ATLANTA—Global law firm Dentons today announced a multi-year pro bono commitment in support of the Westside neighborhoods revitalization project currently underway through a joint effort between the Westside Future Fund and the Westside Neighborhood Prosperity Fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. As part of the initiative, Dentons has pledged up to $375,000 in legal and public policy counsel over the span of three years in conjunction with the project.

Thurbert Baker, a partner at the Firm and former Attorney General for the State of Georgia, will serve as the lead partner for the project. Baker will draw upon all the necessary resources of the Firm to provide legal and public policy expertise as the redevelopment takes shape.

“We thank Dentons for stepping up with a leadership commitment of significant and focused pro bono services for the Westside revitalization project and for setting an example for our global companies here in Atlanta that deep roots and strong commitments to our local communities are a vital priority as corporate citizens," said Richard J. Dugas, Jr., CEO of PulteGroup and chairman of the Westside Future Fund. "We look forward to welcoming others to our efforts to contribute our resources to help ensure that the Westside realizes its potential to benefit all who call the Westside home."

As part of the relationship, Dentons will provide ongoing legal counsel on matters pertaining to real estate preservation, zoning, land use, economic development, contracts, policy compliance, litigation and other aspects of the project. Lawyers and public policy professionals across the Firm will be engaged to create a multi-faceted team to address the many legal and governmental issues that can arise in a project of this magnitude.

"When we created the Westside Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, our vision was to partner with others to make impactful philanthropic investments in the Vine City, English Avenue, Castleberry Hill and other neighborhoods contiguous to Mercedes-Benz Stadium," said Arthur M. Blank, chairman of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. "We thank Dentons for co-investing with us with an impressive pro bono commitment that will tangibly and directly help us to strengthen the opportunities for our neighbors on the Westside. We have long appreciated the partnership of this firm in supporting the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and the foundation in many of our strategic endeavors.”

Dentons has a long history of civic leadership and community service to the City of Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia. This includes playing leadership roles in organizations such as the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Central Atlanta Progress, Habitat for Humanity, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Hands on Atlanta, Atlanta Union Mission and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. These and many other organizations have benefited from the dedication of lawyers and professionals at Dentons who reside throughout the greater Atlanta region.

"Our multi-year pledge to provide pro bono legal services to support the Westside revitalization effort continues our long standing commitment to downtown Atlanta," said Jeff Haidet, co-CEO of Dentons US. "We desire to maintain our close partnership with our civic and business leaders who believe as we do in the importance of working together to make Atlanta stronger."

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