Through BakerBridge, Baker Donelson offers a multi-disciplinary team of diverse professionals focused on guiding, supporting and advocating for minority-owned businesses. The program provides participants with key legal services through creative and affordable payment structures, including a grant program for qualified applicants by which the Firm will provide funds toward a client project/invoice. These grants serve as a bridge for the participants to advance their businesses to a position of long-term, sustained success.

Core Legal Services Provided:

Core legal services provided through our BakerBridge program are:

• Business Formation (including entity selection, documents, tax considerations, equity compensation)
• Business Forms/Contracts
• Employment Issues
• Capitalization/Financing
• Intellectual Property
• Legal Risk Assessment/Compliance Issues
• Digital Marketing, Website, Social Media, Data Privacy/Cybersecurity
• Minority Business Certification (in conjunction with external strategic partners)

Who Should Apply?

BakerBridge is open to early-stage minority owned businesses that require financial assistance for the critical legal representation needed to for long-term growth and sustained success. 

Criteria for the Applicants:

• Identification (racial/ethnic minority, LGBT+)
• Company Stage – business plan, market research
• Actual or potential Impact of Business on community
• Industry/sector
• Services sought or required
• Business Model

Application and Approval Process:

Application

Thank you for your interest in BakerBridge. In order to be considered for our program each applicant must complete and submit the BakerBridge online application.

• In addition to the application, each applicant must also submit the following items:
  • Business plan
  • Recent financial statement
• Each applicant will have a BakerBridge Sponsor who will be actively engaged in their application process.

Approval

The BakerBridge leaders will evaluate each application to determine the best candidates for the program Applicants will then be notified via email of their acceptance or denial into the BakerBridge program.

• Participants in BakerBridge will be determined by the BakerBridge leaders.
• Once approved participants may receive grants for legal services.
• The BakerBridge leaders will have final approval of the legal services being sought by the applicant.