Page 10 - Katten 2024 Pro Bono Annual Review

DEALS AND TRANSACTIONS

CHAD DOOBAY FACILITATES
SEPARATION OF NIJC FROM
PARENT ORGANIZATION AND
INCORPORATION IN ILLINO IS

When Heartland Alliance announced in late 2023 that it would spin off the National Immigrant
Justice Center (NIJC), Chicago Government and Public Finance Partner Chad Doobay stepped
in to help the nonprofit incorporate separately in Illinois. NIJC has been one of Katten’s closest
pro bono partners, and as a long-time pro bono attorney at NIJC as well as a member of its
leadership council since 2008, Chad took on the role of interim pro bono corporate counsel
to help NIJC establish itself as an independent legal entity.

Within days of the announcement, with support from Janet Goelz Hoffman, Chad incor-
porated NIJC as an Illinois nonprofit corporation and worked with NIJC’s executive
director to establish a formal Board of Directors. He led the drafting and adoption of
bylaws, organizational resolutions, corporate policies and committee charters, and
also prepared NIJC’s expedited application for 501(c)(3) status, which was approved
in approximately three months. By April 2024, when NIJC formally assumed
independent operations, it was well-positioned to raise its own tax-deductible
donations, fully employ its staff and continue its mission without any interruption
to services. Chad now serves as board chair of the newly independent NIJC.

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