McDonald’s and Winston & Strawn Enter Partnership for Pro Bono Initiatives

Business Wire
June 28, 2007

McDonald’s Corporation announced June 28, 2007, that it has entered a partnership with its law firm Winston & Strawn LLP designed to enhance its current substantial pro bono program by encouraging participation among personnel across McDonald’s legal department.

“McDonald’s is a terrific corporate citizen, and their partnership with us to assist the underserved in our society is just another demonstration of their spirit of goodwill,” said Winston & Strawn chairman Dan K. Webb.

The partnership is part of McDonald’s May Pro Bono Month initiative and will include training of volunteers, currently underway, to provide pro bono assistance in three distinct areas:

Adoption assistance: Volunteers will help process the adoptions of Illinois children for low-income guardians.
Domestic violence victim assistance: Volunteers will assist victims of domestic violence in obtaining asylum relief through a program initiated and funded by the United States Department of Justice.
Low income home buyers program: Volunteers will represent clients who receive housing choice vouchers in applying these vouchers toward a home purchase.

“We’re thrilled to partner with our longtime law firm, Winston & Strawn, to do something so important for the community,” said Gloria Santona, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, McDonald’s Corporation.

McDonald’s nationally recognized pro bono program has garnered numerous industry awards for contributions to the community. More than 100 McDonald’s attorneys and legal department staff will participate in numerous Pro Bono Month activities.

Winston & Strawn has won numerous awards for its pro bono work and is a signatory member of the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®. The firm donates more than 30,000 hours annually in pro bono services.

McDonald’s is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 locations serving 52 million customers in more than 100 countries each day. More than 70 percent of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. Please visit the McDonald’s web site to learn more about the company.

Winston & Strawn LLP is a commercial law firm with more than 850 attorneys in nine offices including Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris, Geneva and Moscow.