“Having legal representation is really critical in getting a product that meets the needs of the organization, and I’m certain that the [lease] we got was far better than anything we could have achieved with our own internal resources. There’s a lot of stress involved in moving, and this was one component where we didn’t have much to worry about.” – Bob Peters, Director of Administration & Finance, Partners for Youth with Disabilities
Attorney Jarrod Matteson, Partner at DLA Piper, was first connected with the nonprofit Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) after Bob Peters, PYD’s Director of Administration & Finance, attended one of the Clearinghouse’s Nonprofit Consultation Programs focusing on commercial leases.
PYD had been operating out of the same location for over a decade, but its lease had recently expired and the landlord had elected to sell the building. The organization was in the process of moving into a new office space and had hired a broker to assist with the initial letter of intent. Soon after, they received the proposed commercial lease from the prospective landlord.
At the consultation, Jarrod looked over PYD’s draft lease and found that, as with many commercial leases, it was very favorable to the landlord. Over the next couple weeks, he helped PYD negotiate a new, more balanced lease that met its needs and served to protect the organization from future unforeseen circumstances.
PYD has since moved into its new office space, and Bob says everyone was thrilled with the work Jarrod did to assist them.
