal support tailored to your needs.
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Our services are typically provided on a limited-scope basis, meaning we work with clients on a defined issue or project. Some organizations return for support on multiple matters over time, but each engagement is considered separately.