Press Releases

Lawyers Alliance Announces 2024 Cornerstone Awards

For outstanding pro bono service to nonprofits

New York, NY, October 28, 2024

Lawyers Alliance for New York proudly announces that Cravath and Thomson Reuters will receive 2024 Institutional Cornerstone Awards. These awards, the highest business law pro bono honor in New York, recognize superior legal services to nonprofits that are improving the quality of life throughout low-income neighborhoods. The awards ceremony will be held this evening at Paramount Global.  

The Cornerstone Award winners also include six talented individuals selected from more than 2,200 business and transactional lawyers who volunteered through Lawyers Alliance during the past year. A new Cornerstone Award category, Pro Bono Professional, is being introduced this year.  

“The Cornerstone Awards are a wonderful opportunity to connect Lawyers Alliance’s volunteers, clients, and supporters to celebrate the vital pro bono work of our honorees,” said Hedwig O’Hara, Lawyers Alliance’s Interim Executive Director. “These attorneys have helped strengthen nonprofits across New York City and beyond. Along with all of our volunteers, they truly make a difference for nonprofits and communities.”

This year’s Institutional Cornerstone awardees are:

Cravath:  Cravath has partnered with Lawyers Alliance since 2001, providing pro bono assistance to more than 60 nonprofit clients on more than 66 legal matters, including 19 new cases during the past year. The exemplary support of Cravath’s attorneys has led to the success of pro bono projects, including strategic alliances, lease agreements, privacy policies, and entity formations.

Thomson Reuters: For the past decade, Thomson Reuters has been a consistent, thoughtful, and holistic partner to Lawyers Alliance, with close to 50 volunteers handling 44 limited scope representations and 27 cases. Beyond legal assistance, Thomson Reuters has supported Lawyers Alliance through programs like AI for Justice and IMPACTathon.

This year’s Pro Bono Professional awardee is:

Christina T. Holder, Lowenstein Sandler LLP:  Our inaugural Pro Bono Professional lends her transactional expertise to Lawyers Alliance clients, not only assisting them directly with legal matters, but also building the firm’s corporate pro bono engagements.

This year’s Individual Cornerstone awardees are:

David Broderdorf and Gregory Nelson, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP:  This dedicated team helped a legal justice organization negotiate its first collective bargaining agreement.

Maddy Hayes, Linklaters LLP:  In just the past two years, this committed employment law attorney has provided pro bono legal assistance to seven Lawyers Alliance clients on 10 matters.

Richard J. Lee, Crowell & Moring LLP:  This skillful corporate attorney helped demystify financing for nonprofits serving low-income communities.

Gavin Orman, Getty Realty Corp.:  This adept and patient in-house attorney provided real estate law expertise to nonprofits working in affordable housing and community services.

Marcus T. Strong, Brown Rudnick LLP:  This expert attorney shared his intellectual property knowledge with a special focus on nonprofit arts groups.

For additional details, visit www.lawyersalliance.org/volunteer-recognition.

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Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps nonprofits to provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages. During the past year, staff attorneys at Lawyers Alliance worked with more than 2,200 volunteer attorneys to represent more than 700 nonprofit clients.

Contact:  Emily Crossan, Lawyers Alliance for New York, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org or 212-219-1800
ext. 233.

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Business Law & Leadership Gala: Celebrating Lawyers, Nonprofits, and Healthy Communities

Susanne Clark, Mike McDonnell, and Isabel Ching recognized for distinguished leadership

New York, NY, June 5, 2023

On June 6th Lawyers Alliance for New York will hold its annual Business Law & Leadership Gala at Gotham Hall. This Gala is New York City’s premier event for business and transactional lawyers committed to pro bono legal services for nonprofits that are improving the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods.

