CLIMATE ACTION COMMUNITY

Incorporating a Nonprofit in Germany: Legal Advice Fueling Collective Climate Action

We matched the Climate Action Community (CAC) with top-tier lawyers from Latham & Watkins to support their mission by advising them on incorporating a nonprofit in Germany.

From Anxiety to Agency: The Urgency Behind Climate Community Building

As the climate crisis grows more acute, so does its emotional toll – especially among young people. Feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and guilt are increasingly common. But what if these feelings could be transformed into something powerful?

That’s the mission of the Climate Action Community (CAC). Based in Berlin, CAC helps people move beyond individual despair and toward collective climate action. Through community building, education and collaboration with experts, they activate citizen-led solutions to the climate emergency.

But to grow, CAC needed legal status. Their dream? Becoming an organisation that could hire staff, receive funding, and scale their impact across Europe and beyond.

Why They Needed Legal Support to Incorporate

At the time of their request, CAC existed as an informal community. To evolve into a structured, employable, and fundable nonprofit, they needed to understand the legal entity options in Germany, such as the e.V., gGmbH, or UG structures.

They also sought guidance on how to design their organisation to operate across borders and engage with a range of stakeholders – from grassroots members to corporate donors and international funders.

Enter Latham & Watkins: Legal Excellence Meets Social Impact

We matched CAC with Latham & Watkins, a global law firm known for its outstanding pro bono practice and deep expertise in nonprofit and administrative law. The firm put together a team of lawyers comprising Juan Garcia Jacobsen, Leif Schrader, and Lennart Werbeck.

The Latham lawyers offered CAC:

  • A deep dive into the pros and cons of different nonprofit legal forms.
  • Clarity on governance structures, tax implications and employment options.
  • Advice on how to structure for international collaboration and future scaling.

They didn’t just deliver legal advice: they co-created understanding. “The team from Latham & Watkins were generous with their time and explained the process clearly, patiently and professionally,” said Tarn Rodgers Johns, CAC co-founder. “We always felt like the organisation was in trustworthy hands.”

The Outcome: Legal Confidence to Scale Climate Action

Thanks to this pro bono support, CAC now has:

  • A clear understanding of the most suitable legal entity to register in Germany.
  • A roadmap to transform their movement into a legally recognized nonprofit.
  • The confidence to grow their work through partnerships, fundraising, and hiring.

With legal clarity in place, CAC is moving from grassroots energy to structural empowerment – turning citizen urgency into professional, scalable solutions for climate regeneration.

A Match That Made It Possible

This case reflects what Pro Publico exists to do: bridge the gap between civil society needs and elite professional expertise. By facilitating this connection, Pro Publico helped unlock the legal foundations for CAC’s future impact. It’s a small step in legal terms, but a giant leap for a new generation of climate leaders.

Ready to Incorporate Your Nonprofit? Whether you’re starting a nonprofit in Berlin, Brussels, or beyond, Pro Publico can help you find the pro bono support you need.

 

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Thanks to @Leif Schrader,  @LennartWerbeck, @JuanGarciaJacobsen @LathamWatkins @LaurenUba @TarnRodgersJohns @climateaction.berlin  @Francesco Zatelli @ProPublico

 

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