Pro Bono At a Glance Spring 2021 - www.rc.com - Robinson+Cole
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Pro Bono At a Glance
Spring 2021
www.rc.com
As attorneys in private practice, we do not always have the luxury of choosing the case or transaction that
lands on our desk. Our work, at times, may leave us looking for new outlets and new opportunities to oil up a
rusty skill set or step outside of our practice area. These are just a few of the many reasons to incorporate pro
bono into our practices. Apart from the ethical obligation we all share to dedicate a portion of our time to assist
those with limited access to the justice system, pro bono work provides a rare opportunity to select the matters
we work on and the clients we work for. Several of our lawyers, myself included, focus our efforts on matters
entirely outside of our day-to-day practice area – in my case (and with several of our colleagues) representing
kids in neglect and abuse cases. This approach to pro bono typically requires some additional training, which
our partner organizations provide on a periodic basis to make sure that all their volunteers are confident and
qualified to handle their matters. Other Robinson+Cole attorneys bring their unique skill set to a not-for-profit
organization or client that otherwise would not be able to afford legal services.
Regardless of how you choose to spend your pro bono time, there is no shortage of opportunities. For attorneys
interested in stretching outside of their practice areas, our primary, but certainly not exclusive, pro bono
partner organizations provide services in the areas of domestic violence, immigrant children’s legal status,
veterans’ housing and benefits, and children in neglect and abuse cases. For attorneys looking to apply their
expertise to the underserved, the Pro Bono Partnership provides business lawyers with opportunities to
work with nonprofits that have a social justice mission. Litigators often volunteer through court-sponsored
programs. And the Pro Bono Committee always welcomes new pro bono clients and matters brought to us
directly by our Robinson+Cole family. The most rewarding work we do is often for clients and causes we feel
passionate about.
It’s an exciting time to work at Robinson+Cole, where positive change is afoot. We look forward to seeing each
other in person as we return to our offices in the weeks and months ahead. We’ve just been joined by a new
class of summer associates, to be followed in a few short months by a new group of first year lawyers. All
under the guidance of a new Managing Partner! This is the perfect environment to energize and broaden our
individual practices. By incorporating pro bono work, we enrich our professional lives as well as the individuals
and businesses we support.
Peter R. Knight
Partner, Pro Bono Committee Chair
2 | Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 www.rc.com
Pro Bono Partnership Highlights
Robinson+Cole’s Contributions
Robinson+Cole’s continuing commitment as a program participant and financial supporter of the Pro
Bono Partnership and the efforts of 29 firm volunteers were highlighted in the organization’s “Year in
Review” publication, which noted that “While nothing was ‘as usual’ in 2020, one thing remained
constant: your belief in the power and importance of pro bono work to make our communities stronger.”
In addition, in a letter to Peter Knight, the firm’s pro bono partner, Lauren Fishman, the Partnership’s Pro
Bono Manager, thanked Robinson+Cole for its volunteerism, stating that “Robinson+Cole’s assistance
allowed nonprofits to continue their critical work.” Firm lawyers and staff volunteers worked on 43 matters
for 37 nonprofits in Connecticut and New York, making “an incredible impact on our communities,
having a ripple effect and helping hundreds or thousands of individuals in our neighborhoods,” as cited
in the ”Year in Review.”
Last year, requests of the Partnership for legal services reached record levels. In response, the organization
worked on more nonprofit client matters and supported and recruited more volunteer attorneys than
ever before in its 23-year history, assisting nearly 900 nonprofits in the tri-state area with prescreening
and selecting qualified clients, providing model documents and otherwise coordinating matters with
some 1,400 volunteer attorneys.
We are pleased to be a key ally with the Pro Bono Partnership in this critical work and thank each of the
dedicated volunteers who give their time and talents to provide this crucial legal support. Learn more
about the Pro Bono Partnership.
