Pro Bono Client Recognized as CNN Hero for Efforts to Change the World

April.25.2013

Our pro bono client Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya is inspiring change around the world after being named a CNN Hero. Click here to see her full CNN Hero feature.

Ms. Ntaiya visited our Washington, D.C., office several years ago to talk about the school she founded in her native Kenyan village of Enoosaen. After becoming the first woman in the village to attend college in the United States, she returned to open Enoosaen's first primary school for girls.

Through pro bono legal advice and our own financial contributions, our D.C. team, along with Larry Sobel in Los Angeles on tax aspects, helped Ms. Ntaiya raise money for the school by incorporating her nonprofit foundation in the United States and helping her obtain tax-exempt status for the organization.

Today the Kakenya Center for Excellence serves Kenya's most vulnerable and underprivileged girls—currently 155 students in grades four through eight—and focuses on academic excellence, health education, female empowerment, leadership and community development. We are proud to be a partner with the school.

Last month, following an original nomination from our Washington, D.C. team, CNN named Ms. Ntaiya to its list of 2013 Heroes in the "Community Crusader" category.

"Kakenya is an amazing, courageous, selfless woman who is truly making a difference in her community and country," said Jonathan Guy. "It is wonderful that she has been recognized by CNN. I am very proud that Orrick has been able to help her."

Related Lawyers

Larry Sobel Partner, Fiscale

Los Angeles; Houston

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D:+1 213 612 2421
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Finance Sector
Fiscale

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Larry Sobel Partner

Los Angeles; Houston

As both bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel, he has been responsible for structuring and analyzing the tax aspects of many tax-exempt financings throughout the country.

Larry has extensive experience in handling IRS audits of bond transactions. He has represented issuers in dozens of audits all of which have ended favorably either with the IRS issuing a “no change” letter or by negotiating a reasonable settlement when needed. Larry also has handled a number of submissions under the IRS’ Voluntary Closing Agreement Program (or VCAP). The two most recent VCAP submissions represented cases of first impression for the IRS; one involving an issue of qualified energy conservation bonds relating to determining the amount of those bonds eligible for the federal subsidy; the other involved the plan to convert a “new money” bond issue into an advance refunding (which did not meet all of the requirements for a tax-exempt advance refunding). Both cases ultimately were resolved on the original terms proposed to the IRS.

Larry has also been instrumental in developing new financing techniques and structures. He first devised the tax structure and analysis for, and has served as tax counsel on, Orrick’s tax exempt tobacco revenue securitizations. He has developed the tax structure on numerous tax-exempt prepayments for natural gas for municipal utilities both within and outside of California.

Jonathan Guy Senior Counsel, Restructuring, Contenzioso fallimentare

Washington, D.C.

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D:+1 202 339 8516
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Restructuring
Contenzioso fallimentare
Risoluzione contenziosi e vertenze complesse

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Jonathan Guy Senior Counsel

Washington, D.C.

Chambers USA has variously described Mr. Guy as someone who is a "zealous advocate for his clients," is "valued for his quick and practical advice," "makes fantastically impressive presentations in court," is able to "listen to a large amount of information" in court and "reduce an argument to its essence," and is an "expert in commercial and bankruptcy-related litigation."

Mr. Guy is ranked in Chambers USA as a Senior Statesperson for District of Columbia Bankruptcy/Restructuring and in the Thomson Reuters Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers category for business litigation. He is the former Chair of the Community Responsibility Committee for the Washington, D.C. office and was long active in numerous pro bono cases.