MIC annual report (Jan 05) #3426_v4.qxd - Mallesons

• In July, three lawyers from our Melbourne office ran aworkshop at Melbourne City Mission on the VictorianGovernment's proposal to introduce a Charter ofHuman Rights. The workshop sought feedback frompeople experiencing homelessness to ensure that theiropinions and experiences were considered. Thefindings of this workshop became part of the PublicInterest Law Clearing House Homeless Persons' LegalClinic submission to the Victorian Government, whichwe helped to draft.Internal management assistanceMuch of our pro bono work involves advice andrepresentation about legal structures and internalmanagement issues for our not for profit clients. Ourcorporate advice helps these charities to achieve theirsocial or environmental missions more effectively.• The Chutzpah Factory College of Entrepreneurship Incis a not for profit association which helps developenterprise skills in young people who have beenexcluded from mainstream education systems as a resultof family abuse, homelessness or juvenile criminalbehaviour. Lawyers in our Brisbane office advised on theappropriate corporate structure for the ChutzpahFactory and assisted in researching options for attainingdeductible gift recipient status from the ATO (AustralianTaxation Office).• The Asian Rhino Project Inc is a Western Australianincorporated association that aims to advanceconservation of three Asian rhinoceros species.Lawyers in our Perth office advised on the best legalstructure that would allow the association to expandits fundraising and business initiatives.Creative assistanceLawyers from our Canberra office have been representingan installation artist whom the ATO claims is not carryingon a business. This test case before the AAT is importantbecause many artists rely on claiming deductions fromtheir arts businesses against other income to havesufficient funds to enable them to continue producingtheir art.Defending the rights of charities as beneficiariesLawyers from our Perth office have helped three charitiesdefend their right to distributions under a will in whichthey were named as beneficiaries. The three charitiesreceived a successful outcome and each is lookingforward to having the funds available for futurecharitable projects.• Lawyers from our Perth office assisted The AustralasianSociety for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition bymodernising and clarifying its constitution. The society'smain objective is the advancement of clinical nutrition,which they pursue through holding annual conferencesattended by eminent experts.Much of our pro bono work involves advice and representation about legal structures andinternal management issues for our not for profit clients. Our corporate advice helps thesecharities to achieve their social or environmental missions more effectively.8