Today the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia received a funding commitment from alumnus Robert Pirooz. The commitment is sufficient to enable the law school to continue to operate its Business Law Clinic through spring 2017.
The Business Law Clinic was established in January 2016 as a pilot program within the Centre for Business Law. Funding for the program was provided by the Franklin Lew Innovation Fund. Co-directors Catherine Chow (pictured far left) and Christine Baron (pictured far right), both experienced business lawyers, closely supervise and mentor students. The integrated program provides students with an opportunity to develop skills in an academic and supportive environment. The Clinic provides business law advice to local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit organizations with limited financial resources.
Pirooz has chosen to name the Clinic in honour of former law school Dean, Professor Mary Anne Bobinski. The 'Bobinski Business Law Clinic’ will bear Bobinski's name for the ensuing year. Under her innovative leadership, the law school enjoyed over a decade of profound change and growth, marked by enhanced teaching and research, expanded international reach, and new programs in business law and experiential learning. Professor Bobinski expressed her gratitude to both Pirooz and Dean Catherine Dauvergne for their leadership and support for the law school. “Thanks to Mr. Pirooz’s commitment and Dean Dauvergne’s vision, the Business Law Clinic will be continued during the 2016-17 academic year,” said Bobinski.
“This gift represents an important contribution to the law school’s commitment to provide our students with hands-on learning opportunities. The Bobinski Business Law Clinic provides a forum for students to learn practical and legal skills; simultaneously providing a service to the public,” said Dauvergne.
“The Bobinski Business Law Clinic acknowledges that, as medical schools have always known, academic classroom study combined with applied clinical learning produces scholars with enhanced abilities beyond the classroom. This is the future of legal education as students are given a rare opportunity to observe, learn and apply business law” said Pirooz. “As an educational tool, the Bobinski Clinic exceeds the minimum hurdle rate I apply to investments. The collateral benefit of business law services made available pro bono to entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profit organizations cannot be overstated. Each is fundamental to a robust economy, happy citizens and a healthy community.”
Pirooz is a local lawyer, venture capitalist, and entrepreneur. He believes, if you work hard and have some success, as has been the case for him: be grateful you are a hard worker. Pirooz has been a founder, principal, director and officer of several successful commercial enterprises. Called to the British Columbia Bar in 1990 Pirooz credits Ron Bozzer and BLG/Ladner Downs for the mentorship and training that would not only prove pivotal in his successes, but also in his support of the Bobinski Clinic.
