DLA Piper and STAG Industrial worked together earlier this year on a big
transaction – the successful IPO of STAG. Normally, the ensuing
celebration would involve an extravagant dinner in a luxe setting.
Instead, these celebrants are hauling food, furniture, kitchen items, and even a
decorated Christmas tree into a small apartment in East Boston.
The Closing Dinner has long been recognized as the logical last step at the
conclusion of big transactions, and the STAG IPO was a long (19 months) and
arduous transaction. But when the two firms started talking about the
logistics of a Closing Dinner, it was clear that they were looking for a change
from the status quo – something that would be a large group activity and would
provide some lasting benefit. In the midst of the Closing Dinner
discussions, an opportunity that fit those requirements came to their
attention.
Heading Home, a local charity working to end homelessness in Greater Boston,
has established a program called “Up and Out” where housing and support services
are provided to low-income and homeless families and individuals. From
soup to nuts, over 30 volunteers from DLA Piper and STAG helped one single
mother and her six-year-old daughter make the milestone move from shelter into
permanent housing.
Photo 1: DLA Piper partners Geoff Howell (left) and John Sullivan (right)
decorate a Christmas tree as part of Heading Home’s “Up and Out” program, where
volunteers help low-income and homeless families find permanent housing in
Greater Boston. The law firm was joined by other volunteers from
STAG Industrial, Inc.
Photo 2: Rather than the traditional closing dinner, STAG Industrial, Inc.
celebrated its IPO with DLA Piper by helping one single mother and her
six-year-old daughter move into an apartment in East Boston. Members of
the STAG team include (left to right) Stephanie Landry, Bill Crooker, Jaclyn
Paul, Ryan Murphy, Steve Mecke, Ben Butcher, Kurt Flionis and Jan
Mazalewski.