Nonprofit Organizations

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Efficient, client-focused and available 24/7, Pillsbury is a leader in advising nonprofits, both 501(c)(3) and other 501(c) exempt entities, and unique among major U.S. law firms in maintaining a practice dedicated exclusively to representing nonprofit organizations.

Pillsbury’s Nonprofit Organizations practice has been representing nonprofit organizations for decades, providing guidance on formation and qualification for tax exemption, governance and complex transactional matters, handling investigations and litigation, and leading game-changing legislative campaigns. Highly experienced in addressing the legal issues unique to nonprofits, Pillsbury represents a “who’s who” list of nonprofit organizations and is the “go to” firm for “bet-the-organization” matters such as mergers, joint ventures, reorganizations, government inquiries, dispute resolution and public policy. Led by the author of a dozen books on nonprofit organization law, who is also general counsel to the American Society of Association Executives, our team offers superb service and has been characterized as the preeminent practice of its kind in the United States.

From daily operational issues through investigations and litigation, Pillsbury’s nonprofit clients include trade, professional, educational, social welfare, veteran and philanthropic organizations, certification and accreditation agencies, and scientific and educational societies. We help them avoid risks, protect their reputations and resolve challenges as quickly, quietly and inexpensively as possible.

We offer nonprofit clients efficient, cost-effective service, personal attention and quick turn-around on a day-to-day basis by lawyers dedicated to resolving legal matters affecting nonprofits.

We assist U.S. nonprofits in their endeavors around the world and are unique in providing them with on-the-ground guidance on their China operations from our Beijing office. Our firm represents both smaller nonprofits as general counsel and larger nonprofits on projects, issues and disputes, tailoring services to meet the singular needs of every kind and size of nonprofit. Pillsbury lawyers advocate for nonprofit organizations of all types and advise on and resolve disputes for them involving the full range of issues they face, including:

Governance issues and reform;

In-place reorganizations and restructurings and merger/consolidation of organizations;

Antitrust compliance, investigations, adjudications and defense;

Formation and management of complex multi-entity structures with for-profit and tax-exempt subsidiaries/affiliates;

Attaining and retaining tax exempt status;

Certiﬁcation, accreditation and standards;

Complex transactions with vendors or partners;

Employment and beneﬁts;

Litigation and dispute resolution;

Intellectual property protection and infringement;

Technology acquisition and internet issues;

Risk management and liability issues;

Owned and leased real estate;

Insurance policies and coverage;

Formation and restructuring of trade show joint ventures and associated publications or programs; and

Lobbying, legislative campaigns and other political activities.

Pillsbury is highly attuned to clients’ needs for the very highest quality legal assistance tailored to budget-conscious, volunteer-governed, risk-averse nonprofit organizations.

Representative Experience

Developed ethics code and procedures for national medical specialty society, and then obtained FTC advisory opinion approval; the code and process are now the standard for other nonprofits.
Assisted international trade association that operates a “top ten” exposition in the United States in acquiring a major industry exposition in Europe and starting up another in Asia.
Advised a statewide veterans’ organization in aiding formerly homeless veterans who qualified for subsidized housing by providing free furniture and housewares, benefitting thousands of recipients.

Advised an association in the financial institutions field on creating and managing a professional certification and licensing program mandated by the U.S. Congress, with enrollment now over half a million.

Assisted a prominent national professional society in reorganizing to accommodate the management and governance of a $300 million museum project and provided construction law services for the project.

Helped an industry-wide trade association in the automotive field update its statistical data gathering and promulgation programs for increased relevance and antitrust protection.

Advised the EU and the PRC on their regulation of nongovernmental organizations—on competition matters for the EU and on governance matters for China.

Defended nonprofits in dozens of federal antitrust agency and private civil antitrust inquiries, challenges and litigation, and represented nonprofit plaintiffs in other antitrust matters to achieve fairness for members.

With two of our clients, formed the Professional Certification Coalition, a nonprofit association that advocates for the interests of professional certification organizations, individuals who have obtained professional credentials, and those who rely on the services of credentialed professionals.

Practice Area Highlights

Our core group, focused exclusively or extensively on nonprofit clients, has advised on nearly 70 separate mergers, consolidations or other combinations of national nonprofit organizations.
For more than 10 years, a Pillsbury partner has keynoted the nation’s premier nonprofit law event, ASAE’s Legal Symposium; others speak regularly at ABA and ACC events.
A Pillsbury partner literally “wrote the book” on nonproﬁt organization law: The Association Law Handbook: A Practical Guide for Associations, Societies, and Charities, published by ASAE, the 24,000-member “association of associations.” Pillsbury attorneys also authored the Certification and Accreditation Law Handbook (3d ed.) and the Certification Law chapter in Certification: The ICE Handbook (3rd ed.).

Nonprofit Organizations

Efficient, client-focused and available 24/7, Pillsbury is a leader in advising nonprofits, both 501(c)(3) and other 501(c) exempt entities, and unique among major U.S. law firms in maintaining a practice dedicated exclusively to representing nonprofit organizations.

Representative Experience

Practice Area Highlights

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