Community Support
A community can be a neighborhood, a specific region, or simply a group of people united by a common purpose. In 2024, our lawyers offered vital support to communities in need.
Chicago Nonprofit Expands with Assistance from Jenner & Block Lawyers
Hear from Pastor Chris Harris, Founder and CEO of Bright Star Community Outreach, Partner Sheila Kailus, and Associate Allyssa Milam on Jenner's work to support Bright Star.
Jenner & Block provided Bright Star Community Outreach (Bright Star) with real estate counsel to purchase Tabernacle Church, located in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, with input from the firm’s tax, environmental, and bankruptcy lawyers. With facilities spanning 26,000 square feet and a 2,000-plus seat sanctuary, the church will allow the organization to expand their efforts and establish a larger footprint in the Bronzeville community.
Bright Star entered into an initial agreement to purchase the church in late 2023 and the transaction closed in 2024. Jenner will continue to provide legal support as the facilities are renovated and brought into operation.
Partner Sheila Kailus, Associate Allyssa Milam, former Paralegal Jiwon Kim, and former Associate Jessica Black assisted with real estate counseling. The team received support from Partners Gail Morse, Sarah Weiss, and Steve Siros, and Associates Daniel Robertson and Bill Williams.
Left to Right: FIFA Senior Football Advisor Youri Djorkaeff, Homeless World Cup Foundation President Mel Young, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger during the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FIFA and Homeless World Cup Foundation (HWCF) ceremony at FIFA's Paris office on August 02, 2024. Photo Credit: Harold Cunningham/FIFA.
Over a Decade of Supporting the Homeless World Cup Foundation
The Homeless World Cup Foundation (HWCF) is a charitable organization that organizes an annual street soccer tournament, where teams of homeless men and women from various countries compete in a knockout tournament for the Homeless World Cup. The first tournament was held in Graz, Austria in 2003. Since then, it's been hosted in 19 different countries. The 2024 tournament, held in Seoul, South Korea, featured 450 players representing 52 teams from 38 nations.
Of Counsel John Runeckles has provided legal services to HWCF since shortly after the first tournament in 2003. He helped with the development of the agreements that were put in place for the second tournament in Sweden in 2004, and one of his earliest tasks was negotiating a license with FIFA to use the “World Cup” mark in connection with the tournaments and the HWCF’s work. From 2008 to 2009, John negotiated a film production contract with Blueprint Pictures for a fictionalized film about one of the tournaments. The film was intended to capture the inspiring effect of representing a national team for the homeless competitors. After many years in development, filming finally began in 2020 after Netflix expressed interest in funding the project. In March 2024, John attended the premiere of the film, The Beautiful Game, at the Ham Yard Hotel in London’s West End, joining the cast and crew, including star Bill Nighy. The film, which is now streaming on Netflix, brought new attention to the Homeless World Cup and its mission.
Following the release of the film, FIFA—and FIFA’s President in particular—became interested in helping with and supporting the Homeless World Cup tournaments. This resulted in a new cooperation agreement between FIFA and HWCF, which was signed in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics. John advised and assisted the HWCF in negotiating the terms of the collaboration, which also included a new trademark agreement.
Jenner & Block Helps Secure Trademark Victory for SHiFT Charity
In 2022, Of Counsel John Runeckles helped register SHiFT's name and distinctive logo at the UK Intellectual Property Office. Not long after those registrations were granted, John successfully opposed a Saudi Arabian company's application to register a logo that was similar to SHiFT’s, which would have conflicted with SHiFT's established trademark for education and training services. In 2024 the Trade Mark Registry ruled in SHiFT's favor, which protected its intellectual property and resulted in a cost award, ensuring continued brand exclusivity.
London Office Managing Partner Christine Braamskamp is the relationship partner for SHiFT; Of Counsel John Runeckles is the lead lawyer.
SHiFT is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of UK children who are vulnerable to harmful behavior, including criminal and sexual exploitation, modern day slavery, and the criminal justice system. Among SHiFT’s educational services are various trainings: employment skills, life skills, parenting skills, and education and literacy.
