autumn · 2007 ·

Enhancing Public Education Opportunities In City

A strong educational system underpins the social fabric of , enabling low-income students to succeed in careers not open to their parents and preventing middle class families’ fl ight to the suburbs. At a time when 57% of New York City’s public school students perform below grade level, there is increas- ing reliance upon the nonprofi t sector to bolster student performance. Lawyers Alliance builds the capacity of nonprofi ts working in support of quality education. Charter Schools Charter schools are an alternative form of public education. Funded with state education dollars charter schools are managed by a community- focused Board of Trustees rather than a municipal school district. Charter schools have greater fl ex- ibility in curriculum design, setting of the school calendar, and hiring and fi ring of staff. New York State recently authorized the creation of 100 new charter schools, 50 of which will be located in New York City. Each charter school receives authorization to operate for fi ve years and is held accountable to fulfi ll the mission and academic goals contained in its charter. Lawyers Alliance staff and volunteer attorneys work with charter schools on a range of issues relating to formation and governance, real estate continued on page four

INSIDE Lifecycle of a Nonprofi t Organization

also: Lawyers Alliance Elects New Chair and Vice Chair Appeal

Housing Pro Bono WORKS Nonprofi t Employment Law Helpline

www.lawyersalliance.org Law Firm Appeal Breaks Record

Lawyers Alliance would like to thank the generous supporters who responded to our 2006-2007 Law Firm Appeal and helped us achieve a record-breaking year with $564,500 in donations. We would also like to express our gratitude to Law Firm Appeal Co-chairs John R. Ettinger and Richard J. Sandler from Davis Polk & Wardwell for their efforts in making this annual appeal a tremendous success.

Allen & Overy Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Arnold & Porter LLP LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Linklaters Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Caplin & Drysdale Menaker & Herrmann LLP Chadbourne & Parke LLP Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Clifford Chance US LLP Morrison & Foerster LLP Condon & Forsyth LLP Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler LLP Davis Polk & Wardwell Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Dechert LLP Proskauer Rose LLP LLP Seyfarth Shaw LLP LLP Shearman & Sterling LLP Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP Sidley Austin LLP Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP The Feinberg Group, LLP , Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Stillman, Friedman & Shechtman, P.C. Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP Goldfarb & Fleece Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Goodwin Procter LLP Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP Thacher Proffi tt & Wood LLP Holland & Knight LLP Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP White & Case LLP King & Spalding, LLP Winston & Strawn LLP Kirkland & Ellis LLP Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Lawyers Alliance Honored The Council of Senior Centers and Services (“CSCS”) honored Lawyers Alliance with the Caring Corporation Award at its annual benefi t reception on June 11, 2007. The award recognized the hundreds of hours that Lawyers Alliance staff and volunteer attorneys have devoted to assisting CSCS and its member senior services agencies through Lawyers Alliance’s Elder Services Initiative. CAMBA paid tribute to Senior Staff Attorney Hedwig O’Hara and volunteer attorney Cindy Wenig at its annual Benefi t Exhibition for their years of dedicated service. Through her practice focusing on affordable housing and real estate law, Ms. O’Hara helps community-based organizations, citywide nonprofi t groups, and groups formed to assist special needs populations with their affordable housing development projects. Ms. Wenig, a partner in the Real Estate Group at Chadbourne & Park LLP, received a 2006 Cornerstone Award from Lawyers Alliance for her exemplary pro bono work on behalf of CAMBA.

