Cross-Disciplinary Team Led by Former Tennessee Attorney General Blends Deep Experience in Diverse Legal Issues Unique to Nonprofit Entities
Nashville, Tenn. (September 22, 2015) – Bass, Berry & Sims PLC is pleased to announce the formal establishment of its Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group, to continue addressing the unique legal issues facing nonprofit entities. The group will be led by Robert E. Cooper, Jr., who rejoined the firm earlier this year after serving as Tennessee Attorney General from 2006-2014.
“As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at a very quick pace nationally and especially in the state of Tennessee, our team works closely with the leaders of nonprofit entities to serve as allies, advocates and counselors in pursuing their public mission,” said Cooper. “These organizations are subject to unique and changing legal and regulatory issues throughout the various stages of their existence.”
Bass, Berry & Sims’ Nonprofit Organizations practice is a cross-disciplinary team, which blends the firm’s competencies from several practice areas, including Corporate & Securities, Employee Benefits, Healthcare, Labor & Employment, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Public Finance, Tax and Trusts & Estates.
The practice group guides entities through the application process for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, as well as ongoing tax compliance issues. The group counsels organizations on a wide range of nonprofit corporate governance, employment and compensation, business transactions, tax-exempt financing and regulatory issues that, if unattended, can expose nonprofits to costly investigations and government-imposed penalties.
The Nonprofit Organizations practice professionals have experience providing counsel to the full range of nonprofit entities, including hospitals and other healthcare providers, educational institutions, trade and professional associations, advocacy groups, private foundations, charitable trusts and social welfare organizations.
“When General Cooper rejoined our firm this spring, it provided us the opportunity to formally bring together a group of attorneys who have been doing great work for years on behalf of nonprofit organizations,” said Todd Rolapp, managing partner at Bass, Berry & Sims.
As Attorney General, Cooper was involved in regulatory enforcement for tax-exempt entities, which included creating the Public Interest Division of the Attorney General’s office to consolidate and expand assistance and oversight of nonprofits and charities.
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