Chicago Pro Bono Team Completes Comprehensive Legal Assesment for the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago
CHICAGO (August 13, 2008) — McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that in connection with the Non-Profit Legal Assessment Project sponsored by McDermott's pro bono partner Community Economic Development Law Project (CEDLP), a Chicago pro bono team recently completed a comprehensive legal assessment for the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago (ALCC). ALCC is a not-for-profit organization that serves to preserve, promote and protect the legal rights of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.
The multi-disciplinary team worked with the ALCC and its board of directors in conducting a review of and making recommendations with respect to issues of corporate governance, internal controls, client services, federal taxation, intellectual property and employee benefits. The final product was a 104-page document providing the ALCC with recommendations, draft documents and legal memoranda on various corporate governance, employee benefits and federal income tax issues.
"McDermott was pleased to assemble a team across various departments in order to assist a wonderful organization such as ALCC," commented Todd Solomon, partner in McDermott's Employee Benefits Department and co-chair of the Firm's Pro Bono & Community Service Committee in the Chicago office.
"This experience reminded me why corporate clients choose firms like McDermott. It was tremendously reassuring to have all that expertise available to us. We had wide-ranging and in-depth discussions of issues varying from restricted funds and volunteer liability to from corporate governance and telephone counseling," commented Ann Hilton Fisher, Executive Director of ALCC.
The McDermott team consisted of Chicago partner Todd Solomon and Chicago associates, Tonya Wilkes Moore, Menna Eltaki, Tiffini Hines, Eugene Garmize and Patrick McCurry.
McDermott Will & Emery recognizes and appreciates the need to give back to the communities of which it is a part, assisting those who are unable to afford legal services. It strongly encourages its lawyers and staff to participate in pro bono activities, volunteer services and charitable activities. Its Pro Bono & Community Services Committee seeks to ensure that the same Firm standards of quality, service and care that are given to its paying clients are also afforded to those it serves on a pro bono basis. The people of McDermott Will & Emery understand their unique obligations as lawyers to enhance the lives of those in need and are committed to ensuring that low-income and disadvantaged individuals have access to justice.
Visit www.aidslegal.com for more information about the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago and its unique mission.
