Outstanding Pro Bono Works Volunteer Award Winner - Justin Winerman!
This year, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is excited to honor Justin Winerman at Skadden with the Outstanding Pro Bono Works Volunteer Award at our Power of Connection event on June 1st.
Justin represents clients around the world in all aspects of complex corporate restructurings both in and out of court and across a wide range of industries, including health care, financial services, energy and media. Justin has repeatedly been named to The Best Lawyers in America for his work in bankruptcy, insolvency, and reorganization law.
He first heard about Chicago Lawyers’ Committee as soon as he joined Skadden, which was a testament to the firm’s dedication to pro bono, and its partnership with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee. Justin knew he wanted pro bono work to be a big part of his practice and started volunteering immediately.
“I knew I wanted to help other people and help the community beyond my 9-5. I knew it was important to spread knowledge and the legal skills I had to people who needed the assistance,” said Justin.
Justin has been volunteering with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee since 2009 and has been one of the most dedicated volunteers. He leveraged his experience as a corporate restructuring associate and partnered with another Skadden associate on advising nonprofits experiencing the financial effects of the Great Recession, which at the time was beginning to impact the nonprofit sector.
His bankruptcy expertise expanded through pro bono, and Justin helped nonprofit organizations navigate changes, and when it made sense, dissolving the nonprofit appropriately under the law. Justin has also volunteered by representing first-time homebuyers before the sunset of that program.
“When I started volunteering, frankly at that point, I didn’t know much at all about nonprofit bankruptcy. It was great to help other people and share the legal information they needed. It resulted in a nonprofit manual, called Nonprofits In Financial Distress: Exploring the Alternatives for Illinois Nonprofits Facing Financial Pressures, published in 2010,” said Justin.
Through more than a decade of volunteering, Justin’s expertise in corporate governance allows him to help nonprofits update bylaws and to implement best practices. He has helped several nonprofits with corporate formation and obtaining 501c3 status. When representing more established organizations pro bono, Justin drafted whistleblower policies, document retention policies, gift acceptance policies, and other corporate and governance policies that enable nonprofits to manage risk and operate more effectively in accordance with proper governance standards and best practices.
More recently, several BIPOC-led nonprofits that participated in the Corporate Governance Check-Up legal clinic needed further assistance in corporate and governance matters, and Justin helped recruit and mentor newer attorneys in amending bylaws and drafting governance policies for them. He encourages other attorneys to get involved with pro bono work by emphasizing the impact it has on the people and organizations receiving assistance and the greater good when community-based organizations receive this legal support and become stronger organizations to serve their constituents and stakeholders.
When asked how it feels to be awarded the Outstanding Pro Bono Works Volunteer Award, Justin said, “It feels amazing! I was shocked and humbled to be winning this award. A lot of people do a lot to help us source these opportunities. It’s been an amazing partnership with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee, and it feels awesome to be receiving this award.”
Join us on June 1st in celebrating Justin and the other community leaders, entrepreneurs, and pro bono attorneys that are collectively strengthening the health and wealth of Chicago.