June 11, 2010 — Women's Center for Education & Career Advancement (WCECA) came to Lawyers Alliance for assistance in determining and establishing agreements reflecting its intellectual property rights to a product that it was involved in developing related to its Self-Sufficiency Program. The product, the Self-Sufficiency Calculator for New York City, screens income eligibility for a variety of work supports and tax credits, estimates benefit amount for work supports and gives individuals information on how to access these supports, and calculates how well a given wage meets a working individual's real expenses. 

Madeline Baer and her team at Vinson & Elkins, consisting of Michael Davi, Craig Uhrich, Rebecca Cantor, Joseph Tomaschik, Elliot Cotton, and Constance Huttner ironed out what could have turned into a lengthy and complicated legal process. They reviewed and evaluated existing documentation, investigated the history and activity around the development process, and negotiated and drafted agreements reflecting the resolution of potentially competing claims to the product and its use. The volunteers then went beyond the scope of the original project from Lawyers Alliance to represent WCECA in a copyright litigation brought in federal district court, Southern District of New York and secured a favorable outcome for their client.  

Says WCECA’s Executive Director, “Madeline Baer was responsive, informative and extremely supportive. She and her team at Vinson & Elkins provided outstanding legal support. The issues involved were quite complex and they worked successfully to make a daunting experience reassuring and collegial. We are quite satisfied with the results.” 

About Lawyers Alliance for New York
Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. Our network of pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations and staff of experienced attorneys work together, delivering expert corporate, tax, real estate, employment, and other legal services to community organizations. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, we help nonprofits to develop affordable housing, stimulate economic development, and operate vital programs for children and young people, the elderly, recent immigrants, and other low-income New Yorkers. Each year, the 13 staff attorneys at Lawyers Alliance and more than 1400 volunteers serve more than 550 clients.  

About Women's Center for Education & Career Advancement
Established in 1970, WCECA's mission is to assist low-income women of color and other women by providing education, skills training, and job-readiness services designed to help their clients obtain a secure foothold in the paid workforce and to achieve economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

Please contact Lawyers Alliance marketing coordinator Anoush Bagdoyan at +1.212.219.1800 x233 with questions or requests for additional information.