McCarter & English is a full service law firm with offices throughout the East coast. VIP is fortunate to have McCarter & English as a partner in providing legal services to individuals, small businesses, and non-profits in Philadelphia.
McCarter attorneys have demonstrated their commitment to building community economic development by providing legal services to low-income owners of small businesses and non-profits that are serving the Philadelphia community. The attorneys at McCarter have performed close to 1,000 pro bono hours for VIP in the past few years. In recent years, McCarter’s Philadelphia office has hosted a number of Philadelphia VIP’s small business clinics, which provide one-on-one limited representation to low-income owners of new start-ups and local businesses. The small business legal clinic has been so popular that it has drawn volunteers from several different McCarter offices beyond Philadelphia. Their hours dedicated to these clinics have assisted low-income small business owners and non-profits to incorporate, establish bylaws, and protect their intellectual property.
Philip Amoa, an attorney in McCarter & English’s Philadelphia office and a member of VIP’s board of directors, speaks highly of the dedication that McCarter attorneys have shown to pro bono service. “Firm chairman Michael Kelly has promoted a culture that encourages pro bono work throughout the firm,” Philip says. “VIP has been able to assist many clients because of both the time given by McCarter attorneys and the financial contributions McCarter has made. We have an obligation to help those who can’t afford legal services.
“Contributing to help VIP meet its goals is important to McCarter,” he adds. “Not only do we volunteer our time, we’ve consistently increased the amount we give financially each year because of the value we place on what VIP does.” As an example of McCarter’s pro bono work for VIP and its clients, Philip recently assisted with the incorporation and tax exemption application of a nonprofit organization that provides the youth of Philadelphia with a positive outlet through the sport of amateur boxing.
VIP is grateful for the work that McCarter & English does to support both individuals and organizations in the Philadelphia community.