K&L Gates Advises FightMND on its Conversion to a Company Limited by Guarantee

Global law firm K&L Gates has advised the pre-eminent and iconic Australian charitable organisation FightMND Limited (Cure for MND Foundation Inc.) on its conversion from an incorporated association into a company limited by guarantee.

This conversion marks a pivotal moment, supporting FightMND’s continued growth. This, in turn, will allow the organisation to continue towards its vision of a world free from motor neurone disease (MND) through funding vital research to improve the quality of life and finding treatments and, one day, a cure for those living with MND. This includes clinical trials for Australian patients and drug development projects. 

The Corporate team was led by Melbourne partner Marian Ngo and lawyer Jandre Olivier.

FightMND was established in 2014 by Australian Football League (AFL) great, Neale Daniher AO, who was diagnosed with MND in 2013, along with Pat Cunningham, and the late Dr. Ian Davis OAM, who both were personally impacted by the disease.

Ngo stated: "It’s been an honour to assist FightMND with their corporate conversion. The new corporate structure reflects FightMND's growth and sophistication as an organisation, and its commitment to strong and transparent governance. We are proud to support FightMND as well as many other impactful for purpose organisations that serve our community."

Olivier said: "Given our strong connection with the AFL, its clubs, and a number of other leading Australian sporting organisations, it was a privilege to assist FightMND, an organisation that has galvanized the Australian sports community, like no other organisation I have seen before, into supporting a worthy cause."

Geoff McQueen, Corporate Services Director of FightMND, said: “The support from K&L Gates was amazing. Their work is high quality and timely which, importantly, allowed FightMND to direct even more funds into beating the Beast that is MND through much needed research into finding a cure.”

K&L Gates lawyers are actively engaged in a variety of pro bono efforts and work on hundreds of pro bono matters each year. To view a selection the firm’s recent pro bono work and awards, visit our pro bono portal.