Yelkin’s Pro Bono Work for Grand Court Order of Calanthe Highlighted by Texas Lawyer

Partner Kim Yelkin’s pro bono work for the Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas was highlighted in Texas Lawyer’s “Newsmakers” column.

Yelkin, who is managing partner of Foley’s Austin office, has represented the Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas for two years, guiding the members through the receivership and liquidation of the company.

The Grand Court Order of Calanthe is one of the largest, oldest and most successful African-American, woman-run fraternal insurance organizations in the country. Organized over 100-years ago, the fraternal benefit society has served the needs of African Americans wishing to purchase burial policies. The Grand Court ran into financial difficulties as a result of the regulatory environment and lack of capital. Yelkin helped the Grand Court convert the organization into the Calanthe Historical Society, where it will continue its charitable activities.

“I worked with this great team to help reclassify the organization from an insurance organization into a charitable organization so that it may continue to carry out its philanthropic duties to the fullest extent,” Yelkin said. “I was very honored when the members held a surprise luncheon for me to make me an honorary member of the Calanthe group. It’s been a very rewarding experience to be a part of and it has meant a lot to me personally to be able to help women across the state.”