THE SITUATION:
Sustainability is more than a buzzword to Stefanie Lubetzky and Jessica Thees. It’s the foundation of their small business, Hoofment, selling fashionable horseback-riding apparel for wear both on and off the saddle.
When the two women founded Hoofment, they combined their shared passion for horseback riding with training in design and business administration. Their entire production process is vegan and sustainable, and the business donates a portion of profits to an animal welfare organization that protects horses from slaughter.
Like most startups, however, Hoofment’s founders had limited resources for legal support.
THE CHALLENGE:
As they were working to launch their company and market the clothing, Stefanie and Jessica sought assistance with several challenges—specifically, day-to-day operations and promotional issues.
OUR OBJECTIVE:
McDermott has a relationship with Mission Female, a Hamburg-based organization that supports women leaders. Through Mission Female, Renate Prinz connected with Jessica and regularly advised the startup on topics related to corporate development and legal questions.
THE OUTCOME:
The McDermott team took a holistic approach to delivering pro bono support, guiding Hoofment’s founders through day-to-day concerns (such as supply-chain issues) commonly experienced by new businesses. Renate and Florian Lechner worked on contractual agreements, including supplier contracts, while Philip Uecker advised on data protection issues.
The company has been going strong for three years and continues to design innovative, eco- and performance-friendly clothing.
MAKE IT EASY:
McDermott’s German teams provide top-quality, industry-leading legal counsel to privately held and publicly traded clients. They regularly guide businesses—large and small—through complex challenges.
In this case, the team’s pro bono work removed a significant financial burden, allowing Hoofment to focus on what it does best: creating sustainable fashion for equestrian sports.
Learn more about our pro bono and community service efforts.