CUBE Consultation Center Offers Entrepreneurs Virtual Assistance

03/11/2021

The Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship (CUBE) Consultation Center, a student-run pro bono group, conducted its third virtual consultation session since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 4, in conjunction with the NYC Business Solutions Brooklyn Center. Approximately 22 entrepreneurs from the surrounding Brooklyn area met with nine volunteer attorneys and 31 students in 30-minute sessions via Zoom.

Student officers Jae Lee ’22, Eric Green ’22, and Michelle Verkhoglaz ’22 coordinated the event, with the assistance of Professor Debra Bechtel, deputy director of CUBE, and Professor Jonathan Askin, CUBE innovation catalyst. James Murray ’07, chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Committee, recruited committee members to assist from law firms including Olshan Frome Wolosky; Stroock & Stroock & Lavan; Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman; Davis and Associates; and McCloskey Law.

“The transition from in-person consultation sessions to virtual sessions was complicated, but the CUBE student officers, volunteer attorneys, and community partners really made it work,” said Bechtel. “I am very proud of their efforts and pleased that we were able to reach so many distressed business owners.”

The first of the three virtual sessions was held in July under the auspices of the Brooklyn Public Library Business and Career Center, and the second session was held in conjunction with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in October. In each of the sessions, seven experienced attorneys from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, recruited by partner Jason Sobel, volunteered their time to advise 20 entrepreneurs on issues involving intellectual property, employment, LLC structure, and e-commerce. Elise Lindemayer ’21 worked with Lee to conduct the July session. Lee, Harpreet Kaur ’22, and Cindy Chan ’22 facilitated the October event, with nine other students as observers.

“The CUBE Consultation Center is trying hard to provide much-needed legal advice to entrepreneurs in the COVID era,” said Lee. “I am very proud to be a part of these valuable pro bono efforts.”

CUBE leverages the Law School’s core strengths in clinical and business law education to provide effective legal representation and support for entrepreneurial ventures in Brooklyn’s vibrant startup community. The center maximizes opportunities to educate and train law students to be effective lawyers and advisors to entrepreneurs. The CUBE Consultation Center, established in honor of Sidney W. Azrilliant ’63, offers students valuable practice experience providing counsel to entrepreneurs and small business owners.