This year’s Gala theme is Celebrating Lawyers, Nonprofits, and Healthy Communities. “Lawyers Alliance is proud to work with nonprofits as they support their communities in moving forward. Pro bono legal assistance makes a world of difference for these organizations, providing stability and allowing them to focus on their programs and services,” says Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, Lawyers Alliance’s Executive Director.

The distinguished honorees are:

Susanne V. Clark, Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
Susanne V. Clark joined Centerbridge Partners in 2009 and is Senior Managing Director, General Counsel, and Chief Sustainability Officer, leading legal affairs and encouraging social responsibility at the private investment management firm. She also serves as a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Her distinguished legal career has extended from a major international law firm to a premier investment bank and to the private investment management sector, where she is credited with partnering with and developing many of the industry’s most talented professionals. Ms. Clark serves on the Boards of Columbia Law School and the Managed Funds Association and has a long record of civic and public service.

Ms. Clark’s volunteer activities with Lawyers Alliance highlight her dedication to pro bono services.  These include engaging through Lawyers Alliance to provide advice and support to three nonprofit organizations whose respective missions involve working to achieve gender and racial justice, to help vulnerable children and, overcome the injustices of poverty.

Mike McDonnell, New York Life Insurance Company
Mike McDonnell is a Senior Vice President and the General Counsel of New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845 that is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest life insurers in the world. Mr. McDonnell has day-to-day oversight of the Office of the General Counsel, which includes the insurance and agency, investments, corporate practice, and tax teams, as well as the Corporate Compliance Department. He joined New York Life in 2013 after ten years of practice at a premier New York law firm.  

New York Life has a strong, long-term pro bono relationship with Lawyers Alliance. During the past five years, 31 New York Life attorneys have assisted 21 Lawyers Alliance clients with both full-scope and limited-scope legal matters. New York Life hosted an in-person clinic with Lawyers Alliance in May 2023 for nonprofits working to improve healthy living.

Isabel Ching, LMSW, Hamilton-Madison House
Isabel Ching, LMSW, is the Executive Director of Hamilton-Madison House (HMH), a nonprofit settlement house established in 1898 to provide a safe home for New Yorkers citywide to thrive. The organization’s main program sites are located in Manhattan's Chinatown/Lower East Side and Two Bridges neighborhoods. Ms. Ching has been with HMH for 25 years, providing both direct services and executive level leadership to welcome New York's most vulnerable populations including the elderly, children, new immigrants, refugees, and the underemployed. Ms. Ching’s dedication to a thriving New York City also includes an active membership in the UNH Executive Directors Council and a role as Vice Chair of the Community Advisory Board of NYC Health & Hospitals Gouverneur Health and the New York City Department for the Aging Senior Advisory Council. 

Hamilton-Madison House has been a Lawyers Alliance client since 2000, receiving pro bono assistance on a total of 17 governance, employment, contracts, and real estate matters.

Lawyers Alliance Board Chair Jeanine C. D. DeFreese states, “The Board and staff at Lawyers Alliance appreciate and applaud all that Susy, Mike, and Isabel do for New York City’s neighborhoods and beyond. These three leaders display dedication and commitment and we are pleased to honor them.”

For event details, visit https://lawyersalliance.org/gala.

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Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of pro bono business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps nonprofits to provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages. Last year, staff attorneys at Lawyers Alliance worked with more than 2,000 volunteer attorneys to represent 700 nonprofit clients on more than 1,350 matters. Lawyers Alliance also coordinates Exponentum™, a national network of business law pro bono providers.

Contact:  Emily Crossan, Lawyers Alliance for New York, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org or 212-219-1800
ext. 233.

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Lawyers Alliance Publishes Bylaws That Work

Updated Third Edition

New York, NY, May 18, 2023

Lawyers Alliance for New York is pleased to announce the release of the third edition of Bylaws That Work: A Manual for New York Nonprofits. The 147-page publication is updated and expanded to include bylaws information for organizations incorporated under New York or Delaware law, as well as best practices for Boards operating in-person or virtually.  

