O&T Clinic Wraps Up Spring 2020 Quarter
The Organizations and Transactions Clinic just concluded its spring 2020 quarter. Under the supervision of director Jay Mitchell and clinical supervising attorney Michelle Sonu, eight full-time and two advanced students worked in an entirely remote mode on a variety of contractual, advisory, and corporate governance matters, as highlighted below.
Contract and advice matters
Allison Gadsden (‘21) and Charlie Trevino (‘21) worked with a major Bay Area museum to revamp its event rental documents, including taking into account issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team also provided advice and created documents for programs offered by a Portland-based nonprofit that supports children and families experiencing the financial and emotional hardships of serious pediatric illness.
Jason Fernandes (‘21) and Kelvin Yang (‘21) provided merger advice, transaction documents, and board and regulatory approval materials to an Oakland nonprofit that educates and invests in small businesses to create accessible jobs that lead to equitable communities. In addition, Jason and Kelvin developed service and space rental contracts for a long-established San Francisco artist support organization.
Susan Harling (‘21) and Allan Van Vliet (‘20) helped a San Francisco dance organization revamp the complex contracts relating to presentation at its theater of new and existing choreographic works, an engagement that involved multiple interactions with theater management. Susan and Allan also provided corporate sponsorship advice and documents to a prominent Bay Area farmers’ market operator.
Rina Kim (‘21) and Thomas Westbrook (‘21) developed a suite of contracts for an East Bay nonprofit that supports authors and works with authors, universities, and high schools through a range of programs. The team also provided advice and contracts to a nonprofit design studio for a program intended to incubate new products and services that improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities.
Advanced clinic students Kate Di Lucido (‘20) and Jaclyn Freshman (‘20) represented a Denver-based nonprofit focused on development and scaling of job apprenticeship programs for high school students. The project involved regular interaction with the client and creation of contracts and other documents.
Corporate governance
In addition, all O&T Clinic students carried out comprehensive corporate governance reviews. These engagements involve reviewing the client’s existing governance documents and practices, preparing a detailed report, drafting an extensive suite of bylaws, board committee charters, and other documents, providing a self-assessment tool and set of recommendations regarding board diversity and inclusion, and meeting with board members and senior executives. Thomas Westbrook (‘21) and Charlie Trevino (‘21) represented a Central Coast nonprofit that provides housing and human services to homeless veterans. Allan Van Vliet (‘20) and Allison Gadsden (‘21) advised a long-established East Bay environmental organization that engages in restoration, education, and policy advocacy activities. Rina Kim (‘21) and Jason Fernandes (‘21) worked with a Bay Area organization that helps women from communities of color and immigrant communities create and build culinary businesses. Kelvin Yang (‘21) and Susan Harling (‘21) represented a San Francisco nonprofit that provides a summer learning program for students at middle schools in Northern California.