This article is reprinted from the Multnomah Bar Association’s June 2015 issue of Multnomah Lawyer.
Michael G. Taylor
Pro Bono Spotlight
by Corrinne Mosser, YLS Pro Bono Committee
Michael G. Taylor is a partner in the Portland office of Holland & Knight. His transactional practice focuses on securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate law services. Utilizing his extensive experience, Michael has been an active volunteer with the Lewis & Clark Law School Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC). He provides assistance to pro bono clients for their corporate law matters. The SBLC, located in downtown Portland, matches volunteer attorneys with clients who are low-income small and emerging businesses. At the SBLC, Michael has worked with aspiring entrepreneurs seeking legal advice regarding their businesses, and has assisted with the formation of business entities as well as the drafting of contracts and other agreements for use in the development and operation of their small businesses. An SBLC client said, “It was wonderful to have access to a lawyer to answer and direct me in my small business matters. Michael was really personable and immediately put me at ease. He answered all my questions, clearly and simply. His follow-up was great too. I felt well taken care of. Thanks.”
In 2011, 2012 and 2013, Michael received a “Pro Bono Champion” award from the SBLC for his services, in recognition of his efforts on behalf of SBLC clients. Michael explains that he is a member of a law firm that encourages and facilitates participation in pro bono matters. Attorneys at Holland & Knight receive billable hour and collection credit for their pro bono legal services and have resources at both the firm-wide and local office levels to assist in finding and undertaking pro bono work. But this is only part of the equation, Michael notes. An attorney must be committed to pro bono services on an individual level, and this means prioritizing pro bono work - even when it is hard to find the time to do so.
For Michael, being a lawyer has provided him with tremendous opportunities, and by doing pro bono work, giving back to the Portland community where he lives and works is personally rewarding. Through his volunteering at the SBLC, Michael has helped new and existing small businesses obtain necessary legal services they otherwise could not afford. He encourages young transactional attorneys to volunteer with an organization such as the SBLC, because it is a way to demonstrate commitment to your community while also refining your skills in advising clients.
Michael is an excellent example not only to young attorneys but also to experienced attorneys because he applies his legal knowledge and experience outside the firm in the Portland community through his pro bono work. Moreover, Michael has done so on a consistent basis as evidenced by his recognition as a “Pro Bono Champion” for the SBLC three years in a row.
Attorneys interested in volunteering with the SBLC may contact Julieanna Elegant at 503.768.6947, jelegant@lclark.edu.
