Leveraging Resources
to Counter a Crisis
Pro Bono Team
mintz
pro bono portfolio
//
2022
Banding Together to Combat Opioid and Substance Abuse
To address this public health crisis, Mass General Brigham (MGB) and other private-sector and health organizations banded together to form the nonprofit RIZE Massachusetts. This coordinated approach evolved into a public-private partnership with a central role in combatting opioid and other substance use disorders across the state. Within a few years, the state tapped RIZE to distribute state funding for opioid programs. The five-year-old organization also funds research to expand knowledge of opioid use and addiction and brings together stakeholders to develop comprehensive, coordinated solutions to the crisis.
RIZE’s efforts were helping to reverse the tide of opioid-related overdose deaths in the state until, unfortunately, disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic started driving overdose numbers back up. But, through its multifaceted approach and extensive reach, RIZE is helping to counter that trend. To date, RIZE has granted over $10 million to more than 80 community organizations across the state. And it helps fund innovative programs, such as cash incentives for used syringe buybacks.
Trusted Advisors Step In
Mintz began working with the organizers of RIZE when long-term client MGB (formerly Partners HealthCare) asked the firm to help it launch and incorporate a nonprofit organization to combat the opioid crisis. The firm has since served as pro bono counsel to RIZE, with Mintz attorney Cassie Paolillo and recently retired Mintz attorney Stephen Weiner leading the firm’s work on a broad spectrum of organizational issues and Cassie assisting with revising RIZE’s grantmaking agreement.
Building a Solid Organizational Foundation
Early on, Mintz attorney Susan Weller helped identify and avoid trademark issues associated with potential names using variations of the word “rise.” Cassie and Steve then assisted with arrangements for an existing nonprofit to act as RIZE’s fiscal agent on an interim basis, enabling donors to take tax deductions for their contributions months before the IRS designated RIZE a 501(c)(3) organization. They also worked to structure an unusual arrangement allowing MGB to handle RIZE’s human resources functions, which streamlines costs and enables the small organization to offer significant benefits to employees.
Expanding the Team of Advisors
Over the past several years, many others at the firm have assisted with corporate matters, including attorney Kate Stewart
on formation issues, paralegal manager Anne Leland and legal specialist Brenda Meyette on the incorporation process, former attorney David Chorney on various corporate issues, and former attorney Kristen Marotta on the transition
from the fiscal intermediary. Attorneys from other practice areas have also supported RIZE, including attorney
Elissa Flynn-Poppey, who provided guidance on the complexities of contracting with the state for the funding the Massachusetts legislature has authorized for RIZE. In addition, attorney Drew Matzkin weighed in on employment
issues, and several others assisted with intellectual property and licensing issues, including attorneys Adam Rizk,
Marguerite McConihe, and former Mintz attorney Robert Moore.
“We’re not social workers or mental health counselors, but we’re doing important work in the background, helping them do what they’re doing so well in combatting this humanitarian crisis,” Steve said.
Creating a Novel Board Leadership Model
More recently, to help RIZE build on its momentum at a critical juncture, Mintz crafted an uncommon board structure. Some board members are now part of the management committee, responsible for financial and budgetary oversight, allowing board members who are health care or business leaders to serve in an advisory role. Through this arrangement, RIZE is poised to continue its work to prevent overdoses, attack the root causes of addiction, and promote zero-stigma treatment models.
View the 2021 Pro Bono Journal
Transcending
View the 2020 Pro Bono Journal
Resilience
© 2022 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. P.C.
Share to Social:
Collaborating to Improve
Lives and Communities
Pro bono service is at the heart of Mintz's culture and identity. Together, we provide individuals with life-changing assistance and support the nonprofit organizations that care for our communities.
Learn More
julie burns
President & CEO of RIZE Massachusetts
RIZE's Work:
Large and small individual grants and multiyear grants aimed at discovering best practices and then scaling and replicating them.
Grantmaking:
Underwriting studies and white papers to elevate the debate and expand knowledge about the overdose crisis.
funding of research:
Convening stakeholders across the care continuum to look for actionable solutions to end the opioid crisis.
learning hub:
Volunteer Spotlights
I went into health care law because I wanted to help individuals who were suffering from behavioral health issues and substance use disorder issues. To be able to work with an organization whose entire mission is based around helping this population feels like I’m living my pre–law school dream.
Attorney
cassandra (cassie) L. Paolillo
thousands of other lives were scarred by the widespread use of these potent painkillers. Addicted users often needed intensive hospital treatments for non-fatal overdoses, were unable to hold down jobs, and became homeless due to the loss of income and frayed family relationships. Some of them also harmed others by committing theft and other crimes, neglecting their children, and giving birth to babies sickened by withdrawal symptoms. These repercussions strained the state’s public health, child welfare, and criminal justice systems, impacting services available to others.
several years ago, many
Anne Leland
Paralegal Manager
brenda meyette
Legal Specialist
Robert moore
Associate
Kristen marotta
Associate
David Chorney
Associate
susan neuberger weller
Member
Kate f. stewart
Of Counsel
Adam S. Rizk
Member
MARGUERITE McCONIHE
Member
H. Andrew Matzkin
Member
Elissa Flynn-Poppey
Member / Chair,
Stephen M. Weiner
Retired Member and a Lead Attorney
Cassandra (Cassie) L. Paolillo
Associate and a Lead Attorney
To work with a mission-driven organization that is clearly impacting positively on a challenging problem that is killing people and to see them be as successful as RIZE has been in such a short period of time is truly gratifying.
Retired Attorney
stephen m. weiner
Having a partnership with Mintz is enormously helpful. They understand the law, they understand the nonprofit community, and they know the political and social environment in which we’re working. That extraordinary knowledge of our challenges really helps us do things we could never do on our own.
Cassie Paolillo
Stephen Weiner
Susan Weller
Kate Stewart
Elissa Flynn-Poppey,
Drew Matzkin
Adam Rizk,
Marguerite McConihe,
RIZE Massachusetts
Government Law Practice
As annual opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts surged past the 2,000 mark
© 2022 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
All Rights Reserved.
View the 2021 Pro Bono Journal
Transcending
Collaborating to Improve Lives and Communities
Pro bono service is at the heart of Mintz's culture and identity. Together, we provide individuals with life-changing assistance and support the nonprofit organizations that care for our communities.
Learn More
mintz
pro bono portfolio
//
2022
Leveraging Resources
to Counter
a Crisis
As annual opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts surged past the 2,000 mark several years ago, many thousands of other lives were scarred by the widespread use of these potent painkillers. Addicted users often needed intensive hospital treatments for non-fatal overdoses, were unable to hold down jobs, and became homeless due to the loss of income and frayed family relationships. Some of them also harmed others by committing theft and other crimes, neglecting their children, and giving birth to babies sickened by withdrawal symptoms. These repercussions strained the state’s public health, child welfare, and criminal justice systems, impacting services available to others.
Pro Bono Team
Anne Leland
Paralegal Manager
brenda meyette
Legal Specialist
Robert moore
Associate
Kristen marotta
Associate
David Chorney
Associate
susan neuberger weller
Member
Kate f. stewart
Of Counsel
Adam S. Rizk
Member
MARGUERITE McCONIHE
Member
H. Andrew Matzkin
Member
Elissa Flynn-Poppey
Member / Chair,
Government Law Practice
Stephen M. Weiner
Retired Member and a Lead Attorney
Cassandra (Cassie) L. Paolillo
Associate and a Lead Attorney
