National law firm Husch Blackwell is pleased to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its Communities for Change program.
Communities for Change was launched in July 2020 to provide pro bono legal services to entrepreneurs and small business located in underserved areas or who had otherwise traditionally been unable to access full-service law firms and obtain the foundational legal services which can be crucial to business success. Since then, more than 600 Husch Blackwell attorneys and business professionals have provided more than $9 million in pro bono hours to 250 such clients.
“We can measure the growth of our Communities for Change initiative in several ways, from the number of clients we have represented to the growth of our clients themselves—many have reported double-digit growth in the number of employees or tremendous revenue increases,” said Amanda Garcia-Williams, Husch Blackwell’s Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. “Internally, we see growth in our enthusiasm and engagement for this program. While many other corporate initiatives launched during the pandemic have faltered, ours has thrived. Each year, we’ve served more clients, opened more matters, and welcomed more attorneys to the program. This steady growth reflects our enduring dedication and shared belief in the program’s mission.”
A few success stories from the past five years include:
- Rare plant wholesaler Plants Without Borders credits the legal representation it received from Husch Black for helping it take its business to another level. Firm attorneys helped the young company in 2023 with a platform services agreement, which it has used with its clients. Business revenues have soared since the company’s start and has more than doubled since Husch Blackwell began working with the CEO.
- In 2022, Firm attorneys assisted valet company Anderson Parking with the review of a complex agreement with a major Nashville hotel. This helped propel the Georgia company into the Tennessee market. Later, the firm assisted with corporate organization and trademark assistance. Since then, the company’s revenue has soared to $2.4 million in 2024, and they have grown their employees from 30 when we met them to 55 today. The company has further expanded from one location to six.
- St. Louis-based Pop Pop Hurray began working with Communities for Change in 2022 when the new company was trying to obtain its first location. Since then, teams of attorneys have assisted the company with lease reviews, trademark work and franchising advice. The company’s revenues have soared from $50,000 in 2022 to almost half-million in 2024. They have grown in employees from three to 16. Now in five locations, including Busch Stadium, the company is thriving.
“The goal of Communities for Change when it was created was to meet business owners on their assent up the mountain top and help them reach the summit,” said Quinncy McNeal, Husch Blackwell pro bono counsel. “The economic mobility created for community members hired by these emerging businesses may be the greatest ripple effect of the program.”