Communities Rise proudly presents the
10/2/23: OUR CURRENT PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION SITE IS DOWN. PLEASE EMAIL SILVER@COMMUNITIES-RISE.ORG TO BE ADDED TO THE NOTIFICATION LIST WHEN THE SITE COMES BACK ONLINE.
Join us on November 6, 2023 for the Nonprofit Law Institute, the foremost conference for attorneys engaged in nonprofit law in the Pacific Northwest. Communities Rise is proud to organize this conference which serves attorneys who work with nonprofit organizations, who sit on nonprofit boards, or who want to learn more about nonprofit law. It is also a great opportunity to learn from leaders in the nonprofit field.
This year we are thrilled to bring NLI back in-person for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The conference will be held at the offices of Perkins Coie in Seattle. The conference will also be available online via Zoom webinar but only for a limited number of sessions. Participants will have the choice of 9 panels and presentations, all led by recognized experts in nonprofit law.
Date: November 6, 2023
Time: 9:30am-6:00pm
Location: Perkins Coie
1201 3rd Ave, Suite 4900 Seattle WA 98101
- Early Bird Admission sales from 8/21/23-10/6/2023: $300.00
- Regular Admission from 10/7/23-11/6 2023: $350.00
- New practicing attorneys within 3 years of admission: $250.00
Any refunds requested after October 31st will not be processed.
All registered attendees will receive access to the CLE accredited recorded sessions for free to watch later.
Conference Highlights
The conference will kick off with an overview of updates to the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act (RCW Chapter 24.03A) since it went into effect in January 2022.
Our lunchtime panel will feature nonprofit leaders from BIPOC-led organizations discussing how attorneys can best serve their organizations.
Our ethics session will build upon the lunchtime discussion as a panel of nonprofit attorneys and WSBA representatives will discuss what it means to be a competent legal professional when serving BIPOC community-based organizations.
The event will include breakfast and lunch and a happy hour at the close of the day for further networking and socializing.
CLE credit includes 5.5 total credits available (including 1.5 ethics credits, approval pending) with an additional 2.0 credits available after the event by viewing recorded sessions registrants could not attend during the event.
Full Conference Agenda
The conference will run from 9:30am-6:00pm
In-person and online via Zoom (limited number of sessions available online marked by *)
Introductory Session (Session 1): 9:30-10:30am
*Session 1: Updates to the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act
We will give an update on the new Nonprofit Corporation Act after nearly two years in effect. This will include discussion of some real-life issues practitioners have encountered, along with proposals for further updates and technical fixes that should be made before the Legislature in an upcoming session.
Speakers: David Lawson, Perkins Coie; Judy Andrews, Apex Law Group
Morning Sessions: 10:50-11:50am
*Session 2: Employment Law
Join experienced employment lawyers for a robust discussion on common pitfalls and opportunities when centering DEI in a workplace as well as recommended processes for responding to employee complaints about harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
Speakers: Aviva Kamm, Aviva Kamm Law; Helen McFarland, Seyfarth
Session 3: Executive Compensation
This session will cover the rules applicable to certain tax-exempt organizations and executive compensation. Specifically, we will discuss private inurement, the Section 4958 Intermediate Sanctions Rules and how tax-exempt organizations should consider approving CEO compensation, including addressing cash compensation, benefits, incentive compensation, and severance payments.
Speakers: Amy Hwang, Davis Wright Tremaine; Thomas Schroeder, Davis Wright Tremaine
Session 4: Intellectual Property
The presentation will provide valuable insights into the challenges, strategies, and compliance considerations related to IP management within the nonprofit sector.
Speakers: Maha Jafarey, Microsoft; Peter Smith Apex Law Group
Lunchtime Session (Session 5): 12:15-1:15pm
*Session 5: How Can Lawyers Best Serve BIPOC-led and Serving Nonprofit Organizations?
A panel of nonprofit leaders from BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations will discuss their experiences working with attorneys and how attorneys can best serve their organizations.
Speakers: Sarah Tran, Sama Praxis; Sili Savusa, Pacific Islander Community Association; Susan Balbas, Na’ah Illahee; Jodi Nishioka (moderator), BIPOC ED Coalition
Networking/break period 1:15-1:45pm
Afternoon Sessions: 1:50-2:50pm
*Session 6: Mergers and Acquisitions
This session will address key issues affecting nonprofits that seek to merge with another nonprofit or to acquire another nonprofit.
Speakers: Lisa Schaures, Seyfarth; Wendy Campos and Ryan Dover, Moss Adams; Jodi Nishioka, BIPOC ED Coalition
Session 7: Fiscal Sponsorship
This session will include a nonprofit leader’s perspective on new models of fiscal sponsorship and key legal issues for sponsors and sponsorees when drafting a fiscal sponsorship agreement.
Speakers: Nisha Nariya, Perkins Coie; TBD
Session 8: Privacy for Nonprofits
This session will address basic privacy law issues affecting nonprofits including an overview of key laws and how to draft a privacy policy.
Speaker: Jeff Brennan, ESO
Ethics Session (Session 9): 3:15-4:45pm
*Session 9: Ethics: What it Means to be a Competent Lawyer when serving BIPOC-led and Serving Nonprofit Organizations
The ethics session will be a continuation of the topics brought up during the lunchtime panel. A group of panelists, including attorneys and WSBA representatives, will discuss what it means to be a competent legal professional when serving BIPOC community based organizations.
Speakers: Jeff Liang, Banyan Legal Counsel; Saleena Salango, WSBA; Diana Singleton (moderator), WSBA
Happy Hour: 4:45-6:00pm
Network and socialize with other attorneys who practice or are interested in nonprofit law!
We want to thank our sponsors for this conference!
Premium Level
Silver Level
Thank you to our NLI Committee Members!
Andrew Kashyap, Communities Rise
David Lawson, Perkins Coie
Jeff Liang, Banyan Legal Counsel
Jodi Nishioka, BIPOC ED Coalition
Judy Andrews, Apex Law Group
Maha Jafarey, Microsoft
Silver Lee, Communities Rise
Thomas Schroeder, Davis Wright Tremaine