Barnes & Thornburg, Stand Together Foundation and Koch Pro Bono Initiative are proud to announce a new partnership with Villanova Charles Widger School of Law. The initiative will offer law students the opportunity to work with Barnes & Thornburg attorneys on pro bono legal matters supporting non-profit organizations through the Stand Together Foundation and the Koch Pro Bono Initiative.
Known as the Stand Together Initiative, the program will provide pro bono legal support to non-profit organizations—identified as Stand Together Foundation and Koch Pro Bono Initiative catalyst organizations—throughout the U.S.
“At Barnes & Thornburg, we’ve always believed in giving back through pro bono work and, as one of Koch Inc.’s preferred panel firms, we have had the privilege to do so through the Stand Together Foundation and the Koch Pro Bono Initiative,” said Eric J. Beste, partner at Barnes & Thornburg. “We’re excited to join forces with Villanova Law on this new venture, allowing us to expand our impact and mentor the next generation of legal leaders.”
“Barnes & Thornburg attorneys have teamed up with us for more than four years to provide pro bono legal services to catalyst organizations,” said Matt Ellis, co-chair of the Koch Pro Bono Initiative. “We expect this expanded partnership will be mutually beneficial as law students gain ‘real world’ exposure to transactional matters and catalyst organizations continue to receive outstanding pro bono legal services.”
Upon receiving a request for assistance from a catalyst organization, Barnes & Thornburg will review the legal matter and work with Villanova Law to identify and pair interested 2L students with the specific matter and pro bono attorney. The legal matters will cover various practice areas, including labor and employment, intellectual property, data privacy, corporate law, real estate and tax.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Stand Together Initiative,” said Janine Dunlap Kiah, director of public service and pro bono initiatives at Villanova Law. “This program will provide our students with expanded pro bono opportunities—an important component of our rigorous legal education. We look forward to seeing all they will accomplish through this exciting partnership.”
“This initiative is driven by the responsibility we all have to give back to the communities in which we live and work,” added Mark Wallin, partner at Barnes & Thornburg and one of the Stand Together Initiative liaisons. “Working closely with Molly Flynn in our Philadelphia office, we look forward to partnering with Villanova Law to provide these catalyst organizations with access to free legal services, strengthening families and communities along the way.”
The Stand Together Initiative kicked off on Monday, Oct. 7 at Villanova Law, where students had the opportunity to learn more about the program, register for participation and speak with Barnes & Thornburg attorneys Molly Flynn and Villanova Law alum Cathryn Ryan.
With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us at www.btlaw.com.
