Holland & Knight Hosts Exponentum’s 2019 National Day of Service Helping Nonprofits Nationwide
NEW YORK (January 29, 2019) – Holland & Knight partnered with Exponentum™ to provide free legal consultations to nonprofit organizations serving children, families and other vulnerable populations during its National Day of Service. Exponentum, a national network of business law pro bono providers, is coordinated by the Lawyers Alliance for New York. Its National Day of Service honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"Almost 50 years ago, Holland & Knight's predecessor firm in New York assisted in the formation of what is now Lawyers Alliance of New York," said Christopher G. Kelly, chair of Holland & Knight's Litigation Section and member of Lawyers Alliance for New York's board of directors. "On the eve of our sixth decade of supporting so critical a pro bono legal services provider, it's extremely gratifying that our partnership remains as strong as it is. Hosting across the county so dedicated a group of volunteers was an honor, and I am grateful to my business law and litigation colleagues for reminding us of the tremendous positives created in supporting the needs of our communities' nonprofits."
On January 23 and 24, the firm hosted Exponentum members, pro bono attorneys from Holland & Knight and 14 corporations, and nonprofits in need of legal services in six of its offices: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington, D.C.
Exponentum members and pro bono attorneys helped community-based and other resource-constrained organizations improve their financial reporting and management practices to ensure legal compliance and promote best practices. Nonprofit staff and board members received an educational training about legal issues related to proper fiscal transparency, board oversight and regulatory compliance, and then received a customized assessment of the nonprofit's current financial reporting procedures and other legal needs.
Overall, representatives from 68 nonprofit organizations received advice from more than 130 attorneys and other legal volunteers who collectively donated more than 500 hours of pro bono service. Forty Holland & Knight attorneys were among those providing pro bono advice.
Volunteers also included representatives from the corporate legal departments of the American Red Cross, Bank of America, Bloomberg, CIT, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Exelon, Fannie Mae, Ford Motor Company, Freddie Mac, General Motors, GWU Medical Faculty Associates, MetLife and Visa.