Bylaws That Work is designed to help New York not-for-profit corporations, their Board members, and attorneys to prepare new or revised bylaws, the set of rules and procedures that govern a nonprofit organization’s internal operations.  Bylaws That Work contains a legal overview of topics commonly covered in bylaws, questionnaires to assist those developing and amending bylaws, and sample documents for not-for-profit corporations with and without members.

Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, Lawyers Alliance’s Executive Director, says, “The charitable sector is working hard to address significant economic, public health, human services, and equity issues. Strong governance practices, including legally compliant bylaws, make nonprofits stronger and help them manage challenges. Now is an opportune time to review bylaws not only for legal compliance but also to ensure that they make sense for current and planned goals and operations.”

Bylaws That Work is available for purchase as a bound printed copy ($100) and as both an Individual Use ($100) and Site License ($200) PDF.  The electronic versions include linked table of contents and websites.  Please visit Lawyers Alliance’s website at https://lawyersalliance.org/publications/list for more information or to order.

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Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of pro bono business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance helps nonprofits to provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages.

Contact:  Emily Crossan, Lawyers Alliance for New York, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org or 212-219-1800
ext. 233.

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Lawyers Alliance Announces Laren E. Spirer as Program and Strategy Director

New York, NY, October 20, 2022

Lawyers Alliance for New York is pleased to announce that Laren E. Spirer has joined its staff as Program and Strategy Director. Ms. Spirer is a member of Lawyers Alliance’s management team.   

As Program and Strategy Director, Ms. Spirer has several program and organizational responsibilities, including oversight of Lawyers Alliance’s pro bono legal services program, planning and evaluation, and coordination of Lawyers Alliance’s program innovations and national role as a leader of Exponentum®. She works closely with the staff, Board, and stakeholders to advance Lawyers Alliance’s mission.

She has longstanding ties to the pro bono community, consulting in the pro bono space through InSpirer Consulting, serving as the inaugural Director of Pro Bono Programs at Columbia Law School, where she also co-taught the Externship on Pro Bono and Access to Justice as a Lecturer in Law, and as the Pro Bono Manager at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Prior to that she worked at Pro Bono Net, including on the rollout of Lawyers Alliance’s Community Development and Nonprofit Law section, and was a litigator in private practice in New York City. 

“We are thrilled that Laren has joined Lawyers Alliance in this important senior role. Her strong connections within the pro bono community, longstanding commitment to leveraging technology for the public interest, and depth of experience will strengthen our ability to serve nonprofit clients and pro bono attorneys,” said Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, Lawyers Alliance’s Executive Director.

Ms. Spirer graduated from New York University School of Law in 1997 and earned a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Women’s Studies from Tufts University in 1992.

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Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps organizations to provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages.

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Contact: Emily Crossan, Marketing and Communications Director, (212) 219-1800, ext. 233, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org

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Lawyers Alliance for New York Announces Appointment of Hedwig O'Hara as Legal Director

New York, NY, April 1, 2020

Lawyers Alliance for New York is pleased to name Hedwig O’Hara as Legal Director, effective April 1st.  

As Legal Director, Ms. O’Hara oversees Lawyers Alliance’s legal representation, educational, and client outreach services for nonprofits, and manages in-house staff attorneys. Lawyers Alliance’s staff works with more than 2,000 volunteer attorneys to represent more than 700 nonprofit clients a year on business law and transactional matters.  

Ms. O’Hara is well known to Lawyers Alliance’s nonprofit and legal constituencies, having served for many years as a Senior Staff Attorney spearheading legal and educational services to organizations engaged in affordable housing development, neighborhood revitalization, supportive housing, and services to the homeless.  She brings considerable legal expertise related to complex real estate, financing, contracts and tax exempt organizations and built Lawyers Alliance’s Housing and Shelter program priority area to a particularly active area today.