Jon Schaefer Appointed to Statewide
Legal Services Board of Directors
The Connecticut Bar Association’s Board of Governors voted unanimously
at its December 14, 2020 meeting to appoint Jon Schaefer to the Statewide
Legal Services Board of Directors. Jon began a three-year term with his Jon Schaefer
confirmation at the organization’s January 25, 2021 meeting. With this
appointment, Robinson+Cole lawyers now serve in leadership roles on
all four of the principal legal aid organizations in Connecticut, including Ed Heath, President of
the Board of Directors of Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Peter Knight, a member of the Connecticut
Legal Services Board of Directors, and Conor Duffy, who was appointed last summer to the Board
of Directors of the New Haven Legal Assistance Association. Firm attorneys’ active involvement
on these boards, and on the boards of similar organizations in all the regions where we operate,
is a testament to Robinson+Cole’s long-standing commitment to provide legal aid services
throughout the communities in which we practice. Learn more about Statewide Legal Services.
www.rc.com Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 | 3
Robinson+Cole Partners Robinson+Cole Hosts
Virtual Pro Bono
with the Legal Food Hub Training Program
to Support Small Farms
and Food Entrepreneurs
In the past, attorneys in the firm’s Boston and Providence offices
have worked on matters referred to us by the Legal Food Hub, Megan Baroni
which operates throughout New England. The organization
provides legal services to eligible farmers, food entrepreneurs and
food businesses. In a similar manner to the Pro Bono Partnership On April 28 and 29, 2021, Megan
model, the Legal Food Hub matches its client base of small farms Baroni, and the Stamford
and food producers that have a social justice mission with a network office hosted a virtual training
of volunteer attorneys. The work includes land use and real estate, program presented by the
corporate formation, contracts, and employment matters. With a Center for Children’s Advocacy
new foothold in Connecticut, the Legal Food Hub reached out to (CCA) for attorneys representing
the firm for assistance with several matters in our proverbial back undocumented immigrant youth in
yard. Robinson+Cole attorneys in Hartford and Stamford have now Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
worked on an eclectic mix of matters for a diverse and deserving (SIJS) cases in CT Probate Court.
group of clients. At a recent virtual celebration of the Legal Food
Hub’s volunteer attorneys, the firm was recognized for our many The Center for Children’s Advocacy
contributions. Some of the firm’s recent Legal Food Hub cases coordinates pro bono legal
include the following. representation for Connecticut
+ Steve Cooper, assisted FunGuy’s Fungi LLC, a gourmet mushroom children and youth who are
growing business based in New Britain, CT, in connection with undocumented and will qualify for
buying out one of its two partners. While the business will SIJS, a finding that allows them to
continue, the partnership decided to disband. Robinson+Cole’s stay legally in the US while they file
pro bono team was engaged at the request of Mary Egan, Regional for permanent status.
Legal Food Hub Coordinator, to help determine an equitable,
clean and binding dissolution agreement. Taking advantage of our IT
+ Lathrop Farmstead is a new farming business in Lebanon, CT run infrastructure and conference room
by a husband and wife team on land that has been in the husband’s space, Robinson+Cole frequently
family for seven generations. Ken Baldwin and Chris Eddy, are hosts training programs for our
conducting a review of the local land use regulations to ensure non-profit partner organizations.
that all of Lathrop Farmstead’s planned activities, including In many cases, these organizations
planting an orchard, raising chickens and bees, and harvesting require their volunteers to complete
maple syrup, are permitted. Ken and Chris also successfully a training program before taking on
advised on wetland issues related to clearing trees for an orchard a pro bono matter.
and the impact that expanded use would have on the farm’s tax
designation. Robert Foxworth also is advising Lathrop Farmstead For volunteer attorneys looking
on a lease for additional land to expand the farm’s capabilities. to get involved in a specific type
+ Robert Foxworth and Karla Chaffee are working with the of pro bono work (on veterans
Boston Food Forest Coalition, a Massachusetts 501(c)3 nonprofit matters or representing children in
organization, to lease space under a billboard in the Jamaica Plain neglect cases, for example), these
neighborhood of Boston in order to develop a pocket park with training programs are invaluable.
a community “forest garden.” The project involves Community And having completed the training,
Preservation Act funding through the City and is designed to volunteer attorneys can typically
promote healthy activity, urban biodiversity, and community take on a new matter whenever their
gathering. Learn more about the Boston Food Forest Coalition. schedules permit. Learn more.
4 | Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 www.rc.com
Recent Matters
Robinson+Cole Helps Bring Affordable
Homeownership Housing to the South End
of Stamford
Through the Pro Bono Partnership, Charlie Janson represented the Housing
Development Fund (HDF) ) in conceptualizing and incorporating a non-stock
nonprofit community land trust known as HDF Community Land Trust, Inc.
