law // NONPROFIT
A ROBERT BROWN Practice group leader // Schmitt Schneck Even Casey & Williams churchandministrylaw.com Over his 40-year career, Brown has enjoyed working as a trial lawyer, as a specialist in real estate law, and over the past 20 years as a “church lawyer.” He works with nonprofit and faithbased organizations, including many of the world’s major faiths. Industry outlook: “The nonprofit sector is adapting to fundamental changes in the tax code. There is continuing uncertainty about whether the ministerial tax allowance will continue in effect with a potential billion-dollar impact. Continuing tension between traditional forms of worship and cultural change continue to impact this sector ... The impact of the recent tax reform act on charitable giving is still unknown as of now; some commentators are predicting a significant decline in charitable giving due to the loss of itemized deductions.”
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B ELLIS CARTER Founder and president // Caritas Law Group // caritaslawgroup.com Carter provides corporate, tax, regulatory and general business advice to nonprofit, tax-exempt, and mission-based businesses. Carter’s clients also include donors making significant or complex gifts, businesses forming foundations and engaging in cause-marketing campaigns, as well as nonprofit founders considering the best philanthropic structure to meet their needs. Personal strengths: “In addition to having a strong work ethic, I have been diligent at sticking to what I am good at. By referring matters outside my sweet spot to more appropriate professionals, I have developed a strong referral network and maintained my reputation for excellent work.” Prized possession: “My dog Wilbur. He is my loyal companion and I keep him with me whenever possible. He is our firm mascot.”
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C SAM COPPERSMITH Partner // Coppersmith Brockelman // cblawyers.com Coppersmith has more than three decades of experience assisting local and national businesses and nonprofits with transactional issues, business organization, governance, contract negotiation, land use and business planning. A former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Coppersmith served as a member of the transportation and science committees. He has also served as the chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, and on numerous state and local boards and commissions as well as local and national nonprofit boards. Professional advice: “There will be very large firms and small and specialized firms with lower overhead, and government lawyers and very little in between. Figure out what fits you best – and don’t be afraid to change if you guessed wrong.”
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D SCOTT DEWALD Partner // Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie // lrrc.com DeWald is a business and corporate transactional lawyer concentrating on purchases and sales of business formation, LLC operating agreements, financing and other commercial transactions, nonprofit organizations, complex contracts, raising capital and executive compensation. Personal strengths: “Having a strong work ethic, positive attitude, sense of humor, being a good listener, and having and showing empathy and team spirit, have helped me to help my clients achieve success by facilitating transactions and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes (and help them enjoy the process as well as the result).” Professional advice: “Maintain interest in your client and your client’s business, reflect on morals, values and ethics, focus on adding value, think strategically, treat everyone as you wish to be treated, don’t take things too personally, stay in touch with a variety of people.”
E KENDIS MUSCHEID Partner // Ballard Spahr // ballardspahr.com Muscheid’s legal practice is focused on nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, charitable trusts, and donors making charitable gifts. She advises an array of 501(c)(3) and other taxexempt organizations, including private foundations, supporting organizations, universities, charter schools and research institutions, hospitals and their related foundations, religious entities, museums, social welfare organizations and disaster relief entities. Professional advice: “Stick with it when you feel overwhelmed or as if you don’t know what you’re doing. Being an attorney is a wonderful profession. It can be tough in the early years, but those long hours laboring through documents and solving brain teasers pay off when you’re finally working with clients and seeing positive results.”
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