2 Lawyers Alliance Board of Directors Nonprofi t Employment Law Helpline Edward F. Greene Lawyers Alliance recently launched the Nonprofi t law matters to New York City’s dynamic non- (Chair) Citigroup Inc. Employment Law Helpline to better serve our profi t organizations. These organizations rely Jill L. Rosenberg clients’ short-term employment law needs, as well greatly on staff and volunteers to carry out their (Vice-Chair) as provide our volunteers with worthwhile pro mission and day-to-day programs, but they often Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP bono opportunities on an expedited basis. lack human resources departments or attorneys Nicholas A. Kronfeld As employers, our nonprofi t clients often confront on staff who can guide them through employment (Treasurer) human resources issues that require prompt legal law issues. Pro bono attorneys help organizations Davis Polk & Wardwell attention. Similar to their for-profi t counterparts, to evaluate their options, limit their liability, and Samir A. Gandhi ensure a productive workforce for the future. (Secretary) they may need to resolve an immediate wage and Sidley Austin LLP hour, payroll, or employee classifi cation question; If you want to know more about the Nonprofi t S. Ward Atterbury consider an employee termination; respond to a Employment Law Helpline, please contact: White & Case LLP Workers’ Compensation Board or Department Susan Berkwitt Liaison for pro bono attorneys and coordinators: Winston & Strawn LLP of Labor determination; or address harassment Jolynda Burton, Ezra Borut allegations. Lawyers Alliance has identifi ed a Pro Bono Coordinator Debevoise & Plimpton LLP pool of volunteer attorneys who are interested in (212) 219-1800 ext. 242 S. Todd Crider assisting nonprofi t employers on matters requiring [email protected] Simpson Thacher & Bartlett immediate attention that involve 2–10 hours of LLP Liaison for nonprofi t clients: Blair M. Duncan legal work. Upper Manhattan Angela Cheng Empowerment Zone By sharing their time and expertise, Lawyers Program Associate for Client Relations Development Corporation Alliance pro bono attorneys provide invaluable (212) 219-1800 ext. 278 Adam O. Emmerich legal guidance on exciting and current workplace [email protected] Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz Elizabeth H. Evans Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP David J. Gilberg Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Housing Pro Bono WORKS Thomas H. Kennedy Skadden, Arps, Slate, The need for affordable housing in New York after obtaining a ruling exempting the transfer, Meagher & Flom LLP City is paramount. Many of our volunteers want enabled one affi liate to transfer the property to Steven L. Kirshenbaum to work on such high impact and satisfying proj- another without incurring a transfer tax of about Proskauer Rose LLP ects but are concerned that they lack suffi cient $45,000. As a result, eight women participating in Bonda Lee-Cunningham Federation of Protestant affordable housing and/or real estate experience. the program were reunited with their families and Welfare Agencies Lawyers Alliance’s Housing Pro Bono WORKS moved into their new homes. Michael S. Levine welcomes non-real estate and real estate attorneys Lawyers Alliance staff attorneys actively co- Local Initiatives Support of various skill levels. Corporation counsel with pro bono attorneys on these proj- William F. Lloyd The results capture what is best about pro bono – ects, particularly in areas that are unfamiliar to Deloitte & Touche USA LLP making a better life possible for deserving indi- the volunteers. They work alongside volunteers Ronald E. Richman viduals. Last year, pro bono volunteers from Davis throughout the closing process, share the comple- Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP Polk & Wardwell partnered with Lawyers Alliance tion of tasks, and assist at the closing table as Ira I. Roxland Sonnenschein Nath & in representing Hour Children (HC) in its develop- needed. A chart of project tasks and skills, which Rosenthal LLP ment of a new permanent supportive housing proj- is classifi ed by attorney experience level, is avail- Patricia A. Sampson ect for low-income women who were released from able to help potential volunteers assess the legal The Bank of New York Mellon prison and their families. This kind of support is skills that they can bring to a project. Michael S. Solender Bear Stearns shown to drastically reduce the rate of recidivism. Please contact Pro Bono Coordinator Jolynda Pro bono volunteers helped HC to create affi liates, Burton at [email protected] or have one affi liate acquire the property and accept (212) 219-1800 ext. 242 to learn more about this a loan from New York City. Lawyers Alliance program and to obtain a copy of the chart. also helped HC obtain equity from investors in exchange for tax credits, modify the loan, and

