Non-Profits

Bilzin Sumberg serves as a trusted advisor to non-profit organizations that span the gamut of industries including education, healthcare, housing, and social services, together with religious organizations and cultural institutions. Bilzin Sumberg’s attorneys have a unique understanding of what makes non-profit businesses different than their for-profit counterparts. Our business and legal strategy and planning is anchored by our extensive experience leading and counseling non-profits. We are knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities not-for-profits face in operating businesses to create financial margins that can be reinvested in the organization’s mission. In addition, our attorneys serve on the boards of countless non-profit organizations of all sizes, local and national.

Our representation spans the non-profit life cycle, from formation and organization to real estate acquisition and development, leasing, contractual negotiations, corporate governance, tax, procurement-related matters, and dispute resolution.

Common areas of counsel include:

• Formation documents, bylaws, employment agreements, joint venture arrangements, and other corporate governance issues, such as conflict of interest policies and written consents for managing the business

• Negotiation and drafting of grant and donor agreements

• Franchising, licensing, management agreements, and vendor and distribution agreements

• Real estate acquisitions and dispositions

• Real estate finance: acquisition, construction, mezzanine, and grants and loans issued by federal, state, and local governmental authorities

• Affordable and workforce housing financing, including low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds

• Commercial leasing

• Land use, permitting, and zoning approvals for new developments and redevelopments

• Review of design and construction documents for the expansion/renovation of facilities

• Environmental investigation, remediation, and regulatory permitting counseling in connection with real estate acquisitions and development

• Procurement and negotiation of government contracts and advising on public-private partnership arrangements, including complex transactions involving ground leases

• Dispute resolution counseling, including breach of contract claims