Bryan Cave lawyers in Washington, London and Singapore assisted our Washington-based client, Futures Industry Association, in designing and implementing two simultaneous mergers with allied associations in Europe and Asia in order to form one association to represent the global derivatives industry.  As these were non-profit, membership organizations, these transactions presented a number of complex transactional, tax, and international issues.  Members of the association include major financial institutions active in commodities and futures markets.

To address these issues, Bryan Cave was able to utilize the expertise of attorneys in the three offices where the organizations are based, but also drew on expertise in the  St. Louis, New York and Los Angeles  offices.   The client team was led by Chris Rodgers in Washington.  Andrew Hart led the team in London.  Attorneys contributing to this effort included Rod Page (DC);  Sarah Buxton, Lorna Edwards, and Gary Freer (London); Nicole Simonian (LA), Keith Kehrer

Notice 2016-09 extends the date by which social welfare organizations must notify the Internal Revenue Service of intent to operate under section 501(c)(4), as required by new section 506, added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. With respect to the separate process by which an organization may, at its option, request a determination that it qualifies for section 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status, the Notice states that organizations seeking IRS recognition of section 501(c)(4) status should continue using Form 1024, “Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a),” until further guidance is issued and clarifies that the filing of Form 1024 will not relieve an organization of the requirement to submit the section 506 notification.

Notice 2016-09 will be in IRB 2016-06, dated February 8, 2016.

Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 3-5 p.m. in #92 J.C. Penney Conference Center on the UMSL north campus

The basic function of the Planning and Feasibility Study is to determine how well positioned the organization is to achieve the traditional standards and hallmarks associated with a successful fundraising campaign program. An effective use of the study process can uncover ways and means to lead organizations to success, even when the challenges may appear daunting or ambitious. Feasibility studies are often used in relation to a particular campaign, but this tool can also be used to inform and advance other philanthropic capacity building efforts.  Come to this class to learn more about how feasibility studies work, and how your nonprofit can employ this important tool to help advance your development goals.

Instructor Dan Reynolds, MPPA, began his career in the independent sector with a low-income housing organization in Chicago. Prior to joining

The authors describe how to prepare effectively for a reputational crisis.   They focus on ways to harmonize legal concerns with effective public-relations advocacy.  The article is focused on crisis-management principles for educational institutions, but the same principles can be generalized to many non-profit organizations.

View full article here.

The ball dropped on 2016, but don’t drop the ball on your benefit plan compliance.  As part of our annual tradition, we’re pleased to present this year’s Top Ten New Year’s Countdown for the reading pleasure of our fellow ERISA geeks.  You may remember last year’s Top Ten list was set to Pop Culture themes that dominated 2014?  Well, we’ve decided to embrace the Star Wars fever that currently has a firm grip on our society and devote our entire list to Star Wars’-themed tips.  Get your lightsabers ready…