“Hedy has dedicated much of her career to providing vital legal services that strengthen the nonprofit sector, and we are thrilled that she is taking this role that is central to the direction and success of Lawyers Alliance’s legal program. In these uncertain times, her leadership, dedication, and teamwork approach will help nonprofits preserve and strengthen their programs and operations as they navigate the rapidly changing landscape,” said Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, Lawyers Alliance’s Executive Director.

Prior to joining Lawyers Alliance in 2002, Ms. O'Hara was an attorney with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP; Battle Fowler LLP; and Brown & Wood LLP. She received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1991 and B.A. cum laude from City University of New York at Hunter College.

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Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps organizations to develop and provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages.

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Contact: Emily Crossan, Marketing and Communications Director, (212) 219-1800, ext. 233, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org

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Exponentum®

2020 National Day of Service: Pro Bono Legal Help for Nonprofits Serving Elderly & Families

New York, NY, January 30, 2020

Exponentum®, a national network of business law pro bono providers, successfully completed a National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to provide free legal consultations to nonprofit organizations serving the elderly, families, and other vulnerable populations. Exponentum members serving six geographical locations around the country partnered with Holland & Knight LLP and Fiscal Management Associates (FMA) in five of the cities and Co.act Detroit in Michigan, to provide nonprofits with timely guidance.

On January 22 and 23, 2020, Exponentum members, along with pro bono attorneys and other corporate volunteers, helped community-based and other resource-constrained organizations improve their financial reporting and management practices to ensure legal compliance and promote best practices.  Nonprofit staff and board members received an educational training about legal issues related to proper fiscal transparency, board oversight, and regulatory compliance, and then received a customized assessment of their current financial reporting procedures and other legal needs.

In the cities where the National Day of Service took place, representatives from 59 nonprofit organizations received advice from more than 150 attorneys and other legal volunteers who collectively donated more than 220 hours of pro bono service over the two day project.

Exponentum’s National Day of Service marks the third collaboration of its kind, to coordinate and offer pro bono legal assistance to nonprofits in different locations in the same week. Pro bono providers that participated in this project are Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. of Tampa Bay, Florida; the Community Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights; the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center; the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco; Lawyers Alliance for New York; and Michigan Community Resources.

The list of law firms, corporate legal departments, and other institutions that participated in the events is available at www.exponentum.org.

“Exponentum is proud to lead pro bono projects that pair talented business and transactional lawyers with dynamic nonprofit organizations who are serving our most vulnerable citizens across the country.  Robust financial management practices enable nonprofits to focus on the important business of strengthening communities.  We are grateful to our volunteer attorneys who donated their time and expertise to help nonprofit managers assess and address their practices,” said Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, Executive Director of Lawyers Alliance, one of the main organizers of the National Day of Service.

Representatives from the participating nonprofit organizations benefited greatly from the consultations.

“Partnerships and friendships are the cementing factors that bring everyone in a community together. For these many reasons, I am deeply grateful, and thankful, for the lawyers, not only who assisted with my questions for [our nonprofit organization], but for all the lawyers who volunteered their time and expertise for the greater good of society as a whole,” said one operations manager of a New York City nonprofit that serves low-income elderly in Brooklyn.

“The one-on-one with our team and the attorneys was invaluable,” said an executive director of a Tampa-based nonprofit.

Exponentum® is a national network of business law pro bono providers dedicated to improving the quality of life in low-income and disadvantaged communities by expanding the availability and quality of pro bono business legal services for nonprofits that serve those communities. Exponentum partners with law firms and corporations to implement national responses to challenges faced by the nonprofit sector by delivering expert legal assistance and educational programs to nonprofits. Members serve geographic regions throughout the United States, including major metropolitan and surrounding areas in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., and Washington State. Members share a goal of making nonprofits more effective in serving their communities.

