Daily Briefs

Warner attorney receives lifetime achievement award for nonprofit work


David Thoms, an attorney with Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been honored with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his work with nonprofits.

Thoms was recognized with a Vanguard Award by the Nonprofit Organizations Committee of the American Bar Association because of his distinguished near 40-year career working with clients in the areas of nonprofit and charities law, tax law and trusts and estates.

In naming Thoms, the ABA cited his work to advance the education and awareness of nonprofit law through numerous speaking engagements and through his service on various planned giving advisory committees.
Thoms has extensive experience in gift and estate planning, wealth transfer, family business succession planning and nonprofit organizations, providing trusted legal counsel to individuals, families and business
As an active supporter of nonprofits both regionally and nationally, Thoms serves on the board of directors of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the French Institute Alliance Françaises Trophée des Arts Gala Committee in New York. He also serves as secretary and trustee for the Henry M. Seldon Charitable Trust.

 Thoms served as the president of the Financial and Estate Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc. and serves on the board of directors for Greenleaf Trust. His past work has also included support of nonprofits focused on healthcare education and the arts.

In 2015, Thoms was recognized as Detroit Nonprofit/Charities Law Lawyer of the year by Best Lawyers in America. He has also been named a Top Lawyer in Nonprofit/Charities, Trusts and Estates and Tax Law by DBusiness.

Thoms practices from the firm’s Kalamazoo and Southfield offices.

 

Michigan Indian Legal Services awarded $181,084 Pro Bono Innovation Grant
 

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced Thursday that Michigan Indian Legal Services will receive a $181,084 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant. LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund is intended to encourage and expand pro bono efforts and partnerships to serve more low-income clients.

Michigan Indian Legal Services will use the grant to increase access to high-quality legal assistance for Native populations residing throughout the state. The goal is to recruit late career and retired attorneys to offer community legal education on critical topics, to provide direct representation to individuals, and to mentor Michigan Indian Legal Services’ junior staff attorneys to build the organization’s capacity to serve clients.

Michigan Indian Legal Services is one of 14 recipients of grants from LSC’s $4.5 million Pro Bono Innovation Fund, a competitive program that invests in projects that identify and promote replicable innovations in pro bono for low-income legal aid clients. This is the sixth year LSC has awarded Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants.

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