Alicia Plerhoples Joins Stanford Law School as the Inaugural Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe Fellow in the Organizations and Transactions Clinic

Business Wire, Oct 23, 2008

STANFORD, Calif. -- Sixth graph, second sentence of release should read: "Pro bono contributions and community service are an important part of Orrick's culture and its history, and we hope that students who participate in the clinic will gain a similar appreciation." (sted "Pro bono contributions and community service are an important of Orrick's culture...").

The corrected release reads:

ALICIA PLERHOPLES JOINS STANFORD LAW SCHOOL AS THE INAUGURAL ORRICK HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE FELLOW IN THE ORGANIZATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS CLINIC

The Organizations and Transactions Clinic (O&T) of Stanford Law School's Mills Legal Clinic today announced the appointment of Alicia Plerhoples as its first Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe Fellow.

One of ten clinical programs offered by Stanford Law School, O&T provides free corporate legal services to nonprofit organizations and provides clinical training to Stanford Law students interested in business and transactional work. Under the supervision of clinic director Jay A. Mitchell -- and now Plerhoples -- O&T students perform targeted legal reviews and advise clients about governance practices; prepare by-laws and board policies; plan transactions, draft contracts and other operating documents; and much more.

"Alicia brings to Stanford Law impressive practice, pro bono, and academic credentials," said Mitchell. "She will be a tremendous asset to the clinic as we carry out our primary mission--to prepare students for real-world corporate practice while instilling in them a commitment to public service."

Most recently Plerhoples was an associate at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, where she advised financial institutions and emerging biomedical and technology companies on credit finance arrangements. Previously, Plerhoples worked as an associate in the finance and real estate departments at DLA Piper US LLP, where in addition to representing real estate lenders and other financial institutions she had an active pro bono practice. She earned a JD from Yale Law School and an MPA from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs in 2005. She also holds a BA from Harvard University.

Stanford Law School established the Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe Fellowship in 2007 thanks to a $250,000 commitment over five years from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, a firm known globally for the caliber of its transactional practice and its strong pro bono tradition. The fellowship allows a lawyer to spend two years honing skills in public interest law and clinical teaching.

"Orrick is pleased to support the creation of this fellowship because it offers rewarding opportunities for professional and personal growth for students as they develop their capacities as lawyers," said Orrick partner James Kramer. "Pro bono contributions and community service are an important part of Orrick's culture and its history, and we hope that students who participate in the clinic will gain a similar appreciation."

The appointment of Plerhoples follows a highly productive first semester of operation for O&T, which opened in January 2008. Among other accomplishments, clinics students planned and documented a pending merger of seven nonprofit charter schools; drafted market rules for a new farmers' market in East Palo Alto; provided governance counsel to veteran's rights, youth development, immigrants' rights and other organizations; and drafted a grant agreement, reporting template and other grantmaking documents for a San Francisco-based foundation.

"I look forward to working with Jay and the high-caliber law students at Stanford Law in filling the transactional legal needs of Northern California nonprofit organizations," said Plerhoples.

About the Mills Legal Clinic

Stanford Law School offers a variety of clinics that litigate in specialized fields, including environmental protection, immigrants' rights, community law, cyberlaw, educational advocacy, and international human rights. The clinics provide pro bono representation and operate cohesively as a single law firm, the Mills Legal Clinic of Stanford Law School. The Mills Legal Clinic provides students an opportunity to apply classroom theory to real client situations and to develop a lifelong commitment to public service values.

About the Organizations and Transactions Clinic

The Organizations and Transactions Clinic, part of Stanford Law School's Mills Legal Clinic, provides pro bono corporate legal services to Bay Area nonprofit organizations. Students work on corporate governance, contracts and collaborations and external communications matters. The clinic seeks to give students opportunities to develop analytical, planning, editorial and counseling skills in the context of both live client projects and reality-grounded classwork, all with an eye to how business lawyers can serve the community.

About Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School [www.law.stanford.edu] is one of the nation's leading institutions for legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, politics, business, and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, and write books and articles for academic audiences, as well as the popular press. Along with offering traditional law school classes, the school has embraced new subjects and new ways of teaching.