3 Lawyers Alliance Staff Enhancing Public Education Opportunities Christina Anjesky Director of Development In New York City Tanya Apple Administrative Assistant continued from page one After-School Programs Chitra Arunasalam leasing and acquisition, human resource manage- Quality after-school programs support young Director of Finance & ment, and contractual arrangements. people in their learning process through academic Administration enrichment, academic skill-building and home- Anoush Bagdoyan Example: Grand Concourse Academy is a Bronx work help, and extra-curricular activities in a safe, Marketing & Communications charter school serving approximately 285 students. Coordinator Since its opening in 2004 GCA has worked to create nurturing environment. Gail Bayarin a challenging learning environment designed to Lawyers Alliance staff and volunteer attorneys Staff Attorney meet the educational needs of students, particu- Jolynda Burton work with nonprofi ts operating in-school pro- Pro Bono Coordinator larly those at risk of academic failure. In 2007, GCA grams and after-school programs to offer legal Angela Cheng was the top-ranked New York City school on the services in the areas of regulatory compliance, Program Associate for Client 4th grade English Language Arts exam. Recently, human resource management, intellectual prop- Relations Lawyers Alliance and volunteer attorneys from erty, real estate, and contract review. Maria Cilenti Dechert LLP negotiated a lease from Women’s Senior Staff Attorney Example: M.L. Wilson Boys & Girls Club of Housing and Economic Development Corporation Nancy Cruz Harlem (M.L. Wilson) works to motivate and enable (WHEDCO) to house GCA’s 4th and 5th grade Administrative Assistant children and youth to reach their full potential to classes. Volunteer attorneys were able to conclude Sean Delany become productive, responsible, and caring mem- Executive Director the negotiations within two months, enabling bers of society. The Club’s After School Program Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer the school to make necessary renovations so that provides a positive, supportive place for children Deputy Executive Director the children could occupy the space beginning in during after-school hours, where they receive David Hartman September 2007. Program Associate Youth & academic tutoring, instruction in computer technol- Community Development ogy, recreation and social activities, and mentoring. Lemont Leige In summer 2006, New York State sought payments Development Associate Linda S. Manley from M.L. Wilson relating to Workers Compensation Legal Director insurance and placed a lien on the organization’s Viva Obioha property. Lawyers Alliance achieved forgiveness of Staff Attorney payments and the fi ling of satisfactions of judgment Hedwig O’Hara that resulted in the removal of the property liens. Senior Staff Attorney Aaron Perlson Promoting quality public education for disad- Information Systems vantaged and at-risk children of all ages is an Manager important part of Lawyers Alliance’s Children Jennifer Richardson Program Assistant and Youth Services program priority. For more Neil Stevenson information, please contact Legal Director Senior Staff Attorney Linda Manley at (212) 219-1800 ext. 239 or Sunita Subramanian [email protected]. Senior Staff Attorney Patricia Desvallons-Mentor Clearly Extern, Staff Attorney Brent Kessler Legal Alert: Mentoring Programs LeBoeuf Extern, Law Clerk Megan Bell New York State recently enacted the Safe Mentoring Mentoring programs must establish a uniform policy Skadden Extern, Staff Act, which allows certain mentoring programs and procedure for completing criminal background Attorney (including nonprofi t corporations that match youth checks of prospective employees and mentors and Melanie Hersh with adult volunteers) to conduct criminal history must provide each custodial parent or guardian of Weil Extern, Staff Attorney background checks on prospective employees and/ every participating child with a description of the or volunteer mentors. Mentoring programs may now kind of criminal background checks conducted by fi ngerprint a prospective employee or mentor who the mentoring program. For more information visit may engage in unsupervised activities with youth or www.lawyersalliance.org/news_legal_alerts.php. in activities with youth in a setting without constant agency or parental oversight.

