Urban Innovation21 and Reed Smith Collaborate to Provide Pro Bono Legal Representation to Community-Based Entrepreneurs from the Hill District, Homewood and other Pittsburgh Communities

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When Reed Smith partner Matthew Mohn saw a video at the Allegheny Conference's annual meeting featuring the work of Urban Innovation21, he knew that this could be a prime opportunity to support one of the most exciting public-private ventures in the region.  The video highlighted Urban Innovation21 as a public-private venture that lists among its responsibilities the goal of providing a halo of wrap-around services to support community-based entrepreneurs, to ensure their successful participation in the region's thriving innovation economy. 

After Mr. Mohn met with Urban Innovation21's President and CEO, William Generett  Jr., Esq. it was apparent that along with the growing number of entrepreneurs in the Hill District and Homewood neighborhoods come myriad legal issues ranging from basic corporate formation matters to more complex employment and regulatory matters.  And now, just a few months after first seeing that video, nearly 40 Reed smith attorneys have volunteered to support these entrepreneurs, and 15 clients have already received more than $60,000 in equivalent billable services.

"We are so pleased that Reed Smith has offered to provide this unprecedented level of legal support.  Each participating business is a Reed Smith client," said Mr. Generett.  "Matt and his colleagues are so passionate about this collaboration. The companies and entrepreneurs that we support are benefitting greatly from the breadth and depth of the firm's global experience."

"Our attorneys' energy and excitement with this collaboration is extraordinary," said Mr. Mohn. "We hope that this partnership with Urban Innovation21 will be an important vehicle for the evolving innovation economy in Pittsburgh's neighborhoods."

"[Reed Smith has] been so helpful in helping us make sure our labels and logos are protected and helping us understand how to protect ourselves from food-related risks," said Theresa and Garl Germany, owners of S&T Chocolates - one of the companies that participated in Urban Innovation21 workshops in collaboration with Bridgeway Capital, the Hill District Federal Credit Union, the Hill CDC, Neighborworks and the Duquesne University SBDC.

The initial focus of this collaboration has been to provide legal support to the winners of the Homewood and Hill District business plan competitions held by Urban Innovation21 in spring 2013, as well as to other community-based businesses throughout the region that have participated in business workshops that Urban Innovation21 helped support.  As Urban Innovation21 develops its upcoming winter business competitions and supports more than 20 new neighborhood businesses via business workshops throughout the fall and winter, another group of new businesses is anticipated to be matched with Reed Smith attorneys in early 2014.

About Reed Smith

With more than 1,800 lawyers in 25 offices throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Reed Smith represents many of the world's leading companies in complex litigation and other high-stakes disputes, cross-border and other strategic transactions, and crucial regulatory matters.  Reed Smith is a proud charter signatory to the Pro Bono Institute's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, devoting more than three percent of its billable time to pro bono work.  Reed Smith is also a founding member of Advocates for International Development and a signatory to the United Kingdom Joint Protocol for Pro Bono Work.  For Urban Innovation21's businesses to qualify for pro bono legal services, they must (i) be owned or operated by low-income individual(s), (ii) not be able to otherwise afford legal services, and (iii) primarily serve low-income customers or operate in an economically disadvantaged area. 

For more information, visit www.reedsmith.com

About Urban Innovation21

Urban Innovation21 is a consortium of local anchor institutions, government, and charitable foundations committed to supporting the region's underserved communities by connecting them to innovation-driven economic growth.  By providing wrap-around support services, grants, access to tax credits and/or interns to community businesses and innovation zone technology companies, Urban Innovation21 is at the forefront of economic development in the region.

Urban Innovation21 Partners and Supporters: Alcoa Foundation, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Carlow University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, the Heinz Endowments, the Hill House Association, Hillman Foundation, Idea Foundry, Innovation Works, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, PNC Bank, Point Park University, Reed Smith, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Surdna Foundation, UPMC Health Plan, The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Federal Government Economic Development Administration.

For more information, visit www.urbaninnovation21.org

SOURCE Urban Innovation21