Mainebiz

V O L . X X V N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 9 16 F O C U S L AW For lawyers, the hub offers educa- tional programs around food and farm issues, like a continuing legal education course on agricultural easements and a new online portal with food- and farm- related legal resources and guides. McConnell has helped several cli- ents through the hub so far. In addition to Rowbottom, another client was the Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets when it needed help filing for trade- mark protection. His service probably saved the federation $1,000 to $2,000. e federation also received help from attorney Kenleigh Nicolletta of Brann & Isaacson in Lewiston in filing for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. e federation — a resource for farmers' markets that works with farmers, consumers and communi- ties — needed trademark protection for its Maine Harvest Bucks program. e program allows food assistance recipients to receive a bonus dollar for every dollar spent at participat- ing farmers' markets. Because the bonus money must be spent on fresh produce, the idea is that the program helps the recipients and also provides extra income to farmers. e program's name was originally used by a number of nonprofits but lacked a consistent message, explains the federation's director, Jimmy DeBiasi. Several years ago, control of the program was passed to the federation, which decided trademark protection was key to maintaining the integrity of the brand's message. ey went to the hub. "As an under-resourced organization, we all of a sudden had legal counsel that helped us negotiate with other organiza- tions to protect Maine Harvest Bucks and create licensing agreements that worked for everybody," DeBiasi says. Arcane language "Usually, clients are not well-versed in the arcane aspects of trademark or copy- right law, which you wouldn't expect them to be," McConnell says. "at's where a lawyer adds value." McConnell tries to meet clients face- to-face, ideally at their operation. "I can get a better sense for what may be some issues that they might not have initially identified as something they needed help with," he says. "And we can do some creative planning to get things on the right trajectory." McConnell doesn't mind working pro bono. As it turns out, his practice is largely focused on the food econ- omy anyway, and he co-owns a new rum distillery in Portland, ree of Strong Spirits. "is work dovetails nicely with what I was already doing for paying clients," he says. "It makes Maine a much more vibrant place to live in, if we have active systems of producers who are making delicious food and drink." Ongoing help Legal Food Hub helped Shovel & Spoon, a farm and farm-to-table catering business in Limington, set up a limited liability corporation, acquire farmland and protect its brand. e business started in 2018 in Acton, then purchased 30 acres in Limington and moved there. e hub connected co-owners Tomer Kilchevsky and Courtney Jean Perry with several lawyers on successive issues. Connections came quickly and turn- arounds were fast, Kilchevsky says. "We're farmers and cooks and have little experience in law and contracts, so having someone there to guide us through the process was extremely helpful," he says. "And it's not like they helped us once and went away. ey check up occasion- ally on how things are working out." » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D Legal Food Hub's help with trademark issues allowed Crooked Face Creamery to focus on making its products, artisanal cheeses.

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