Sertoma Centre and New Star recently completed a merger and are now called “Sertoma Star Services” with the help of Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, and Winston & Strawn LLP.
Sertoma Centre and New Star have decades of history serving people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those living with mental illness in the south suburbs of Chicago. Together, they have more than 120 years of combined service. Given their aligned mission and values, the agencies decided to merge to combine the unique strengths of each organization that would benefit their consumers and their families by expanding their programming support and creating the ability to provide more targeted services.
“We provide services through day programs, community activities, skill training, counseling, and employment services. We are committed to helping people get jobs in the community and work at local businesses,” said Gus van den Brink, executive director of Sertoma Star Services.
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee connected Sertoma Centre and New Star with pro bono support to help them with the merger. Winston & Strawn partnered with New Star and Katten Muchin Rosenman worked with Sertoma Centre.
“These merger transactions are complicated but a regular occurrence in Katten’s wheelhouse. Given the variety of legal backgrounds necessary for a successful merger, we assembled a team of seven lawyers to advance Sertoma Centre’s goals,” said Janet Goelz Hoffman, pro bono counsel at Katten. “It was a pleasure for all of us to work on a project that will result in stronger services in the region.”
Both organizations knew immediately they would need legal assistance to help with the merger. Without pro bono support, the cost would have been very burdensome for both agencies.
Gus said, “It’s very important that Chicago Lawyers’ Committee could help us get those services because nonprofits don’t have the money to pay for this type of legal support.”
Winston & Strawn and Katten have been supporting both agencies through this merger since February and just closed this month in October.
“I felt very much we were treated like any other paying client. We were just as important. They were professional, timely, and they had a list of things to cover that we would not have covered if we didn’t have them,” explained Gus.
Pro bono opportunities such as this one are great for attorneys because it allows them the opportunity to work in something they already specialize in but apply it to the nonprofit space.
Katie Mariani, associate attorney from the Winston & Strawn team said, “I think it’s very important for all firms and all attorneys to give back to the community. Winston places a huge emphasis on pro bono work. It’s a win-win for everyone, it’s great for organizations who need this assistance, and it allows attorneys to do work they are passionate about.”
Both organizations look forward to making a stronger impact throughout the Chicago Southland and Northwest Indiana communities. The merger will create administrative efficiencies, increased capacity, and it will allow them to use their resources as wisely as possible.
“Before in small nonprofits you’re wearing a lot of hats trying to cover several areas with one person doing many things. Merging is helping us to provide more specialized positions to support things,” said Gus.
“We are looking to provide a broader array of services to our communities. Both organizations had similar services and we each had unique services. These unique services will be accessible for everyone now,” said Dan Strick, president and chief executive officer of Sertoma Star Services.
Learn more about Sertoma Star Services here. Special thanks to Winston & Strawn LLP and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP for outstanding pro bono support.