Green Economy Law
Professional Corporation is a corporate and commercial law firm for ecopreneurs, social enterprises, and nonprofits working to build a sustainable and regenerative economy. More specifically, it’s a law firm that works with clients creating innovative solutions to environmental problems. It was also one of the first law firms to take the Law Firm Climate Pledge, a commitment organized by Law Students for Climate Accountability that encourages firms not to take on any new work supporting the fossil fuel industry.
“People are contributing to the green economy in such diverse and creative ways. I find a lot of the work I do super rewarding,” says Marc Z. Goldgrub, the firm’s founding lawyer.
The firm’s services include traditional corporate law work like assisting clients with incorporation, contracts, and intellectual property management, as well as more niche offerings, like helping enterprises align their policies to attain B Corp and ESG status. Clearly the firm, which is based out of CSI Spadina, is in the right place. In fact, some of the firm’s earliest clients were other CSI community members, and more continue to reach out.
“The CSI network has been a great place to be plugged into,” Marc emphasized. “It’s been nice to feel the support of the community.”
While our network has been welcoming, starting a firm in 2020 was not without obstacles. As Marc notes, “It’s difficult to start an independent law firm for the green economy in the middle of a pandemic. It’s a real, tall order.”
Despite the difficulty, Marc made the most of the year by continuing to do what he could for the common good; when many people found themselves facing unemployment and evictions during the pandemic, the firm began offering legal services pro bono to low-income community members in landlord-tenant disputes.
As the world begins to open back up, Marc is excited to expand his firm’s areas of focus. In addition to working with clients in the green economy, the firm now offers legal services in secondary practices areas, including health and psychedelic law.
Marc explains: “When we got through the legalization of weed here in Canada, I started looking into psychedelics. I wasn’t aware it was so helpful to people [in terms of] the massive health benefits.”
According to the firm’s website, Green Economy Law “does not engage in, or assist parties engaged in, illegal activities. But we are happy to provide corporate and commercial legal services and advice to parties operating legally in and around the psychedelic industry. The firm is also happy to support psychedelic legalization efforts by means of speaking engagements and educational presentations.”
Noticing a lot of confusion surrounding the legal status of psychedelics in Canada, the firm also launched PsychedelicLaw.ca, a website meant to serve as a comprehensive guide to Canadian psychedelic law.
Carving out a legal niche in emerging industries, it’s no surprise Marc continues to dive into new legal frontiers. The firm recently launched a third website, Law on Mars, which covers space, Moon, and Mars law. On the site, you’ll find explainers breaking down international space treaties, the Moon agreement, and other intergalactic legal developments.
While Marc doesn’t practice space law himself, he is interested in seeing where the work might lead, especially as Elon Musk and other futurists continue to pursue their mission to make humanity a multi-planetary species.
Marc hopes other Canadians share his enthusiasm for exploring where the law will take us next. If you’re interested in following Green Economy Law’s activities, including its coverage of ongoing climate and environmental law, news, and policy, you can sign up for the firm’s monthly newsletter.
