Foley Attorneys Assist Pro Bono Client Cuba Skate

Foley provided pro bono legal counsel to Cuba Skate, a U.S.-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to skateboarding equipment in Cuba with the hopes to foster a constructive environment for Cuban youth. The Foley team [driven by Bryce Cummings and Joseph Derrigo and Patrick Daugherty as senior advisor] worked side-by-side with law students as part of the Georgetown Law and Entrepreneurship Practicum, a course offering in which law students work directly with Foley attorneys to provide counsel to social and business entrepreneurs engaged in early-stage ventures. The course was created and is taught by Georgetown Law Professor Anthony Cook, who has established an outreach network to identify and assist social entrepreneurs in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area.

Together, the Foley team, J.D. students and Prof. Cook successfully helped Cuba Skate establish a new entity after prior attempts to form the company were stalled by embargo and sanction related regulations. Once the new entity was formed, the group worked with Cuba Skate to apply for tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. In addition, the team enlisted the foreign policy expertise of Foley’s Christopher Swift to help draft Cuba Skate’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) application to request necessary permissions to conduct its activities within Cuba.

Cuba Skate is just one example of Foley’s dedication to providing pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs and organizations who are committed to improving the world. Annually starting in September, 15-20 attorneys across Foley’s offices participate in the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Practicum. Together, Foley attorneys and the J.D. students provide the expertise to help social entrepreneurs navigate the complex legal issues associated with establishing a corporation.