Contact: Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, Lawyers Alliance for New York, 212-219-1800, ext. 231, eguggenheimer@lawyersalliance.org

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Lawyers Alliance and Nonprofit New York Successfully Protect Nonprofits from Unnecessary Regulation

New York, NY, October 1, 2019

A federal court has struck down an unconstitutional law, finding that a “substantial number” of its applications “are likely to result in interference with the rights to freely associate and speak.”  The law would have required a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to publicly disclose its donors if it makes a financial or in-kind contribution to certain other nonprofits that engage in a significant amount of lobbying in New York.  While the government claimed the law was intended to shed light on campaign financing, the law would have required donor disclosure even if no campaign financing or lobbying was involved.  For instance, it could require donor disclosure by Lawyers Alliance for New York and other technical assistance providers that provide free or reduced-fee legal assistance to nonprofits.  It could affect a wide swath of the members of Nonprofit New York, who rely on donations from the public to fund the charitable services they provide. 

“This is an important win for the nonprofit sector,” said Sharon Stapel, President & Executive Director of Nonprofit New York. “We want nonprofits to be transparent, and accountable, as existing lobbying laws require. This law would have created unnecessary burdens on nonprofits who are already stretched to the limit doing critical work throughout New York.”

“This ruling allows nonprofits to focus on serving their communities,” said Elizabeth Guggenheimer, Executive Director of Lawyers Alliance for New York.  “As the court recognized, there is simply no reason to require public disclosure of donors by nonprofits that provide technical assistance or make grants to other nonprofits, where the assistance is not aimed at supporting a particular lobbying campaign or political activity.” 

The ruling, issued by Judge Denise Cote of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, came in lawsuits filed in 2017 by Lawyers Alliance and Nonprofit New York (then called Nonprofit Coordinating Committee), Citizens Union, and the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union (while three separate cases were filed, they were joined administratively by the federal court).  All of the parties joined in the successful challenge to NY Executive Law 172-e, concerning disclosure of donors by 501(c)(3) nonprofits.  Judge Cote also struck down section Executive Law 172-f, which required donor disclosure by certain 501(c)(4)  nonprofits.  Lawyers Alliance and Nonprofit New York did not join in the challenge to that provision. 

Lawyers Alliance and Nonprofit New York are represented by Lawrence S. Lustberg of Gibbons P.C.  The State defendants have not yet indicated whether they will appeal.

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Nonprofit New York exists to strengthen and unite New York’s nonprofits. We’re building a thriving community of extraordinary nonprofits — a relentless, collective force for good. With nearly 1600 member organizations, we’ve been building a powerful nonprofit community in New York for 35 years, driven by the belief that when one nonprofit is stronger, all of us are stronger. Nonprofit New York is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization based in Manhattan. Visit www.nonprofitnewyork.org for more information.

Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps organizations to develop and provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages. Visit www.lawyersalliance.org for more information.

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Press contacts:
Nonprofit New York: Kelly McLain, (646) 893-2881, kmclain@nonprofitnewyork
Lawyers Alliance for New York: Emily Crossan, (212) 219-1800, ext. 233, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org

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Bloomberg Law to Offer Complimentary Platform Access to Lawyers Alliance for New York

Bloomberg Law to be Utilized to Offer Legal Assistance to Nonprofits Across New York City

Arglington, VA, December 17, 2018

Bloomberg Law and Lawyers Alliance for New York today announced an agreement that provides Lawyers Alliance complimentary access to Bloomberg Law - an integrated online solution that incorporates practice tools, legal research, and legal intelligence. Lawyers Alliance, the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods, will utilize Bloomberg Law to support its mission of helping nonprofits overcome the legal challenges they face when pursuing their missions.

"Bloomberg Law allows our staff to improve quality assistance to nonprofits in a way that saves time and money in our daily work," said Elizabeth Guggenheimer, Lawyers Alliance's Deputy Executive Director. "We applaud Bloomberg Law for supporting our pro bono efforts to provide legal assistance that strengthen the programs, finances, and operations of New York City nonprofits."

