<p>The Community Organization Representation Project would like to recognize the law firm of Cooley Godward and three attorneys in its Palo Alto office for their work with important local nonprofits that provide services to low-income communities. These three attorneys have taken the lead in forming long-term partnerships to provide the organizations with a wide variety of business law assistance.</p><p>Vanessa Alvarez and Toni Wise are the lead attorneys in the firm’s partnership with East Bay Habitat for Humanity. Their most recent project has been working with the firm Nixon Peabody to write a comprehensive closing documents for the organization to use in developing housing, providing financing, and transferring ownership to low-income families.</p><p>Erik Edwards is the lead attorney in a partnership with United Council for Human Services, a multi-service organization in San Francisco’s Bay View Hunters Point neighborhood that serves thousands of low-income and homeless clients every year. Erik is currently helping the organization review and update its articles of incorporation and bylaws.</p><p>NOTES:</p><p>Erik Edwards </p><p>Looked at corporate documents, updated bylaws to be more in tune with organizations mission in the future</p><p>Going to present bylaws to board and update them on their responsibilities as board members</p><p>“Through this project I have learned a great deal about how nonprofits operate and about the legal considerations involved in working with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. It has been very rewarding to provide pro bono legal assistance to an organization that is providing such important services to their community.”</p><p>Vanessa Alvarez</p><p>Created closing form documents used for 82nd Avenue project in conjunction with Nixon Peabody Can be used by organization in long term Comprehensive set of documents—clear and workable structure Specific to organization, can be used for future acquisitions and development Contracts between organization and new home-owners Can’t sell homes without those documents, can’t fulfill mission to sell those homes to low-incomes families without those documents</p><p>Review of other closing documents— Been great at being on call (Joel)</p><p>"I think that this partnership has definitely had a positive impact on the depth and quality of the legal representation that East Bay Habitat for Humanity has received. This partnership has enabled our respective firms to offer East Bay Habitat for Humanity with the unique opportunity of drawing on a wider talent pool, and provide it with the type of comprehensive legal representation that is specifically tailored to its wide ranging real estate needs."</p><p>"The people of East Bay Habitat for Humanity are very dedicated, and there is a real sense of shared accomplishment and pride in being associated with such a wonderful public interest organization. Very little compares to the feeling of knowing that in some small way you've helped a family have a place to call home. It is a truly gratifying experience."</p><p>Joel Mackey</p><p>“Without Cooley’s pro bono assistance, it would have cost significantly more to develop each of these homes. The firm’s work has been incredibly helpful in allowing us to maximize the number of homes that we can build and eventually sell to low-income families.” </p>