4 Lifecycle of a Nonprofi t Organization

Community-based nonprofi t organizations often evolve from a group of volunteers START HERE banding together to address a neighborhood issue to a tax exempt corporation with a modest budget and paid staff, and then, for some, to a million dollar, multi-service agency managing several government contracts, with private funding and a large staff. Incorporation & Tax Exemption At each step in the development process, nonprofi t organizations face challenges and Working with Union Settlement Asso- ciation, Concrete Safaris provides green potential pitfalls that lawyers can help navigate. exercise programs, including gardening, fi tness, and leadership, for inner-city Lobbying Mergers youth in East Harlem, plus lifestyle coach- Habitat for Humanity - New York City The Foundation for Research on ing for students and their parents. Law- (“Habitat-NYC”), an independent affi liate Sexually Transmitted Diseases Inc. yers Alliance and volunteer attorneys from of Habitat for Humanity International, (“FROST’D”) serves more than 7,000 McDermott, Will & Emery incorporated builds or renovates aff ordable homes individuals annually, providing care to Concrete Safaris and secured federal tax in all boroughs for ownership by New substance users, sex workers, and the exempt status. Yorkers in need. A leading advocate for homeless by off ering HIV counseling and aff ordable housing, Habitat-NYC also testing, primary health care, sterile syringe works to ensure that every New Yorker exchange, case management, drug treat- Board Governance has a decent, aff ordable home by creat- ment referrals, and access to food and Chhaya Community Development Cor- ing a social movement and advocating housing. In summer 2006, the FROST’D poration (“Chhaya”) supports the hous- for public policies to help end the City’s board made a strategic decision to seek ing and community development needs housing crisis. Lawyers Alliance is advis- an alliance with another HIV/AIDS orga- of South Asian and other immigrant ing Habitat-NYC on compliance issues nization. Lawyers Alliance counseled the communities through education and related to its advocacy work. board and negotiated a strategic alliance referral programs related to housing and agreement with Harlem United. fi nancial literacy. In 2005, Asian Americans for Equality (“AAFE”), Chhaya’s fi scal spon- Program Expansion sor, and Chhaya decided that spinning The Brooklyn Economic Development off Chhaya from AAFE would promote its Corporation (“BEDC”) stimulates eco- Incorporation independence and result in a new com- nomic growth and neighborhood sta- & munity partner for AAFE. Lawyers Alliance Tax Exemption bility in Brooklyn. Over time BEDC has and a volunteer attorney from Troutman Sanders LLP revised Chhaya’s by-laws to evolved into a multi-service, business and Lobbying Mergers community development organization remove AAFE as the sole member and to maximizing employment opportunities Board transform Chhaya into a non-member- in Brooklyn through real estate, fi nancing, Governance ship, board-led corporation. training and counseling, and collaborative Program activities. Lawyers Alliance and volunteers Expansion Fundraising from Arent Fox PLLC have amended Fundraising BEDC’s certifi cate of incorporation to The ANSOB Center for Refugees aims enable it to participate in aff ordable hous- to help refugees and political asylum Acquiring ing projects. Collaborations Hiring Staff Space recipients through English language instruction, translation and interpretation Collaborations services, educational counseling, social Operating on Manhattan’s Upper West services, and job placement services. Side and West Harlem, Goddard River- Lawyers Alliance advised on a corporate side Community Center (“Goddard Riv- sponsorship agreement and unrelated erside”) provides 22 programs of services business income tax issues. and activities to help participants achieve Acquiring Space personal goals, connect with a commu- Ifetayo Cultural Arts Facility (“Ifetayo”) nity, and become more eff ective advo- is dedicated to supporting the creative, Hiring Staff cates. The NYC Department of Homeless educational, and vocational develop- Community Roots Charter School (the Services (DHS) awarded Goddard River- ment of youth and families of the diverse “School”), serving Brooklyn’s Fort Greene side a contract to provide street outreach Flatbush community in Brooklyn. Ifetayo neighborhood, aims to prepare students and housing placement services, upon off ers programs in cultural awareness, to excel in the 21st century through inde- which Goddard Riverside organized a performing and visual arts, as well as pendent thinking and working produc- Consortium of leading social services academic instruction, health and well- tively within a diverse group of learners. In organizations. Lawyers Alliance, on behalf ness, and professional skills development. advance of the school’s opening Lawyers of Goddard Riverside, negotiated the lead Lawyers Alliance and volunteer attorneys Alliance and volunteer attorneys from contract with DHS and the subcontract from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP assisted agreements with the Consortium’s other are assisting Ifetayo with the purchase of the School with preparing its personnel six members. a building located in Flatbush. policies. 5 PRESORT FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID UNION, NJ 330 Seventh Avenue PERMIT #451

New York, NY 10001

Jill L. Rosenberg L. Jill

that are serving low-income communities.” low-income serving are that from Sidley Austin LLP. Austin Sidley from

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Alliance,” said Mr. Greene. “This is an important important an is “This Greene. Mr. said Alliance,” Mr. Greene and Ms. Rosenberg join board board join Rosenberg Ms. and Greene Mr.

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board’s vice chair. vice board’s University.

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partner, Orrick, Herrington & & Herrington Orrick, partner, graduated from University of Chicago Law School School Law Chicago of University from graduated L. Rosenberg, L.

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