On October 29, 2007, Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a national partnership project of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the Pro Bono Institute, hosted its tenth annual Onsite Pro Bono Clinic in conjunction with the 2007 ACC Annual Meeting in Chicago – the largest annual meeting in ACC history.  Co-sponsored by ACC’s Chicago Chapter, Holland & Knight LLP, and the Community Economic Development Law Project (CEDLP), the Clinic attracted 36 volunteer corporate attorneys and was extremely successful in helping to resolve the legal issues of fourteen Chicago area nonprofit organizations.

The volunteer participants represented over twenty corporate legal departments, including United Airlines, Sara Lee Corporation, United Parcel Service, Inc., Logistics Management Institute, Sun Microsystems, Inc., Exelon Corporation, Unitrin, Inc., TD Banknorth, Inc., Daniel J. Edelman, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, rickstreet Mutual Insurance Company, Ace Hardware Corporation, and OCE-USA Holding, Inc.

The clinic consisted of two sessions, the first providing the in-house volunteers with training on legal issues that may impact non-profit organizations, and the second allowing the in-house volunteers to consult with Chicago area non-profits on issues requiring resolution.

Expert attorneys Tom Kinasz and Leah Wardak at Holland & Knight LLP, conducted the training session for which volunteer participants received CLE credit.  Counsel at Holland & Knight also developed comprehensive and invaluable training materials that the volunteer attorneys will be able to rely on when consulting with non-profit organizations outside of the clinic, should they decide to continue this type of pro bono work independently.

In addition to the clinic, CPBO showcased its resources during the ACC Annual meeting at the CPBO Booth in the exhibit hall, meeting with many members of the in-house legal community to discuss corporate pro bono programs and opportunities.  CPBO also discussed its ability to assist in-house counsel as they start or continue to develop their own pro bono efforts.

Another highlight of the Annual Meeting was the presentation of the ACC/CPBO Pro Bono Award to the Exelon Corporation Legal Department for their dedication to pro bono.  The award was accepted by William A. Von Hoene, Jr., Senior Vice President and General Counsel, on behalf of the entire Exelon Legal Department.  CPBO congratulates Exelon on the well deserved recognition for their fine pro bono work.

For more information about Onsite Pro Bono Clinics, contact Eve Runyon, director of CPBO, at 202.729.6983, or at cpbo@acc.com, or visit www.cpbo.org.

Developed by Corporate Pro Bono
A global partnership project of the Pro Bono Institute and the Association of Corporate Counsel
www.cpbo.org