(Land Trust) under Connecticut’s statutory land trust scheme intended to foster
affordable housing development. HDF is a non-profit organization based in Charlie Janson
Stamford, Connecticut and dedicated to facilitating the development of affordable
rental and homeownership opportunities.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Land Trust, the first community land trust
in Fairfield County, was held on April 7, 2021, and is now in construction at 287-
297 Washington Boulevard in Stamford. The Land Trust will permanently own
and ground lease land on which 22 single-family, permanently deed-restricted
affordable residential homes, as condominium units, will be built and sold to
families. Robinson+Cole alumnus Jeffrey Volpintesta worked with Charlie on the
pro bono effort. In addition, Charlie also represented HDF on a pro bono basis for
its closing on a $750,000 grant from the Department of Housing as initial financial
assistance for HDF’s Washington Boulevard community land trust affordable
housing project. Learn more about HDF.
Robinson+Cole’s “Generous Legal Support”
Helps Expand Riverfront Recapture
Tom Cody and Michele Maresca, along with other Robinson+Cole staff, had a
significant role in helping facilitate Riverfront Recapture’s recent acquisition of 60
acres of land on the Hartford-Windsor town line. The land will help conserve one of
Tom Cody
the last unpreserved riverfront parcels in the region and significantly expand public
access to the Connecticut River. The firm was publicly thanked for its efforts during
an April 26, 2021 ceremony celebrating the purchase and kicking off planning and
development work for the new park. Congressman John Larson, Hartford Mayor
Luke Bronin and Windsor Mayor Donald Trinks were in attendance, along with
other federal, state and local officials. Tom is the immediate past Chair of the Board
of Directors of Riverfront Recapture and a current member of the Board.
Riverfront Recapture plans to use the space to develop a community park featuring
Michele Maresca
walking routes and trails that will complete a regional trail connection between the
Hartford and Windsor Riverwalks, open green spaces, fishing piers and docks, and
a paddle sports and outdoor center along the river that will offer rowing, canoeing,
and other recreational water uses. Wetlands within the parcel, described as “low
quality,” will be replaced by an ecologically-developed floodplain wetland, and
hundreds of new trees will be planted to promote the development of natural wildlife
habitats in meadow areas. Currently, Riverfront Recapture manages, operates and
maintains four connected parks comprising 148 acres along the Connecticut River:
Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Charter Oak Landing and Riverside Park in Hartford,
and Great River Park in East Hartford. Learn more about this acquisition and see
photos of the groundbreaking ceremony.
www.rc.com Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 | 5
Robinson+Cole Aids in Building of New
Headquarters for Southside Community
Land Trust
Fred Hedberg and Choity Khan represented Southside Community Land
Fred Hedberg
Trust (SCLT) of Providence, Rhode Island in the drafting and negotiation of a
construction management agreement and related contract documents entered
into with the construction manager selected by SCLT for the rehabilitation,
renovation and conversion of an 1800’s-era carriage house into a mixed-use
facility to serve as their headquarters in Providence. Fred and Choity worked
with SCLT, its designated representatives, the construction manager and its
attorneys in addressing key agreement issues and reviewing contract documents
Choity Khan to ensure that the agreement met the requirements of various lenders providing
financing to the project and the Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit Program. Learn
more about SCLT.
SCLT serves people in economically-challenged urban neighborhoods where
fresh produce is scarce, and who, as a result, are at risk of diet-related, chronic
and even life-threatening diseases. The organization educates them about
diet and nutrition, agriculture and the environment, building and managing
community gardens and farms, and providing low-cost agricultural resources
and support to community gardeners and training to novice farmers.
Connecticut Appellate Court Affirms
Robinson+Cole Client’s Case
Kudos to John Cordani and Jenna Scoville, who celebrated a recent pro bono win
in the Connecticut Appellate Court on behalf of their client, Joshua Parker.
In the matter that originated in 2015, Mr. Parker had pled guilty to some low-level John Cordani
property felonies and was sentenced to probation. However, he also was ordered to
pay restitution, which added up to about $18,000. When Mr. Parker, who is indigent,
could not pay his restitution, the State sought to revoke his probation. The trial
court agreed, and in 2019 revoked his probation and sentenced him to 30 months.
John and Jenna took on the appeal pro bono. The main issue on appeal involved
the U.S. Supreme Court’s determination that you cannot punish someone simply
for being poor, meaning that probation cannot be revoked just for failure to pay
restitution, unless the trial court finds that the failure to pay was willful.