One of the First Chicago Debtors to be Discharged of Debt under DOE Program
Cyreatha Meeks was a 63-year-old debtor in the Northern District of Illinois, facing over $150,000 in student loan debt and supporting her granddaughter with her social security earnings. When the firm became her pro bono counsel, Cyreatha’s bankruptcy was primarily the result of this significant student loan debt, which could not typically be discharged in bankruptcy absent proof that denying her a discharge would cause her undue hardship. However, proving undue hardship under existing case law is nearly impossible, even in the extreme circumstances of Cyreatha’s case.
The situation changed when the Biden administration introduced a program that allows debtors to apply for a discharge of their loans with the Department of Education’s (ED) consent. Cyreatha’s team argued that she qualified for the benefits available under the Biden-Harris Administration Student Debt Relief Program. The ED agreed with the firm’s analysis.
In January 2024, the Bankruptcy Court entered a judgment order discharging Cyreatha’s debts, making her one of the first debtors in Chicago to receive ED agreement under the program. Additionally, for her other student loans not held by the ED, Jenner & Block successfully obtained a disability discharge based on Cyreatha’s age and medical condition.
Partner Catherine Steege led the effort and was ultimately able to discharge over $150,000 in debt on behalf of her client.
Single Mother Granted Child Support and Other Reparations
Jenner & Block was connected to our client, Ms. Y, through Her Justice, an organization that provides legal support to impoverished women in New York City. Ms. Y’s then-husband filed for divorce in 2020 and continually lied about his income to avoid paying child support for their four children.
Jenner represented Ms. Y through the entire process and helped prepare her for trial, including by securing pro bono expert support from Jenna Voss of Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA) who used principles of forensic accounting to assess the ex-husband’s tax returns and concluded that he was seriously underrepresenting his income. FRA then recalculated an income that the firm proposed the court use to calculate the ex-husband’s child support obligation. After one full day of trial in which the ex-husband testified and Associate Emily Mannheimer cross-examined him, the judge converted the trial to a settlement conference that lasted two additional days.
The judge proposed, and the parties agreed, that the ex-husband would double the amount of child support he was paying, would pay her back for her contribution to their shared property, and would pay arrears for the years he did not pay child support after moving out. Ms. Y was incredibly satisfied with the results and her divorce was finalized in early 2024.
Partner Anne Cortina Perry and Associate Sara Cervantes also represented Ms. Y through divorce proceedings.
2024 CDEL Partner of the Year Award Winner video, courtesy of the Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL).
Jenner Trial Team Helps Pro Bono Client Regain Ownership of Home
Jenner & Block, in partnership with the Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL), successfully represented at trial and advocated for a disabled individual who was at risk of losing ownership of his home due to a family member taking advantage of him.
Jenner provided pro bono representation and financial support to the client during a complex bench trial in September 2023, which required the assistance of American Sign Language and Certified Deaf Interpreters. The court issued an order finding for the individual in March 2024, and he regained full ownership of his home.
The firm has partnered with CDEL for over 20 years, through many forms of volunteerism. In 2024, Jenner received the CDEL “Partner of the Year Award” for the firm’s support in the home ownership case and participation in CDEL’s “Power of Attorney Workshops.”
The Jenner team included Partner Andrew Merrick, Associates Julius Mitchell and Elizabeth Powers, Senior Paralegal Jessica Merkouris, and former Partner Lina Powell, former Associate Sam Jahangir, and former Junior Litigation Paralegal Grace Liberman.
Court Restores Property to Elderly Victims of Deed Theft Scheme
Associate Florian Fuhrimann and former Partner Andrew Lichtman, in partnership with the City Bar Justice Center’s Homeowner Stability Project (HSP), secured the return of property to elderly clients with disabilities in a deed theft case in Queens, New York. The case centered on the fraudulent transfer of a property from rightful owners to a shell company—without the clients’ knowledge or consent.
