News

Volunteers of the Month (September 2011): David Huang, Prem Amarnani, and Lindsay Kurasz of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

  • 9/14/2011
  • Lawyers Alliance for New York

Date: September 14, 2011
Name of Attorney: David Huang, Prem Amarnani, and Lindsay Kurasz
Name of Firm: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Client Served: Exponents, Inc. (“Exponents”)

Accomplishment: Successfully formed Exponents’ for-profit affiliate to provide substance abuse counselor training and anger management counseling to the public and additional funding to the nonprofit.


Specific Case Highlights: Operating for more than 20 years, Exponents is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people affected by drug addiction, incarceration, and HIV/AIDS. Exponents assists individuals in stabilizing their personal lives by providing transitional services for formerly incarcerated individuals, access to primary and mental health care, job readiness programs in the HIV and substance abuse field, and other supportive services.

Seeking to become more financially self-sufficient, Exponents was looking to leverage its expertise in educational and rehabilitative programs to form a for-profit venture, Exponents Center for Personal & Professional Development (the “Center”). The Center intends to offer courses at market rate to the general public in areas such as anger management, credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor training, and drunk driving and substance abuse counseling, and aims to utilize its existing contacts to become one of the primary groups receiving referrals from the court system. The net proceeds of the Center would be directed to Exponents to strengthen and expand its programming.

In December 2010, Exponents approached Lawyers Alliance for assistance with developing the Center. David Huang, Prem Amarnani, and Lindsay Kurasz of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP volunteered to assist Exponents in forming the Center and structuring the relationship in a manner that would not jeopardize the nonprofit’s tax-exempt status. Apart from forming the for-profit entity, the Paul, Weiss team provided thorough tax advice regarding the distribution of the profits from the Center to Exponents and provided appropriate legal advice in the initial phases of the Center’s operation.  In June, Exponents Center began its first course and has taken in about $15,000 for the nonprofit.

Samantha Lopez-Fernandez, Exponents’ Chief Administrative Officer, was deeply appreciative of the help provided by David Huang and his colleagues at Paul, Weiss, noting that they “went above and beyond to guide us through a process that was extremely daunting, with patience and grace.” She emphasized that Lawyers Alliance and the Paul, Weiss team contributed to “Exponents’ longevity in these uncertain financial times.”

About Lawyers Alliance for New York: Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. Our network of pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations and staff of experienced attorneys work together, delivering expert corporate, tax, real estate, employment, and other legal services to community organizations. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, we help nonprofits to develop affordable housing, stimulate economic development, and operate vital programs for children and young people, the elderly, recent immigrants, and other low-income New Yorkers. Each year, the staff attorneys at Lawyers Alliance and more than 1,400 volunteers serve more than 600 clients.


Inquiries: Please contact Marketing and Communications Coordinator Emily Crossan at 212-219-1800 ext. 233 with questions or requests for additional information.

 

Topics:
  • Other Nonprofit Law Issues
  • Other Tax
  • Mergers, Strategic Alliances and Reorganization