Jenna Scoville
They were able to persuade the Appellate Court that the trial judge had ignored
that requirement and failed to find that our client’s non-payment was willful prior
to revoking his probation. The Appellate Court, at John and Jenna’s request, also
went further in its November 2020 decision and created a prophylactic rule to
require that trial courts make explicit findings on the record regarding willfulness
in order to protect a defendant’s due process and equal protection rights.
This ruling should have a salutary impact on criminal procedure going forward
in preventing indigent people in Connecticut from being unfairly punished by
restitution orders that they cannot possibly comply with. The case and its successful
outcome are a good example of the need for pro bono counsel and representation
of often-underserved clients, who otherwise might not receive the full measure of
justice before the courts.
6 | Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 www.rc.com
Robinson+Cole “Rallys” Around Veterans
Service Center
Niel Franzese and Choity Khan served as legal counsel to Easterseals Capital
Region & Eastern CT, representing the agency in the RFP process for the design and
build of a $2.5 million, 18,000 square foot, one-stop veterans service center at its
Veterans Rally Point facility in Norwich, Connecticut. Driven by a grant from the CT Niel Franzese
State Bond Commission, the state-of-the-art “center of excellence” will serve those
who have served, expanding Easterseals’ mission capabilities with veterans and
standing as a model for all American communities. The site will offer legal services,
financial counseling, employment professionals, and behavioral health specialists,
and will feature a commercial grade kitchen, fitness center, multi-purpose area,
computer lab, military memories area, medical exam room and more. Completion
of the buildout by Enterprise Builders is projected for the fall of 2021. Learn more
about Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern CT. Choity Khan
Pro Bono Committee Updates
Ed Heath Fred Hedberg
The Committee is chaired by Peter Knight, who advocates, initiates, and coordinates numerous projects and
ongoing pro bono support, in collaboration with the Committee. Robinson+Cole and its lawyers have been
recognized repeatedly for their outstanding pro bono contributions, earning awards and accolades from the
state bar, professional associations, legal services organizations, clients, and legal publications.
Current members of the Pro Bono Committee are featured below. One notable difference in the lineup is the
absence of Ed Heath, who cycled off the Committee recently to make room for our newest member, Fred
Hedberg. Fred is a partner in the Construction Group and a dedicated pro bono volunteer. Ed has been a driving
force behind the firm’s pro bono efforts for well over a decade. His thoughtful and compassionate approach
to managing existing pro bono client relationships and developing new initiatives, including our Domestic
Violence Restraining Order Program, are largely responsible for elevating the firm’s pro bono profile to the one
we all enjoy today. Leveraging his relationships in legal aid and non-profit circles, our network of organizations
with whom we work on a regular basis to deliver no-pay legal services is second to none. Happily, Ed continues
to provide a guiding hand to our current crop of pro bono volunteers.
Our culture of collaboration, civility and inclusion is the
foundation of our ability to learn from the past and embrace
changes as new opportunities.
www.rc.com Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 | 7
Pro Bono Committee
Robinson+Cole’s Pro Bono Committee is committed to providing access to the justice system for some of our most
vulnerable populations and neediest charitable organizations. The Committee consists of partners, counsel, and
associates from many of the firm’s offices and practices, and our pro bono volunteers are active in each of the
communities in which we practice. While they participate in a wide variety of pro bono matters, much of those
efforts have focused on assisting women and children in crisis as well as veterans. Through active involvement with
community organizations, government officials, and countless nonprofit organizations, our lawyers and staff have
worked successfully to improve the quality of life for those individuals and their families.
Peter R. Knight, Committee Chair Steven J. Boyajian Daniel E. Bryer
pknight@rc.com sboyajian@rc.com dbryer@rc.com
Hartford Providence New York
Karla L. Chaffee Stephen E. Cooper Kathleen E. Dion Frederick E. Hedberg
kchaffee@rc.com scooper@rc.com kdion@rc.com fhedberg@rc.com
Boston Stamford Hartford Hartford/Boston
Megan R. Naughton Taylor A. Shea Jonathan E. Small
mnaughton@rc.com tshea@rc.com jsmall@rc.com
Hartford Hartford Hartford
8 | Pro Bono: At a Glance — Spring 2021 www.rc.com
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