Deed theft, a growing concern in New York City, has become particularly damaging for vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with disabilities. The clients, co-heirs and co-executors of the estate, were unaware that impostors had forged their signatures on a deed to "sell" the property. The situation was further complicated when the fraudulent deed was recorded in the city’s property register.
Andrew and Florian worked closely with the District Attorney’s office, which successfully prosecuted the fraudsters. In December 2024, the court granted the DA’s motion to void the fraudulent deed, restoring the property to its rightful owners.
Client Hannah Carta describes her experience working with Jenner on her case.
Judicial Appeal Uplifts a Survivor’s Rights for Closure
Hannah Carta filed a lawsuit against her former teacher, alleging that her teacher had sexually abused her while she was a minor. She later agreed to settle her claims, but shortly after signing the agreement, she returned to court alleging that her prior lawyer pressured her into signing and that she was unaware the agreement included a broad confidentiality clause barring her from speaking out about her sexual abuse experiences. Without developing a factual record, the trial court rejected her argument, although it did agree to narrow the scope of the confidentiality clause so that Ms. Carta would not be prohibited from discussing her experiences with family, clergy, or medical personnel.
Following the ruling, Ms. Carta’s case was brought to Jenner & Block by Partner John Mathias, who believed the firm could help. On appeal, the key issues were whether Ms. Carta had been given a sufficient opportunity to show she did not understand confidentiality clause’s scope and if so, whether the court should amend the agreement to allow her to speak to family and medical personnel or invalidate the agreement entirely.
Thanks to the leadership of former Associate Bree Drozd, assisted by Partners Cliff Berlow and Angela Allen, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled in favor of Ms. Carta. The court held that the trial court should have held an evidentiary hearing to clarify whether Ms. Carta fully understood the confidentiality clause. If it was shown that she did not, the remedy would have been to invalidate the agreement in its entirety, rather than have the court rewrite it. On remand, the parties reached a new settlement that allows Ms. Carta to speak about her experiences.
A Rendering of The Turning Point on West Carroll Avenue in Chicago, IL. Provided by Breakthrough.
Jenner Facilitates Key Transaction That Marks a Turning Point For Chicago Families
For many years, Jenner & Block has been a steadfast supporter of Breakthrough, an organization committed to serving Chicago's Garfield Park community. Most recently, the firm played a pivotal role in helping Breakthrough acquire six continuous lots on West Carroll Avenue, a crucial step in the organization's efforts to combat housing instability. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Breakthrough's growth, and construction has already begun on what will become The Turning Point—a new multi-family residential building designed to offer a mix of two- and three-bedroom units to families in need.
Partner Sheila Kailus and Practice Counsel Katya Lewandowska led the Jenner team that was instrumental in ensuring the smooth and timely completion of this transaction. This project will provide much-needed affordable housing for 14 families facing housing instability and will help them build a stable foundation to thrive. The Turning Point facility will offer these families dignified, beautiful, and affordable housing with rent capped at 30% of their income and secure, year-long leases.
Jenner & Block’s involvement with Breakthrough dates back to the organization’s founding. In 1992, Partner Terrence J. Truax helped his dear friend Arloa Sutter incorporate Breakthrough and secure its 501(c)(3) status. With an initial budget of under $20,000, Breakthrough began with an overnight men’s program and a daytime drop-in center in Andersonville.
Since then, the organization has expanded its services and relocated to East Garfield Park. Today, Breakthrough operates with a $12 million+ budget and more than 125 employees, offering a diverse range of services for men, women, children, and families. These include transitional housing, educational programs for pre-K and after-school students, a fresh market in collaboration with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a healthcare clinic in partnership with the Lawndale Christian Health Center, and a highly impactful violence prevention program. Breakthrough’s work is grounded in its vision of creating a safe, stable, and engaged Garfield Park where everyone can thrive.
The work of Sheila and Katya, and the continued support of Jenner’s entire real estate team, reflects the firm’s commitment to supporting meaningful community initiatives. Through its continued partnership, Jenner & Block remains committed to fostering lasting change and supporting Breakthrough to create a brighter and more stable future for Chicago's families.