CONTRACTUALISATION OF A LAW FIRM

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION

For 40 years, the humanitarian aid organization Solidarites INTERNATIONAL has been committed to providing aid in the event of conflict and natural disasters. Our mission is to provide aid as quickly and as efficiently as possible to endangered populations by meeting their vital needs: drinking water, food and shelter.

After emergency, our humanitarian teams accompany the most vulnerable families and communities until they recover their livelihoods and self-sufficiency, to enable them to deal with the challenges of an uncertain future with dignity.

Solidarites INTERNATIONAL is particularly committed to fighting water-related diseases, the primary cause of death in the world today. Drawing on their expertise, our teams develop and carry out aid programs in the fields of water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as in the essential domains of food security and reconstruction.

CONTEXT

Since SI is an international SI that has been operating in Lebanon since 2013, and since we are coming to a phase where we are in need for the legal support from an experienced legal service provider, SI is looking for a law firm that can demonstrate experience in legal advice to International SIs.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this contractualization are:

1. Formation and governance: Law firm is expected to assist SI with drafting bylaws and policies, advising on governance issues such as board structure and member rights, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
2. Tax and financial issues: firm is expected to assist SI in obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, advising on tax compliance matters, and providing guidance on financial management and reporting requirements.
3. Employment law: Law firm can is expected to advise SI on employment law issues such as drafting employment contracts, developing employee policies and handbooks, and ensuring compliance with Labour   laws in different jurisdictions.
4. International law: Law firms is expected to advise SI on international legal matters such as international treaties and conventions, as well as compliance with local laws of Lebanon. This may include advising on regulatory compliance, intellectual property, and contract law.
5. Contracts and agreements: Law firm is expected to draft and review contracts and agreements with donors, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that SI's interests are protected and that the terms of the agreements are in line with legal requirements.
6. Intellectual property: Law firm is expected to advise SI on intellectual property matters such as trademarks, copyrights, and licensing agreements, as well as developing strategies for protecting the organization's intellectual property rights.
7. Immigration Law firm is expected to assist SI with immigration law matters related to staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries of the organization, including visa applications, work permits, and compliance with immigration laws.
8. Human rights and advocacy: Law firms can advise international SIs on human rights law, assist with advocacy campaigns, and represent SI in human rights litigation.
9. Risk management: Law firm is expected to assist SI in developing and implementing risk management strategies, including reviewing insurance policies, identifying potential risks, and developing crisis management plans.

MORE DETAILS ON SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

In a more specific, but neither exclusive nor restrictive, manner:

1. Labour   management:

• Advising on local Labour   laws: The law firm will need to advise SI on the relevant Labour   laws and regulations in the country where it operates and ensure that SI is complying with them.
• Drafting employment contracts: The law firm may need to draft employment contracts for staff members, ensuring that they comply with local Labour   laws and regulations.
• Providing guidance on employee relations: The law firm may need to provide guidance to S Ion managing employee relations, including advising on disciplinary procedures, grievances, and disputes.
• Coordinating with the Ministry of Labour: If issues arise with employees, the law firm may need to coordinate with the Ministry of Labour   to ensure that SI is complying with local Labour   laws and regulations.
• Assisting with investigations: If there are allegations of employee misconduct, the law firm may need to assist SI with conducting investigations, ensuring that they are conducted in accordance with local Labour   laws and regulations.
• Representing SI in legal proceedings: If SI is involved in legal proceedings related to employee relations, the law firm may need to represent SI in court or before relevant Labour   authorities.
• Providing training: The law firm may need to provide training to SI's management and staff on local Labour   laws and regulations, as well as best practices for managing employee relations.

2.  Contracts, MOUs, and agreement management:

• Drafting and negotiating contracts: When requested the law firm will need to draft and negotiate contracts on behalf of the NGO, ensuring that they are legally binding and protect the NGO's interests.
• Reviewing existing contracts: The law firm may need to review existing contracts to ensure that they are still valid and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Advising on contract terms: The law firm may need to advise SI on the terms of contracts, ensuring that they are fair and reasonable.
• Drafting MOUs: When requested the law firm may need to draft MOUs between SI and other parties, outlining the terms of the agreement and ensuring that it is legally binding.
• Reviewing existing MOUs: The law firm may need to review existing MOUs to ensure that they are still valid and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Advising on MOU terms: The law firm may need to advise SI on the terms of MOUs, ensuring that they are fair and reasonable.
• Drafting agreements: When requested the law firm may need to draft agreements between SI and other parties, outlining the terms of the agreement and ensuring that it is legally binding.
• Reviewing existing agreements: The law firm may need to review existing agreements to ensure that they are still valid and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Advising on agreement terms: The law firm may need to advise SI on the terms of agreements, ensuring that they are fair and reasonable.
• Facilitating negotiations: The law firm may need to facilitate negotiations between SI and other parties to ensure that contracts, MOUs, and agreements are agreed upon in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensuring compliance: The law firm may need to ensure that SI is complying with the terms of contracts, MOUs, and agreements, and take legal action if necessary to enforce these agreements.

3. Legal proceedings, and law suites

• Providing legal advice: The law firm may need to provide legal advice to the NGO on how to manage and respond to disciplinary measures, lawsuits, and other legal proceedings. This may involve advising on the best course of action to take and the potential outcomes of different decisions.
• Conducting legal research: The law firm may need to conduct legal research to determine the applicable laws and regulations related to disciplinary measures, lawsuits, and other legal proceedings.
• Drafting legal documents: The law firm may need to draft legal documents such as complaints, responses, and other court documents related to lawsuits and legal proceedings.
• Representing the NGO in court: The law firm may need to represent the NGO in court during disciplinary measures, lawsuits, and other legal proceedings.
• Negotiating settlements: The law firm may need to negotiate settlements on behalf of the NGO in cases where it is advantageous to do so.
• Managing legal disputes: The law firm may need to manage legal disputes between the NGO and other parties, working to resolve these issues in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Preparing for hearings and trials: The law firm may need to prepare the NGO for hearings and trials, including gathering evidence, preparing witnesses, and conducting legal arguments.
• Managing legal risks: The law firm may need to advise the NGO on how to manage legal risks associated with disciplinary measures, lawsuits, and other legal proceedings, including identifying potential risks and developing risk management strategies.
• Ensuring compliance: The law firm may need to ensure that the NGO is complying with all legal requirements related to disciplinary measures, lawsuits, and other legal proceedings.

4. Other matters:

The law firm can assist with initiating and overseeing administrative procedures with various Lebanese public entities, including but not limited to the Ministry of Telecoms, Electricity Du Liban, Municipalities, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Social Affairs, Customs, and General. This may involve handling the necessary paperwork, liaising with officials, and ensuring that the SI’s interests are protected throughout the process.

5.  Time expectancy to reply to inquiries:

The law firm will be available to provide SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL with legal assistance for any other issues that may arise. This may include answering questions or providing legal advice through email, messages, or phone calls. The law firm aims to provide responses within a 24-hour window, except in cases where more time is required to address the issue.

6. Meetings:

The law firm and SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL will hold regular meetings to discuss ongoing legal matters and provide updates on progress. These meetings will occur on a weekly or biweekly basis, as agreed upon by both parties.

DURATION

1 year, renewable.