Kazan Law Band Wins Law Rocks San Francisco, Supports East Bay College Fund
(L-R) Ted Pelletier,, Jordan Varona, Rachel Berkness, Bryce Hodge, Ny Kundidzora, Joe Nicholson
Verdicts, torts and…rock and roll? Yes if it’s Kazan Law and it’s a chance to rock out for a good cause. On May 19, Kazan Law’s own house band The Substantial Factors competed, and won, in the Law Rocks San Francisco battle of the bands. In the process, they raised funds for East Bay College Fund, an Oakland-based nonprofit helping local public school students turn their dreams of a college education into reality.
The Substantial Factors consists of Kazan Law partner Ted Pelletier (keys); associate Joe Nicholson (guitar); associate Rachel Berkness (vocals); paralegal Nyaradzo Kundidzora (vocals); legal assistant Jordan Varona (bass) and video-editing consultant Bryce Hodge (drums). In their first ever competitive performance, the band played at The Great American Music Hall in downtown San Francisco, with Diane Dodge from the East Bay College Fund on hand to explain a bit about that organization’s work and to give the group a rousing introduction.
(L-R) Jordan Varona, Bryce Hodge (background), Rachel Berkness, Ny Kundidzora
In total, eight bands drawing from Bay Area law firms participated. Each group’s overall score was determined by fundraising and ticket sales before the event, audience votes, and a panel of professional judges. At the end of the night, The Substantial Factors were named the winners and received a “platinum” record plaque. Kazan Law is particularly proud of this victory because each and every one of our talented band members are not professional musicians, but full-time legal professionals. And because the Law Rocks competition was a great opportunity to raise money for and awareness of East Bay College Fund.
Raising Money for the East Bay College Fund
The funds raised by Kazan Law and The Substantial Factors will help the East Bay College Fund continue to provide college scholarships, mentoring, and support networks to help young people reach their full potential. More than providing scholarship funds, the East Bay College Fund puts a lot of effort into helping give kids the tools they need to stay in college and graduate.
Law Rocks, whose motto is “Rock Globally, Give Locally,” raises funds for local nonprofit organizations by combining the power of music and the generosity of the global legal community. The organization holds annual battle of the bands like the one in San Francisco in a variety of cities across the world including London, New York, Sydney, and Dubai. Kazan Law and The Substantial Factors are proud to be the winners of the 2016 Law Rocks San Francisco competition, and look forward to competing next year. The group will also perform at “Banding Together,” a fundraiser for the Family Violence Appellate Project, on June 15 at 1015 Folsom in San Francisco.