Last week,
Community Legal Resources (CLR) honored local attorneys for their pro-bono work with Detroit nonprofits. The organization serves as the conduit between nonprofits and the local legal community.
"Nonprofits have the enthusiasm, they know their communities. What the attorneys bring is specialized skill that helps leverage investment and can untangle complex legal issues that can be roadblocks to development. Plus, it gets the private sector more involved in what’s happening in Detroit," says CLR executive Director Angela Gaabo.
The pro-bono lawyers help nonprofits navigate everyday legal needs like employment law and contracts. But the attorneys also help with more challenging situations, such as drafting what might be the state's first Community Benefits Agreement associated with the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal, and navigating complicated international trade, land-use and governance issues surrounding the Detroit-Windsor international border.
Community development organizations that have benefited from CLR pro bono expertise include Creekside Community Development Corporation, Southwest Detroit Business Association and the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation.
Lawyers that were honored for their work in 2006 included:
- Legal Team of the Year: General Motors’ legal staff
- Volunteer Lawyer of the Year: Rebecca Simkins Seslar of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC
- Volunteer Lawyer of the Year: Randolph S. Perry, of Bodman, LLP (retired).
- Special commendation for work on Southwest Detroit issues: Matthew Millikin, Tiffany Robinson and Dan Share of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC; Kurt Brauer and R. Craig Hupp of Bodman, LLP; and Justin Boose of King & Spalding, in New York.
The event, CLR's 8th Annual, was held at the Mexicantown Mercado on Dec. 5.
Source: Angela Gaabo, CLR
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