"We're gratified to be able to support the efforts of pro bono organizations like Lawyers Alliance," said Joe Breda, President, Bloomberg Law. "The broad array of tools and resources on Bloomberg Law delivers Lawyers Alliance a unique solution to meet the wide-ranging legal research and legal intelligence needs of their clients. We applaud the great work that Lawyers Alliance has done throughout the city over the past five decades and look forward to working collaboratively with its staff to maximize the value it gets from Bloomberg Law."

This agreement extends Bloomberg Law's commitment to supporting the needs of the pro bono legal community. Bloomberg Law has entered into similar agreements with D.C. Legal Aid and the D.C. Affordable Law Firm. For more information on Bloomberg Law, visit https://www.bna.com/bloomberglaw.

About Lawyers Alliance for New York
Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps nonprofits to develop and provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages. Staff attorneys at Lawyers Alliance work with more than 1,900 volunteer attorneys to represent approximately 700 nonprofit clients on 1,200 matters each year and assists hundreds more through educational programs. For more information visit http://www.lawyersalliance.org/.

About Bloomberg Law Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted content from Bloomberg BNA, news, time-saving practice tools, market data and business intelligence. For more information, visit www.bna.com/bloomberglaw.

Contacts:
Bloomberg Law, David Peikin, (703) 341-5900, dpeikin@bloomberglaw.com

Lawyers Alliance for New York, Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, (212) 219-1800 ext. 231, eguggenheimer@lawyersalliance.org

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National Network of Business Law Pro Bono Providers Rebrands as Exponentum

A key stakeholder in the business law pro bono community

New York, NY, June 20, 2018

The National Network of Business Law Pro Bono Providers, a collaboration of business and transactional pro bono providers from across the United States, has officially rebranded as ExponentumSM, as it increases its presence and visibility as a key stakeholder in the business law pro bono community.

Exponentum is dedicated to improving the quality of life in low-income and disadvantaged communities by expanding the availability and quality of pro bono business legal services for nonprofits that serve those communities. Exponentum partners with law firms and corporations to implement national responses to challenges faced by the nonprofit sector by delivering expert legal assistance and educational programs to nonprofits.

"Our members believe that our collaboration deserves a name that strengthens our collective identity and that positions us for a bright future in the business law pro bono community," said Elizabeth Guggenheimer, Deputy Executive Director of Lawyers Alliance for New York.

Earlier this year, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, eight Exponentum members organized a series of legal clinics on nonprofit governance. Members paired over 100 volunteer attorneys with 60 nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the homeless and other vulnerable populations. Volunteer attorneys provided each organization with a broad assessment of their governance practices, ranging from board management to fiscal controls.

The Network regularly offers national and local educational workshops and other programs on legal topics relevant to the nonprofit sector. For example, Exponentum recently partnered with Jackson Lewis, P.C. to provide webinars for nonprofit executives on immigration enforcement in the workplace and strategies to avoid and address sexual harassment. The Network organized a Strategic Legal Thinking Seminar on June 20th, focusing on advocacy, lobbying, and political activity, which was co-sponsored by Pfizer Inc, DLA Piper LLP (US), and Exponentum.

"By collectively leveraging the resources and talents of our members, nonprofit clients, and volunteers, Exponentum magnifies the impact of business law pro bono exponentially," said Ms. Guggenheimer.

ExponentumSM is a collaboration of pro bono providers that serve geographic regions throughout the United States, including major metropolitan and surrounding areas in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., and Washington State. Current Exponentum members are Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., D.C Bar Pro Bono Center, Lawyers Alliance for New York, Lawyers Clearinghouse, Michigan Community Resources, Philadelphia VIP, Pro Bono Partnership, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, Public Counsel, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Texas C-Bar, The Justice and Diversity Center (JDC) of the Bar Association of San Francisco, The Community Law Project of Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Wayfind.

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